By The BroglieBox Team
5 min read

Fear is an emotional response to an immediate threat and is more associated with a fight or flight reaction – either staying to fight or leaving to escape danger. Thus, anxiety is a common response to stress. Anxiety refers to the anticipation of a future concern and is more associated with muscle tension and avoidance behavior. However, anxiety disorders differ from normal feelings of stress and usually involve more intense feelings of fear, and anxiety. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders and are very treatable.

People with anxiety disorders often to try to avoid situations that trigger or worsen their symptoms. Job performance, school work,and personal relationships can be affected. In general, for a person to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, the fear or anxiety must be out of proportion to the situation or age-inappropriate and/or hinder your ability to function normally.

There are several types of anxiety disorders, including but not limited to:
– Generalized anxiety disorder
– Panic disorder
– Specific phobias
– Agoraphobia
– Social anxiety disorder
– Separation anxiety disorder

The first step is to see your doctor to make sure there is no physical problem causing the symptoms. If an anxiety disorder is diagnosed, a mental health professional can work with you on the best treatment. Unfortunately, many people with anxiety disorders don’t seek help. They don’t realize that they have an illness that has effective treatments.

Although each anxiety disorder has unique characteristics, most respond well to two types of treatment: psychotherapy, or “talk therapy,” and medications. These treatments can be given alone or in combination. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), a type of talk therapy, can help a person learn a different way of thinking, reacting and behaving to help feel less anxious. Medications will not cure anxiety disorders, but can give significant relief from symptoms. The most commonly used medications are anti-anxiety medications (generally prescribed only for a short period of time) and antidepressants. Beta-blockers, used for heart conditions, are sometimes used to control physical symptoms of anxiety.

Self-Help, Coping, and Managing
There are a number of things people do to help cope with symptoms of anxiety disorders and make treatment more effective. Stress management techniques, mindfulness, and meditation can be helpful. Support groups (in-person or online) can provide an opportunity to share experiences and coping strategies. Learning more about the specifics of a disorder and helping family and friends to understand better can also be helpful. Avoid caffeine, which can worsen symptoms, and check with your doctor about any medications.

Related Conditions can include, but are not limited to:
– Depression
– Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
– Acute stress disorder
– Obsessive-compulsive disorder
– Adjustment disorder

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BroglieBox, LLC is not a licensed therapy service. BroglieBox, LLC is not intended to replace professional treatment. 

At this time, we can recommend the below resources: 
Talk Space or Better Help (Online/Virtual Therapy)
The Buddy Project (For loneliness and peer support)
Crisis Text Line (For Depression and Self Harm)
Suicide Prevention Hotline (For Self Harm and Suicide Prevention)