Even when good stress happens in our lives – such as the birth of a grandchild or a long-awaited trip – we can feel anxious. Having jitters or worries is a normal part of life. But what happens when we have worry that goes beyond what should be a healthy response to stress?
Sometimes when we worry too much about the things that are going on in our lives, we become hyper-aware of our circumstances to the point where we are not aware of anything else. We may find ourselves becoming hypervigilant, waiting for the next anxiety-producing event to happen. We may even feel a sense of danger – as if we were being chased by a man-eating bear – and have a high level of arousal in our body that we cannot seem to turn off. When feeling increasingly anxious, the body signals the brain and increases adrenaline to help the body prepare for a dangerous situation. This causes the boy to go into “fight or flight” mode to protect itself. Breathing becomes shallow, heart rate increases, and oxygen rushes to the muscles so we have the strength to flee a dangerous situation.
Being in a constant state of high alert is not good for our bodies or for our minds. This causes a state of living in dread and worry rather than enjoying life. If this is happening to you, it may be a good idea to see your doctor who will help to rule out any physical illness that may be causing your anxiety. Your doctor also may prescribe anti-anxiety medication to help ease the uncomfortable feelings associated with a heightened state of arousal. In addition, it may be helpful to seek out the services of a trained mental health professional to get at the root of your anxiety. Often, we are unaware of what is going on in our mind and what are triggers to our anxiety. Cognitive behavioral therapy is one approach that may help. It works to change unproductive ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving so you can get to feeling better.
