Is Anxiety Real? » Higher Level Living

In short, yes! It’s totally normal to feel anxious from time to time. But if the worry or fear becomes immobilizing or constant, it’s gone from healthy self-preservation to a condition that needs attention.

The Truth is…

In our modern-day burnout culture, anxiety seems to be rising more rapidly than ever, and it truly breaks my heart how many people have accepted heightened anxiety as a norm in their life.

This realization led me to further my certifications and learn as much as possible about what causes anxiety and the ways we can get ahead of it, so it’s no longer limiting you in life.

Mind-blowing stats

1 in 4 adults suffer from diagnosable mental disorders
Anxiety can affect anyone and afflicts more than 40 million Americans
Women are 60% more likely to suffer from anxiety than men
Early-onset starts as early as 11 years old

Ok so clearly it’s real, but what is it exactly?

Put in simple terms; anxiety is the inability to process and respond effectively to the ups and downs of everyday life. While stress is a normal part of life, a constant inability to cope with daily stressors, or experiencing persistent fear or worry is a sign of a bigger problem.

Ongoing research shows an undeniable link between anxiety and our mental, emotional, and physical states. If left unattended, it poses a very real threat to your overall health and happiness.

So, what causes anxiety?

There are many forms of anxiety and no single cause, but it can be triggered by both biological and external factors. Some of the leading causes are related to neurotransmitters, chemical imbalances, genetics, impaired neurological response, hormonal imbalance, stress, trauma, substance abuse, and diet.

In addition to these factors, our fast-paced culture of overstimulation has hindered our ability to slow down and recharge.

How do I know if I have anxiety?

General anxiety disorder is the most common form of anxiety. There are other forms as well, but this is what impacts most people. The tough thing about GAD is that onlookers and people in your life may not even realize or understand that you have anxiety. To onlookers there is no apparent cause, everything seems good.

But in reality, you are stressed, worried, fraught with uncertainty, and every day is a struggle.

Many experience symptoms for years without even knowing it. This was the case for me. I always thought living in a constant state of fear and fight or flight was normal because it was my norm for so long.

As an only child of a single mother who was addicted to drugs, alcohol, and abusive men, it was something I learned to live with when I was young. Looking back, living in fear taught me to be alert, smart, and proactive, which undoubtedly saved me many times when I was young. For this reason, I viewed it as a necessary and good thing. I never questioned it or thought it could be unhealthy.

It wasn’t until my mid-twenties after my second cancer diagnosis that I realized just how much this was impacting my health and overall happiness in life.

Signs and Symptoms of anxiety

You experience a heightened unexplained worry about school, work, relationships, health, safety, or things out of your control.
You live in constant fear about what may happen or already has
You feel a constant tension in the body like muscle aches or headaches
You have trouble sleeping
There’s a sickening feeling of dread taking over
Sweating profusely
Being on edge or easily startled
Difficulty concentrating
Constant fear, anxiousness, nervousness
No appetite, vomiting, gas, or diarrhea

Treating anxiety

There are several treatments if you do suffer from clinical anxiety and not just everyday stress. The path is chosen based on severity, how long you have been suffering, and the effectiveness of previous treatments. Severe cases are treated by a psychologist and sometimes medication.

But medications do not cure anxiety; they only help control symptoms and can have many side effects.

Learning this blew my mind! How many people turn to medication thinking it will cure them? This knowledge is what pushed me to start creating resources and tools that would help people get to the root cause and better manage anxiety so they could finally have some peace of mind and live more fully.

Where stress will most likely be a constant in life, you can be proactive and better control anxiety by learning ways to care for yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Now that I have extensively researched and pursued certifications around anxiety, I can look back on my own life long battle with anxiety and see how it’s limited me. I wouldn’t trade any of it because it’s taught me to conquer my mind, and enables me to help others do the same. But it does break my heart to see more and more people accepting heightened anxiety as a norm.

Part of my mission now is to teach you ways to strengthen and care for yourself so you can not only conquer anxiety for more peace of mind but actually LIVE FULLY.

I created my habits for Higher Level Living program to share the habits and routines that have proven most effective in my own life so you can start experiencing the positive lasting results right away.

conquer anxiety with these habits