Anxiety Disorders
When do you need to ask for professional support?
Anxiety can be:
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A normal response to a difficult situation (like a job interview, worrying what to say); and
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A useful response that raises your awareness of danger (there is a car coming, get off the road); and
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An activating response that increases your chance of success (I am worried I will fail the exam, so I will do an extra hour of practice today);
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If this is happening you are probably ok and anxiety is not a problem in your life.
Or
Anxiety can be:
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A debilitating condition that prevents you from leaving the house, or
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Going to school, or
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Asking for a date, or
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From making friends, or
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From applying for a job, or
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Going to the beach, or
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Wearing clothes you want to wear, or
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Eat food you want to eat,
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And prevents you from otherwise enjoying life.
Anxiety is much more common when you are going through a transition phase in your life and it can be part of PTSD and co-occur with depression and other mental health disorders.
In these situations, a psychologist can be of tremendous help – even life changing!
The good news is that all anxiety disorders are treatable.
The sooner you get some support from a professional, the sooner you can start to relate to your anxious thoughts differently.