Anxiety can manifest physical, emotional and behavioural symptoms, and can vary in intensity and duration with each individual. Some of the most common signs include a racing heartbeat, shortness of breath, sweating, trembling, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, sleeplessness and a feeling of impending danger or doom.

The causes of anxiety can vary, and in some cases, there may not be a clear cause. Anxiety can be triggered by a number of things, including:

• Stressful life events
• Abusive or traumatic experiences
• Genetic factors
• An imbalance in brain chemistry

In therapy, we take the time to identify the root cause of your anxiety so that we can move forward with the most effective anxiety treatment plan.

While they are related, anxiety and panic attacks are not the same things.

A panic attack is a sudden and intense episode of fear that peaks very quickly and can manifest in obvious physical symptoms. Some of the common signs that accompany a panic attack are: extreme shortness of breath, heart palpitations, and chest pain. People can experience panic attacks because of an isolated event, even if they have never struggled with anxiety.

Anxiety on the other hand is more of a long term condition that encompasses the fear and worry that come with daily stress. Low levels of anxiety are normal and often manageable by the individual. When anxiety becomes persistent and interferes with your daily life, it can lead to more serious issues including panic attacks.

If you are experiencing anxiety or panic attacks, a therapist can help you understand your symptoms and develop a treatment plan so you can live more peacefully.

It’s normal to feel anxious or worried from time to time, particularly in response to stressful events or challenges in life. However, when anxiety becomes persistent, excessive, and interferes with your daily life, it may indicate an anxiety disorder. Here are some key differences between normal anxiety and an anxiety disorder:

• Severity and frequency: While everyone experiences anxiety, those with an anxiety disorder experience symptoms that are more severe, persistent, and frequent than what would be considered normal.
• Impact on daily life: Anxiety disorders can interfere with daily activities, relationships, work or school, and other areas of life. If anxiety prevents you from doing things you normally do or causing significant distress, it may indicate an anxiety disorder.
• Other symptoms: Anxiety disorders often come with a range of physical and emotional symptoms, such as panic attacks, obsessive thoughts or behaviors, social avoidance, and insomnia.
• Duration: Anxiety disorders can last for months or years, and symptoms can wax and wane over time, whereas normal anxiety tends to be temporary and situational.

If you’re not sure whether your anxiety is normal or indicative of an anxiety disorder, we can provide an accurate diagnosis, suggest appropriate treatment options, and help you learn coping skills to manage your anxiety.

Anxiety is typically treated through a combination of psychotherapy and medication. Psychotherapy can help you learn to recognize and challenge the negative thoughts and beliefs that lead to fear, worry and stress. Medication can help reduce the symptoms of anxiety by affecting brain chemistry.

At Intentional Outcomes, we use a variety of modalities in our treatments, including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Mindfulness, and other evidence-based approaches within your anxiety treatment plan.

As you work towards healing from anxiety, it’s important to remember that each person’s experience is unique. Healing is rarely linear, and setbacks are very normal. We will support you on every step of your journey so that you can focus on taking it one day at a time.

Some signs to watch for to know that progress is being made are:

• A reduction in symptoms: The severity and frequency of your anxiety symptoms may start to decrease, and you may experience longer periods of relief from anxiety.
• Improved functioning: You may find that you are better able to carry out daily tasks and engage in social activities that previously triggered anxiety.
• Increased coping skills: You may have developed new coping skills that allow you to manage anxiety more effectively, such as deep breathing, mindfulness, or positive self-talk.
• Enhanced self-awareness: You may have a greater understanding of your triggers and patterns of anxiety, which can help you anticipate and manage symptoms more effectively.
• Improved quality of life: You may experience an overall improvement in your quality of life, including better sleep, increased energy, and greater joy.

There is no set timeline for how long it will take to recover from anxiety, but with the help of a therapist, you can learn to manage your anxiety and reduce or even eliminate your symptoms.