The short answer is yes, Anxiety can be genetic. Specifically, it is a trait which is heritable, or genetically transmitted from one generation to the next. Anxiety is part of the normal range of human emotion, which we have all experienced.  Anxiety is a useful emotion as it lends to motivations.  People who are anxious are highly attune...

The short answer is yes, anxiety can make you physically sick. Too much anxiety can lead to symptoms of physical illness, worsen existing illness, or pre-dispose you toward illness. Our thoughts, emotions, perceptions, and behaviors all interact with and impact our physical function, and vice versa. The impact of uncontrolled anxiety can threaten y...

The short answer is yes, Anxiety can be a disability. Anxiety can escalate to a level where one is unable to leave home and function in the community.  Anxiety can make it impossible to maintain employment, drive a car, and interact with others. Anxiety can take away from ones ability to perform the expected daily tasks of an adult. Suffering ...

Many of us know what anxiety feels like, but what does anxiety do to your brain? Essentially, two parts of the brain are impacted by anxiety: the amygdala and the hippocampus. As soon as the brain detects anxiety, a series of chemicals are released, which creates the physical reactions we are most familiar with such as a racing heartbeat or sweaty ...

Jennifer Luttman, LPC  This article by KOAA New Channel 5 features Jennifer Luttman, the owner, and therapist at Overcomers Counseling in Colorado Springs.   Thank you, Jenny, for your input and dedication to helping those in need during this crisis!  Anxiety and fear are not only affecting us as adults but our children as well....

With the outbreak of the Coronavirus, anxiety, and fear has run rampant.  We live in uncertain times and our mental health stability may be wavering.   The outbreak is making it difficult to do the normal everyday activity and we are seeing panic spread as the newscasters paint a dim and uncertain picture for the future.  C...

If you struggle with anxiety, these quotes will help put things into perspective. "You wouldn't worry so much about what others think of you if you realized how seldom they do." - Eleanor Roosevelt"Today I escaped anxiety. Or no, I discarded it, because it was within me, in my own perceptions-- not outside." - Marcus Aurelius"Anxiety does not empty...

Anxiety can take many forms. Anxiety is a normal emotion to experience. Anxiety is a powerful source of motivation. When we experience it at a low level, we are motivated to act. Action reduces anxiety.  When anxiety reaches levels that are too high, it can leave us unable to act.  This is the Yerkes-Dodson Law of psychology (Cohen, 2011)...

Anxiety and depression are two of the most common mental health disorders out there. While some disorders, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, are relatively uncommon amongst the general population, anxiety and depression are more the rule rather than the exception, with an estimated 15-20% of the general population experiencing one or the ...

Find out what is social anxiety is and what it means to you? Social anxiety disorder is a mental health condition characterized by an excessive fear of social situations. Individuals who suffer from social anxiety disorder may find themselves afraid of common social situations that occur at school, work, and leisure time. They may find it...

If you struggle with social anxiety, regular social interaction can seem overwhelming and terrifying. These feelings can greatly inhibit an individual's ability to succeed and thrive in life. Luckily, however, social anxiety disorder is an extremely treatable condition. The vast majority of those who struggle with social anxiety disorder are able t...

Have you ever questioned if there was any truth to social anxiety therapy and does it work? Social anxiety therapy typically falls into one of two camps: talk therapy and medication. Both have been shown to be effective in the treatment of social anxiety disorder, and in some cases, patients may undergo both forms of treatment simultaneou...

What's the difference between an anxiety attack and a panic attack, and how can you tell the difference? Contrary to popular belief, anxiety attacks and panic attacks are not quite the same thing. Each differs somewhat in causes, symptoms, treatment, and prognosis, and understanding the difference between the two is important to anyone who may be f...

Anxiety attacks can be frightening, overwhelming experiences for people who experience them, but what does an anxiety attack feel like exactly? Anxiety attacks often present with a variety of physical symptoms, such as shortness of breath and chest pain. Because of this, many people experiencing an anxiety attack for the first time may seek emergen...

If you struggle with social anxiety disorder, small activities may overwhelm you and drain you of your energy.  While seeking treatment is a crucial part of overcoming social anxiety disorder, it can sometimes take weeks or even months to begin to show improvements.   Fortunately, however, there is a lot you can do in the meantime in...

Proper socialization is a vital part of the healthy mental development of children, and any interruption or issue with such socialization may have lasting health impacts on a child. While social anxiety disorder typically develops in older children and adolescents, it is possible to see the condition develop in younger children as well. Given the c...

The teenage years are often fraught with anxiety. The new demands placed upon children entering puberty and the hormonal changes they will experience can create a maelstrom of symptoms that can make adaptation to the adult world difficult. While most teenagers are able to successfully transition from childhood to adolescence with minimal turbulence...

While social anxiety disorder typically starts and is seen in adolescents, there are many millions of adults who struggle with the condition as well.  When social anxiety persists into adulthood, it can affect an individual's ability to form healthy, lasting relationships, and may negatively impact their professional life as well. While the sy...

Social anxiety disorder is a complex mental health condition with a variety of causes, both genetic and environmental.   As with most anxiety disorders, social anxiety disorder involves excessive or inappropriate fear of certain situations, in this case those pertaining to social interaction. Those with social anxiety disorder have excess...

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health issues reported, and unfortunately, are widely prevalent among children as well as adults. While anxiety issues are difficult for adults to handle, anxiety disorders in children may create unique challenges that often leave parents at a loss. As a child's brain is still in the process of grow...