What is Anxiety?

We all know what anxiety looks like. Right?

Sweaty palms, your heart beating quickly, shallow breathing, feeling out of control, feeling jumpy... but what about some less traditional signs? 

Some people miss important clues about anxiety. 

Anxiety can also look like anger, sadness, and isolation. Sometimes, with anxiety bubbling underneath the service, you feel on edge - leading to an angry outburst. Or you feel nervous about interacting with others - so you stay in your room all day. 

You may also notice that you feel this drive to do well and succeed, and a huge letdown when you don't do as well as you had hoped. You never want to feel this way again - to the point that you keep focusing on this failure, even thinking about it at night instead of falling asleep. 

How can you treat anxiety on your own?

First, you need to be aware of the problem. Figure out what anxiety looks like for you. Does it present as that classic sweaty palm/hyperventilation? Or does it look more like feeling frustrated all the time?

Then you will want to track what happens before, during, and after these anxious feelings. Pay attention to see if there are any patterns. Maybe certain situations set you off. Maybe you feel this way more often when you get a poor night's sleep. 

Finally, create your coping plan. 

Many people find that building in relaxation practice throughout the day helps them to feel less on edge and less prone to anxious feelings. This can include practicing yoga, taking deep breathing breaks, or listening to restful music.

Take care of yourself, and make sure you eat healthfully, sleep regularly, and get outside at least once a day. 

Sometimes, you may need counseling for anxiety. 

It can be helpful to talk with someone about what's going on, and what other suggestions they may have for you. I recommend working with someone who specializes in anxiety, especially if your anxiety is different from that traditional definition. Many counselors ignore that anger, frustration, and perfectionism can stem from anxiety as well - so be sure to find a counselor or therapist who is the best fit for you. 

If you have further questions, please reach out!

Curious to hear more, or are you a little reluctant about counseling? Compassionate Counseling St. Louis provides specialized anxiety and anger management therapy for kids, teens, and college students. We work in Clayton, MO and serve kids, teens, and college students throughout St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Ladue, University City, Town and Country, Webster Groves, Creve Coeur, Kirkwood, Richmond Heights, and Brentwood. You can set up your free phone screening to see if we’re a good fit for your needs right on our website.