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Anxiety - Are You Experiencing Feelings of Despair and Helplessness?

by Wayne Wargo (PenWay.org)

Anxiety is the feeling we experience when we are faced with a tense, and sometimes unknown, situation. It is a feeling of suspense, helplessness, or alternating hope and despair. Leaders who are inclined to be highly responsible and future-focused seem to be especially prone to the condition. Anxiety is particularly common in fast-paced urban environments where multiple pressures exist.

Anxiety, as defined in Wikipedia, is a psychological and physiological state characterized by cognitive, somatic, emotional, and behavioral components. These components combine to create an unpleasant feeling that is typically associated with uneasiness, fear, or worry. Anxiety is either the primary disturbance or is the result of confronting a feared situation or object.

Anxiety,for example, is what we will feel like when we have to study harder and more intensely for a major exam, making a speech in front of people, or going on a blind date where you don't know what to expect.

Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress. It helps you cope with tense situations. Typically, anxiety does disappear when the triggering event is finally resolved. Anxiety is a natural human emotion; everyone feels anxious or worried at times. Mild anxiety is vague and unsettling, while severe anxiety can be extremely debilitating, having a serious impact on daily life.

Anxiety can be caused by something like a heavy workload at your job, family conflicts, aggressive drivers or even money troubles. How do people describe anxiety? People who have anxiety say they feel uneasy, tense, apprehensive, wary, and agitated. They have a feeling of restlessness, uncertainty, and are fearful or have a sense of dread or impending doom.

Anxiety does produce physical symptoms, which can be confused with the presentation of a wide variety of medical conditions, especially those highly associated with stress. It may seem that a lot of people are expressing some level of anxiety, wondering how to calm their internal storms. Anxiety is perfectly normal. We all experience situations that make us fearful and apprehensive. Unlike fear, which is caused by realistic, known dangers, anxiety can be more difficult to identify and to alleviate. Situations that cause distress or threaten a loss can create a feeling of anxiety.

Learning to avoid harm is necessary not only for surviving in the face of basic threats, but also for avoiding more complex social or economic threats.

The five major types of anxiety disorders are: generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) , panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) , and social phobia (or social anxiety disorder).

Anxiety is often a necessary ingredient to propel us to perform at our optimal level. In low to moderate levels, anxiety can be an energizing and motivating force. Anxiety is sometimes thought to cause an increased motivation to focus on the task at hand. Some anxiety is inevitable in today's society and in many situations it is an appropriate and reasonable response.

Common medications used to treat anxiety include antidepressants, such as Prozac and Zoloft, and anti-anxiety drugs like Xanax.

Anxiety is part of life for most people. Self-awareness is essential in realizing this fact.

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