“Anxiety is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained” – Somers Roche
Anxiety involves a frequent unpleasant feeling typically associated with uneasiness, apprehension and worry.
Being nervous or anxious from time to time is a normal part of living. However, for some, this nervous feeling can become more frequent or powerful and can start to take over their lives.
Feelings of anxiety can cause physical symptoms such as:
- Pounding heart (heart palpitations)
- Abdominal pain
- Cold/clammy hands
- Diarrhea and frequent urination
- Shaky voice
- Dry mouth/throat
- Excessive sweating
- Muscle tension
- Nausea
- Shaking
- Trembling
Visiting a therapist can help to identify the causes of anxiety as well as its triggers and can provide you with the support and help to eliminate anxiety’s hold.
“Affecting 13.7% of Irish adults at any point in time – that’s one in eight people”
Social Anxiety
It is the fear of social situations that involves interacting with other people. It can cause fear in all areas of a person’s life.
Behavioural symptoms of social anxiety include:
- Having a constant fear of someone teasing, bullying or criticizing them.
- Avoiding being the center of attention.
- Excessive worry when introducing themselves to other people.
- Feeling embarrassed easily.
- Fear when being around people in authority.
- Feeling uncomfortable when someone is watching or observing them performing a task or doing something.
- Avoiding eye contact and feeling uncomfortable meeting people’s eyes.
- Feeling overly conscious of how you walk, write, talk or present yourself in public.
Accompanying feelings may include: nervousness, high levels of fear, automatic negative emotions, trembling, dry mouth and muscle twitches.
You do not need to display all of the symptoms listed in order to have anxiety or social anxiety. If you are having frequent feelings of discomfort then it is worth visiting a therapist.