Anxiety is a misunderstood condition, and these misunderstandings have caused millions of those living with anxiety to fear their symptoms and struggle to overcome relief. Those that have not experienced anxiety think of it like healthy anxiousness - after all, anxiety at its core is actually an important emotion. It keeps you safe at times of danger and prepares you for fighting or fleeing.
That's caused anxiety to be looked at through the lens of healthy anxiousness, like the type you experience before a test in school, a meeting with your boss, or when you're going up to talk to someone cute for the first time. You experience the standard anxiety symptoms:
- Pounding heart
- Sweaty palms
- Mild nausea
… and so on. That's healthy anxiety.
Anxiety disorders are very different, and far more troubling. Anxiety disorders aren't just some mild physical sensations. They're a combination of mental and physical symptoms that in some cases can become overwhelming. In fact, the symptoms of anxiety can be so powerful that they cause people to fear their anxiety every day.
