My Friend Suffered From Anxiety
I had a close friend who was once suffering from anxiety. She wasn’t really aware that she was a candidate for panic attacks until she had one. It was horrifying to her and I witnessed it first hand when she was driving us to Newport Beach (in California) for a concert night. She had a full-blown panic attack on the freeway.
How I Handled The Situation
Having had some acquaintances who shared her horror and already coaching clients, I had heard many experiences from them about anxiety. So, I quickly placed my hand on her shoulder and tried to calm her with my reassuring voice. I instructed her to pull over as soon as she could and not to try to reach a turn-off ramp at this point. I also told her that nothing was going to happen to her, to take a deep breath, and to keep breathing until she felt some relief. By that time, she had pulled the car over to a full stop on the shoulder of the freeway.
I cautiously got out of the car and took over driving until we could stop at a location, where she could have some water and we could talk for awhile. The concert would have to wait.
Everything went back to normal that night and we went to the concert. But I emphasized to Krystal that her level of anxiety was worthy of seeking a professional who could possibly diagnose it, perhaps as a disorder that warrants treatment. She agreed.
Everyone Experiences Anxiety Sometimes
Everyone has anxiety at some point in their lives. However, the degree or level of anxiety that interferes with a person’s daily functioning is the threshold for diagnosing. Only trained professionals should administer treatment remedies and oversee a patient and their progress.
Here is a list of what is called “normal” anxiety symptoms:
“Normal” Anxiety Examples:
1)-Having a school exam or a college entrance exam
2)-Going to a job interview or starting a new job
3)-Living alone
4)-Having financial difficulties
5)-Buying a new house
6)- First date
7)-Speaking in public
8)-Going on a trip
When the anxiety starts taking over one’s life such as interfering with their daily routine chores and responsibilities, then there is an obvious severe problem. Sometimes the anxiety can even create phobias, social anxiety and of course, panic attacks.
Abnormal Anxiety Examples:
1)-Excessive/obsessive worrying on a daily basis for more than 6 mos.
2)-When the anxiety is accompanied by fatigue, sleeplessness, or sleeping too much, according to Sally Winston, PsyD at the Anxiety and Stress Disorder Institute in Maryland in Towson (http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20646990,00.html)
3)-Waking up with your mind racing and not being able to calm yourself
4)-If anxiety is not generalized (GAD), then perhaps you have a specific situation, which causes anxiety; but, if it is disrupting your life, it may be a disorder
5)-Experiencing a phobic reaction to something that ignites a tremendous fear in you
6)-Repeated indigestion day after day
7)-Self-consciousness and fear of being with a lot of people or in crowds
8)-Compulsive/Obsessive Disorder-being overly compulsive about washing your hands or cleanliness in general (OCD).
9)-PTSD is also considered an anxiety disorder when people experience flashbacks about a particular incident that happened to them
10)-When obsessive rituals, which have to be completed, rule your life and come before anyone or anything
11)-Compulsive mental thoughts that are repeated over and over psychologically
12)-Constant and nagging self-doubt that questions one’s identity or second guesses themselves; for instance, over what people might think of them. Not believing or trusting their own decisions or ideals but wondering how others will perceive them is always the primary consideration
The Uncomfortable Feeling of Anxiety
Anxiety is always uncomfortable, whether it is considered “normal’ or “abnormal”. In other words, it is never pleasant. From the experience of Krystal, I saw how fearful it can drive someone to feel. One’s emotions run rapid and soar to uncontrollable. Usually, they feel as if something will happen to them, but their thoughts are only fantasized and out of control. Their thoughts are not real and nothing will happen to them. However, it is difficult for people to understand the thought process at first. However, with proper treatment and a good professional who is experienced in the field of anxiety disorders, will be able to treat a person according to their specific problem and make real progress over time.
References
Macmillan, A. (2016). 12 Signs you may have an anxiety disorder. Retrieved from http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20646990,00.html
