Anxiety is a normal, common human emotion that everyone feels at some point or another. It’s normal to feel nervous or anxious when faced with certain situations. Common examples are public speaking, a mysterious meeting with your boss, meeting a new roommate, or going on a first date. It’s also normal and healthy to feel anxious in situations that are perceived as unsafe or a little risky. I always feel a little rush of anxiety on a ski lift, even though I’ve been snowboarding for years and know how to get off the lift without falling. A friend of mind always feels a bit nervous flying on airplanes, even though she does it a lot and has never had a bad experience on an airplane. Anxiety is an emotion that serves an important purpose. When our brains sense a possible danger in our environment (even if it’s one we imagine in our mind’s eye), we experience a feeling of anxiety that triggers a cascade of bodily functions that are meant to get us to pay closer attention to what comes next, and be ready to respond to anything. So during a feeling of anxiety, you may notice your heart rate increases (to pump more blood to your muscles in case you need to move quickly and your pupils dilate (to see a bit better and respond to movement in your field of vision). So anxiety is not bad; it’s a good thing that’s developed over a long time to keep you safe. But when does a ‘normal’ experience of anxiety morph into a problem or a possible Anxiety Disorder? A normal experience of anxiety has 3 parts: -The anxiety is short-lived -The anxiety correlates well to the situation that triggered it -The anxiety doesn’t stop you from living your life With a normal level of anxiety, it comes and goes and doesn’t seem to last all day long. Also, the anxiety that you feel will ‘fit’ with the situation and will pass once that situation is over or once you feel more comfortable. For example, you may feel anxiety right before you give a big presentation at work, but feel calm after it’s over or once you get going with the presentation and feel more comfortable. And finally, the anxiety does not stop you from fully engaging with your life, both professionally and personally. By contrast, a clinical level of anxiety or a full-blown Anxiety Disorder has these features: -The anxiety is long-lasting or seems always present -The anxiety does not correlate to a specific situation -The anxiety gets in the way of personal and professional goals and tasks Anxiety disorders are relatively common, affecting about 18% of the adult population in the US. The most common feature that our clients describe about their anxiety is that it’s an ever-present kind of shadow of their lives. Over time, it can encroach more and more on your day-to-day life. For example, anxiety might stop you from doing an important work presentation or interviewing for a new job. It may lessen your social life or make it difficult to hang out with friends. If you feel your anxiety has progressed past a normal level and into more of a problem, reach out to Contact Us and get a free consultation. Working with a counselor to reduce your anxiety will help you feel calmer and more at peace on a daily basis.