Define anxiety

• Persistent sad or “empty” moods • Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism • Irritability • Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness • Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities • Decreased energy or fatigue • Moving or talking more slowly • Feeling restless or having trouble sitting still • Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions • Difficulty sleeping, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping • Appetite and/or weight changes • Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts Ways to Identify the Conditions If you are experiencing signs and symptoms of anxiety and depression, one place to start is to speak with your primary care doctor. They can do an initial screening and may look for medical conditions that could be contributing to your symptoms. You will likely then be referred to a mental health professional for an official clinical diagnosis. • Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): The goal is to • Exposure therapy (ET): ET involves being exposed to the object or situation that triggers the fear or anxiety. Exposure is done repetitively, usually in a graduated fashion over a set period, until a person’s distress has significantly decreased. Frequently Asked Questions How can you help support someone with depression and anxiety? An important first step is educating yourself about what depression and anxiety feel like, as well as understanding the myths and misconceptions that surround these disorders. It is also important to take c...

Eco-anxiety refers to a fear of environmental damage or ecological disaster. This sense of anxiety is largely based on the current and predicted future state of the environment and human-induced climate change. According to a This article discusses eco-anxiety, including what it is, the common symptoms, and how to spot and manage it. Share on Pinterest Tanaonte/Getty Images Researchers coined the term “eco-anxiety” to describe chronic or severe anxiety related to humans’ relationship with the environment. In 2017, the Eco-anxiety is not currently listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), meaning that doctors do not officially consider it a diagnosable condition. However, The immediate effects of climate change — such as damage to community groups, a loss of food, and reduced medical supply security — can cause acute harm to people’s mental health. The gradual impacts of climate change, including increasingly rising sea levels and changes in weather patterns, may even lead to chronic mental health symptoms. The APA point out that a changing climate can affect mental health in several ways and manifest as: • trauma and shock • • anxiety • • substance abuse • aggression • reduced feelings of autonomy and control • feelings of helplessness, fatalism, and fear For example, a loss of important places may affect some people. A loss of or threat to job security or livelihood can also have significant mental health effects. Chronic or severe With ...

There’s a fine line between stress and anxiety. Both are emotional responses, but stress is typically caused by an external trigger. The trigger can be short-term, such as a work deadline or a fight with a loved one or long-term, such as being unable to work, discrimination, or chronic illness. People under stress experience mental and physical symptoms, such as irritability, anger, fatigue, muscle pain, digestive troubles, and difficulty sleeping. Anxiety, on the other hand, is defined by persistent, excessive worries that don’t go away even in the absence of a stressor. Anxiety leads to a nearly identical set of symptoms as stress: insomnia, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, muscle tension, and irritability. Both mild stress and mild anxiety respond well to similar coping mechanisms. Physical activity, a nutritious and varied diet, and good sleep hygiene are a good starting point, but there are other If your stress or anxiety does not respond to these management techniques, or if you feel that either stress or anxiety are affecting your day-to-day functioning or mood, consider talking to a mental health professional who can help you understand what you are experiencing and provide you additional coping tools. For example, a psychologist can help determine whether you may have an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders differ from short-term feelings of anxiety in their severity and in how long they last: The anxiety typically persists for months and negatively affects mood ...

The main symptom of depression is typically a lingering low, sad, or hopeless mood, while anxiety mainly involves overwhelming feelings of worry, nervousness, and fear. But these conditions do actually share several key signs. Anxiety, for example, often involves irritability — and some people with depression may feel more irritable than sad. Since these conditions can show up differently from person to person, you may not always know exactly what your symptoms mean. It’s also possible to have both depression and anxiety at the same time: A worldwide survey from 2015 found that One important thing depression and anxiety have in common? Both can improve with support from a mental health professional. Below, we’ll break down the main symptoms and signs of each condition, plus offer some strategies for coping with symptoms and tips to find support. Several key differences can help distinguish between symptoms of depression and anxiety. Depression It’s not at all unusual to feel sad, low, or hopeless from time to time, especially during difficult or painful life situations. But feelings of sadness and emptiness that last for longer than 2 weeks can suggest depression, especially when positive events or changes in your environment don’t seem to have any impact on your mood. Along with a low, sad, or empty mood, depression can also involve the following • loss of interest or enjoyment in your usual activities and hobbies • a sense of hopelessness or pessimism • anger, irritabili...

Recent Examples on the Web Our gardens can be a place of healing and a place to step away from and soothe our anxieties and stress. — Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 June 2023 Proponents say carving out the time to refocus your attention wards off procrastination and anxiety. — The Week Staff, The Week, 3 June 2023 But symptoms of depression, anxiety and traumatic stress in Black students are often viewed by adults as disobedience, anger or insubordination. — Annie Ma, Detroit Free Press, 2 June 2023 Juvenile justice reformers might otherwise be celebrating the June 30 shutdown of the last two youth prisons in the once-sprawling 10,000-inmate system, except for their deep anxiety about what comes next. — James Rainey, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2023 The most common reason for staying silent wasn’t anxiety about the condition, which is generally progressive. — Byerin Prater, Fortune Well, 2 June 2023 Inflammation has been tied to a host of physical and mental health conditions including tissue damage, anxiety, and depression. — Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 1 June 2023 So for all the glitziness of the premieres, there’s also an underlying anxiety. — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 24 May 2023 But Schrader was among those Seventies American filmmakers who repressed racial anxiety (back when the blaxploitation movement functioned as Hollywood’s release valve). — Armond White, National Review, 24 May 2023 See More These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sou...

Anxiety is a normal response to stress, and isn’t always a bad thing. But when it gets to be uncontrollable or excessive to the point where it affects quality of life, this may be indicative of an anxiety disorder. Knowing the difference between anxiety and an anxiety disorder can help you talk with your doctor about your symptoms and any concerns you might be having. Read on to find out more about the difference between “regular” anxiety and anxiety disorders. You might wonder what the difference is between feeling anxious and having an anxiety disorder, especially if you find yourself feeling anxious a lot. There are several different types of anxiety disorders, including: • • • • • • Generalized anxiety disorder can look a lot like “regular” anxiety at first. But it’s characterized by unrealistic or excessive worry about everything — even things you might not even be able to name. It also lasts at least 6 months and can get in the way of daily functioning. GAD has symptoms like: • • • • • • repeated • • Typical anxiety is a response to stress, and this is normal. When the stressor is over, the anxiety usually goes away. In anxiety disorders, removing the stressor or trigger doesn’t always reduce the anxiety. Anxiety caused by stress doesn’t generally significantly impair one’s life or cause distress. If your anxiety is disrupting your quality of life, it might be time to re-evaluate whether it may be an anxiety disorder. Anxiety or being anxious isn’t always a bad thing...