Anxiety is a normal and even healthy part of being human. It signals to us when there is a risk or threat, and triggers a fight, flight, or freeze response. However, anxiety can also kick in when there isn't danger, causing an exhausting and often debilitating set of symptoms.
It can impact us in a variety of ways:
racing heart
tightness in the chest
shortness of breath
nausea
sweating
racing thoughts
catastrophizing
obsessive thoughts
compulsive behaviours
phobias
anxiety attacks
There are also different types of anxiety disorders that you may have heard of or been diagnosed with: Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Phobias, Social Anxiety Disorder, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. To get a brief overview of each of these disorders and their symptoms, click here or here.
If anxiety is getting in the way of your work, relationships, or day-to-day living, consider counselling as a helpful resource.
Additional Resources
Anxiety Canada: General information and resources for adults, teens and kids
3 Tips for Calming Your Anxiety: A brief article on addressing your anxiety
community resources
The Branches Yoga: A yoga studio that offers workshops for anxiety and depression.
CMHA: The association offers several self-help and peer support groups for anxiety and depression.