Anxiety is excessive worry which manifests itself through the following symptoms:
- Muscle tension in the back and neck
- Stomach aches
- Headaches
- Jaw clenching
- Teeth grinding
Anxiety exists on a continuum of healthy, mild, moderate, and severe. Individuals move back and forth between the first 3 as life unfolds.
- Healthy anxiety is about living in the tension of life – we experience mood changes based on our environment and may worry about family, health or finances when warranted
- Mild anxiety happens when something unusual happens – moving, graduating, writing an exam
- Moderate anxiety takes place with larger stressors – such as the death of a loved one or a serious illness
Severe anxiety causes great distress and arises from a person’s genetics and the environment they either live in or have been exposed to.
- Severe anxiety is persistent and impairs normal daily activities – often distancing individuals from the very help they require.
- If you or someone you love is struggling with severe anxiety, please reach out for professional help. Mental health help is available both in-person and online.
