Anxiety Disorder

Everyday Anxiety

Anxiety disorder is an extremely prevalent psychological difficulty. However, most anxiety is not "anxiety disorder". Rather, everyone experiences anxiety. In small amounts it can be useful. It can serve as a warning signal that something isn't quite right. Take a classic example, undoubtedly familiar to anyone who has been a student.

You're in college, the term is nearing its end. Finals are on the horizon. You're behind in your reading and you're behind in your studying. Your heart starts to palpitate. You experience feelings of impending doom. You imagine what it would be like to fail your courses. You become worried. You are filled with anxiety. And, you are compelled to take action. You hit the books and you study. You pass your finals with flying colors. In this case, your anxiety served a productive, advisory role. In a sense your anxiety was adaptive. It signaled to you that trouble was imminent and it prompted you to take effective action. It helped you to function and to meet the demands of your everyday life.

A little bit of anxiety can be motivating. It can help us to go to work when we'd rather play, to clean when we'd rather relax and to carry out the responsibilities of our everyday lives. But, how do we know when we have crossed the fine line between everyday anxiety and generalized anxiety disorder?

When Everyday Anxiety becomes "Anxiety Disorder"

How does one know when anxiety represents a significant difficulty? This is an important question. Many people worry that they may be depressed but anxiety is actually a far more prevalent psychological concern, especially here in the greater Washington, D.C., area. It's important to address anxiety disorder because, unchecked, it can lead to significant health and mental health difficulties. Therefore, it is important to know when everyday anxiety crosses the threshold and becomes generalized anxiety disorder.

We should become concerned when anxiety begins to persistently interfere with our capacity to function effectively in our everyday lives.

For example, let's take the head of a start-up who experiences profound apprehension in preparing for a meeting with her board. She attempts to get ready but has difficulty concentrating. She worries about sounding silly or incompetent. As she tries to organize her ideas, she finds that she can not focus. She feels panicky. She worries about the outcome of a potentially unsuccessful meeting. In fact, she finds that she is so worried that she is unable to formulate her ideas and do her best work. At night, she reports that her sleep is fitful.

While this type of experience is fairly common, if it is recurrent, it is evidence of maladaptive anxiety. That is, the anxiety is getting in the way of the individual's ability to function effectively in the workplace. It can be a form of self-sabotage.

Similarly, we should become concerned when anxiety interferes with our establishing and maintaining the kinds of personal relationships that we seek.

For example, let's take the woman who would like to date and marry but finds rather than enjoying dating -- she worries throughout the entire dating experience. Will he call? Won't he call? What does it mean that he doesn't call? What does it mean that he asks her out at the "last minute"? Will it last? Won't it last? She calls her friends, seeking reassurance. Instead of relaxing and having fun, she finds that she can't enjoy herself. Anxiety that interferes with our ability to have gratifying professional or personal relationships warrants psychological evaluation.

Does your anxiety warrant a consultation with a psychologist or mental health professional?

Take this anxiety symptoms quiz. This quiz, is not a substitute for the clinical judgement of a psychologist or other mental health professional. If you have any concerns, seek psychological or psychiatric evaluation.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder Treatment

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Disclaimer

The site does not provide psychological or work-life advice to any specific individual. Rather, the content is intended to be for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional psychological advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns regarding a psychological or work-life difficulty, seek professional evaluation. Do not disregard professional advice or delay in seeking it because of anything that you have read on this web site.