Excessive anxiety can be the result of multiple origins and factors. Some of us simply have a genetic predisposition to high anxiety.
Also, we learn about life from our early caregivers, so if one or more of our primary caregivers exhibited high anxiety, we may have learned to have high anxiety simply by following their example.
In other cases, trauma can be at the core of excessive anxiety. While many of us are familiar with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sometimes referred to a “Big T” trauma, excessive anxiety can also be caused by multiple “little t” traumata, which often fall below the radar, in that they don’t register as being significant enough to be a cause for concern, so it becomes rather a “death by a thousand cuts” scenario.
By working with a trained therapist at Rosetta Mental Health, you will uncover the true origins of your anxiety, find a path to significant recovery, and start to live a life unshackled by excessive worry and stress.
Excessive anxiety will manifest in a variety of ways. You may find it difficult to fall asleep or to get quality, restful sleep. You may have an inability to relax and enjoy life. You may find yourself excessively ruminating about various aspects of your life. One of our clinicians will be more than happy to help you better explore, understand, and control your excessive anxiety.
Anxiety in an individual can be caused by any number of factors. Sometimes a person can have a genetic predisposition to anxiety, making them biologically more prone to anxiety than others. Or, more commonly, sometimes our environment can cause anxiety, whether we’re stuck in traffic and late to an appointment, or confronted by an angry coworker, or we just haven’t gotten enough sleep the night before.
The truth is, anxiety is simply a natural part of being human. We are unique in the animal kingdom in that, as humans, we have an ability to project ideas into the future: what would happen if (fill in the blank) happened? What would happen if the store is out of milk? What if I don’t get that raise I was hoping for? Anxiety is good in that it alerts us to danger and urges us to take necessary precautions against things that could potentially harm us in some way. Anxiety is only a problem when it becomes excessive or pervasive, or chronic, because it starts to shut down our ability to think calmly and rationally through everyday life occurrences.
Several types of anxiety orders are described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM‑5), including:
Agoraphobia (avoidance of places or situations, often resulting in an individual not willing to leave the house)
Anxiety disorder due to a medical condition
Generalized anxiety disorder
Panic disorder
Selective mutism (consistent failure of children to speak in certain situations)
Separation anxiety disorder
Social anxiety disorder (social phobia)
Specific phobias (e.g., fear of spiders)
Substance-induced anxiety disorder
First, one must be educated about anxiety (psychoeducation) to understand the causes and effects of anxiety. Often, simply naming a problem can help in decreasing symptoms. Next, psychotherapy, specifically cognitive behavioral therapy, has been shown to provide relief for generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and panic disorders. Another type of therapy, exposure therapy, works well for those suffering from agoraphobia and specific phobias. FInally, lifestyle changes, such as exercising more, eating a healthy diet, and improving sleep hygiene, in addition to practices such as mindfulness and deep breathing, are great supplemental methods to decrease excessive anxiety.
