Panic attacks, phobias, extreme shyness, obsessive-compulsive behaviours and generalized anxiety disrupt the lives of about 15% of the population. Yet, anxiety is a normal part of human experience. Anxiety disorders are therefore the result of severe or extreme levels of anxiety and associated unhelpful or inappropriate behaviours.
Everybody gets anxious at times €“ to the average person this may be to perspire profusely at a job interview or to blush when they like someone, or freeze when they see a large spider. These are common anxieties and they may be part of our biology, how humans developed and a built in safety mechanism. Today humans face many unexpected surprises and this anxiety mechanism can develop into our worst enemy.
People with anxiety disorders will find that their anxiety is a constant and dominating force that severely interrupts their quality and enjoyment of live and goes far beyond mere occasional "nervousness". Anxiety can be triggered frequently, both through the occurrence of 'real life' events, but also through imagined, negative consequences.
Please think about some €˜real life€™ or imagined events that have contributed to your anxiety.
Brenna, Bilingual Health Educator
