As adults, we face many challenging situations. Different stressors can include work, interpersonal conflicts, or pandemic related difficulties that did not exist prior to 2020.
These stressors may cause nervousness, racing thoughts or even physical symptoms such as sweating, shaking, or a rapid heart rate.
On the other hand, anxiety, in manageable doses, is the body’s natural physiologic response to stress. This response helps us not only survive but also thrive in the modern world.
Here is an important question to ask yourself or a loved one who may be struggling with anxiety:
Is your reaction proportional to the situation?
· Proportional -> You feel nervous about an important presentation or deadline that must be completed that day.
· Disproportional -> You replay a conversation with a peer/coworker over and over after the fact, worrying that you may have said or done the wrong thing.
If you find that your reaction does not match the situation on a consistent or frequent basis, medication and/or therapy may be a beneficial option for you.