Trauma and Anxiety

Anxiety is more than just a feeling. As a product of the body's fight-or-flight response, anxiety involves a wide range of physical symptoms. Because of the numerous physical symptoms, anxiety sufferers often mistake their disorder for a medical illness. You may have visited many doctors and made numerous trips to the hospital before your anxiety disorder was discovered!

Trauma survivors often experience some type of anxiety. In fact, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder itself is classified as an anxiety disorder.

Other anxiety disorders include Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and Phobias.

If you are experiencing any of the following over a month or more, you may be suffering from an anxiety disorder.

Symptoms of anxiety and/or panic attacks:

* Sudden onset of intense fearfulness, terror or feelings of
impending doom
* Shortness of breath
* Pounding heart, chest pain or discomfort
* Sweating
* Stomach upset or dizziness
* Muscle tension
* Feeling dizzy, unsteady, lightheaded or faint
* The urge to escape or fear that you would be unable to
escape or get help if you needed to
* Excessive concern about the outcome of routine activities
particularly those related to health, being separated
from loved-ones or finances
* Irritability
* Trouble concentrating
* Catastrophizing: Anticipating the worst
* Fear of losing control or going crazy
* Avoidance of places or situations where you experienced a
panic attack in the past

Experiencing symptoms of anxiety like these can be terrifying and disrupt many aspects of your life. Contact me and I can help you manage and recover from anxiety.