ALMOST EVERY ONE OF us has been or will be affected by anxiety during our lifetimes. Anxiety is a universal feeling often experienced as a state of unease over upcoming events or uncertain future outcomes. It could be a response to an immediate threat or to something imagined that might happen in the future. Whether the anxiety trigger is in the present or an anticipated future, many events and situations contribute to our anxiety.
During World War II, the threat of fascism dominating the free world was a major source of anxiety. During the Cold War, people worried about the possibility of a nuclear disaster. Today, we fret about terrorism, privacy, environmental issues, political upheaval, unstable economies, and more. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat provide a conduit for sharing our experiences with others; however, they often contribute to a persistent form of anxiety and peer pressure—a need to be better, happier, richer, and more successful than the others on our friends list.
Anxiety has surpassed depression as the most common reason that young adults and teens seek counseling. A recent national survey of college students indicated that in 2015, more than 60 percent of undergraduates felt overwhelmed by anxiety.
Studies show that when anxiety, stress, or worry drag out or become chronic, the resulting physical changes can suppress the immune system. Such suppression will weaken the body’s defenses against infection and contribute to coronary artery disease and even heart attacks.
This book will help you distinguish normal anxiety responses from more extreme forms of distress known as anxiety disorders, which disrupt our ability to get things done. It will not only help you better understand what contributes to your anxiety; it will also help you determine whether your discomfort in a given situation is reasonable or perhaps out of proportion to the circumstances.
In the chapters ahead, you will learn several do-it-yourself techniques to lower your anxiety symptoms and how to determine whether you could benefit from professional help. Taking action to reduce your anxiety will not only improve your well-being and brain health; it will also reduce your risk of physical illnesses and help you live longer and better.