Mental Health
Anxiety
About Anxiety
Anxiety is a natural human emotion involving feelings of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an event with an uncertain outcome. While occasional anxiety is common, an anxiety disorder involves persistent, excessive worry that can interfere with daily life.
Common Symptoms
- Persistent worrying thoughts or obsessions
- Feeling restless or on edge
- Irritability
- Difficulty concentrating
- Muscle tension
- Sleep disturbances
- Fatigue
- Panic attacks
- Avoidance of situations that trigger anxiety
- Increased heart rate
Diagnosis
Anxiety disorders are typically diagnosed by a healthcare professional through a comprehensive evaluation. This may include a physical examination to rule out other medical conditions, as well as a detailed discussion of symptoms, medical history, and personal circumstances.
Causes
The exact causes of anxiety disorders are not fully understood, but they are believed to result from a combination of factors. These may include genetics, brain chemistry, personality traits, and significant life stressors or traumatic events.
Treatment Overview
Treatment approaches for anxiety commonly include psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which aims to help individuals identify and change negative thought patterns. Certain medications, like antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs, may also be prescribed. Additionally, various complementary approaches, such as mindfulness, meditation, and exercise, are often discussed for their potential role in managing symptoms.
Prognosis & Outlook
The prognosis for individuals with anxiety disorders can vary, but many people experience significant improvement with appropriate management. Early recognition and engagement with treatment often contribute to better outcomes, though some individuals may require ongoing support.
Types & Variants
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Characterized by chronic, exaggerated worry about everyday life events and activities.
Panic Disorder
Involves recurrent, unexpected panic attacks, which are sudden periods of intense fear.
Social Anxiety Disorder
An intense fear of being watched and judged by others in social or performance situations.
Phobias
An intense, irrational fear of a specific object, situation, or activity, such as heights or flying.
Separation Anxiety Disorder
Excessive fear or anxiety concerning separation from those to whom the individual is attached.
What 2 Contributors Have Shared
One contributor described experiencing severe, debilitating physical symptoms including total exhaustion, brain fog, insomnia, body pain, constipation, bloating, and headaches, alongside anxiety, which led to a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome and many co-occurring conditions.
The second contributor primarily struggled with musculoskeletal pain which was later understood as neuroplastic pain, alongside a range of other symptoms including anxiety and panic, depression, health anxiety, heart palpitations, and intrusive thoughts.
“Approaches that were part of my recovery”
As described by story contributors
discovered work of Dr. Sarno, Dr. Schubiner, Dr. Hanscom, Dr. Clarke, Dr. Stracks, and Dr. Schechter
pain neuroscience education
journaling via Nicole Sachs
pain reprocessing therapy and somatic tracking via Alan Gordon
addressing belief and doubt
learning to feel safe with sensations, thoughts, and emotions
graded exposure teaching the brain the pain is not dangerous
visualization and graded motor imagery
leaning into positive sensations
regulating the nervous system and Polyvagal theory
indifference and outcome independence
self compassion
“Approaches I tried that didn't help me”
As described by story contributors
medications like trazadone, bio-identical hormones, cortisone, and thyroid drugs
anti-viral IVs
intravenous vitamin concoctions
neurotransmitters
supplements
diets that eliminated nearly everything (e.g., stringent meal plan of green vegetables and either fish or chicken)
acupuncture
herbal concoctions (Chinese medicine)
10-day cleanse called Panchakarma followed by weekly oil enemas (Ayurvedic medicine)
energy healers
biomechanical "solutions" (e.g., supplements, changing diet to anti-inflammatory or keto, castor oil, icing & heat, PT, chiro, osteopath, massage, sports medicine doctor with rehabilitation classes, correcting posture, yoga, stretching, foam rolling, and trigger point release with lacrosse ball)
CBT therapy
Key Realizations & “Aha” Moments
Perspectives shared by story contributors
mainstream medicine was ill-equipped to treat ailments
structural findings (like arthritis, degenerative disc, etc.) were incidental and not the cause of symptoms
self-diagnosed with Tension Myoneural Syndrome (TMS) / Neuroplastic symptoms
most chronic pain is neuroplastic in nature, meaning it's not caused by body structures but by the brain and nervous system
neuroplastic pain refers to pain created and maintained by changes and misfirings in the brain’s neural circuits
the brain can "learn" pain through repeated stress or emotional suppression, creating maladaptive neural pathways
mindbody symptoms often result from stress and nervous system dysregulation, suppressed or unprocessed emotions, learned neural pathways, and an overactive fear response
Challenges Contributors Described
Common obstacles mentioned by story contributors
lack of clear diagnosis and effective treatment from various medical professionals
feeling like an "alien guinea pig trapped in an impersonal medical maze"
being yelled at by a doctor
doctors appearing disappointed at lack of progress
soaring with hope only to drop into despair with new remedies
reassurance from TMS practitioners after ruling out legitimate pathological findings was necessary to confirm self-diagnosis
Support Systems Contributors Mentioned
Types of support described by story contributors
beloved mom who drove to doctor's visits
Advice from Those Who've Been There
Suggestions shared by story contributors
- “Most chronic pain is neuroplastic in nature, meaning that, even though the pain is very real and physically felt, it doesn’t mean that it is being caused by the structures of your body. The brain and nervous system can cause debilitating symptoms without tissue damage or disease.”
- “Neuroplastic pain refers to pain that is created and maintained not by physical injury, but by changes and misfirings in the brain’s neural circuits. This type of pain is very real, but its origin lies in the nervous system and emotional regulation rather than tissue damage.”
- “The brain can "learn" pain through repeated stress or emotional suppression, creating maladaptive neural pathways—essentially false alarms. These misfiring pain circuits, shaped by emotional states and life stress, cause the brain to perceive pain even when there is no physical cause.”
- “Mindbody symptoms—including chronic pain—often result from: - Stress and nervous system dysregulation - Suppressed or unprocessed emotions - Learned neural pathways in the brain - An overactive fear response”
These insights reflect what individual contributors reported about their own experiences. Results vary — what helps one person may not help another. This is not medical advice.
Stories (2)
Real journeys shared by contributors
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