What Anxiety Actually Is: More Than Just Worrying

What Most People Think Anxiety Is…

When people hear the word anxiety, they often assume it’s just about:

• Feeling nervous
• Worrying too much

This is a common stereotype, but it only scratches the surface. As a result, many people who struggle with anxiety are misunderstood — or worse, dismissed.

What Anxiety Actually Is

Anxiety is a real, diagnosable mental health condition that involves a wide range of emotional, cognitive, and physical symptoms. It can significantly affect daily functioning, relationships, and quality of life.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting over 40 million adults each year.

Here’s a deeper look at what anxiety can actually feel like:

🧠 Mental Symptoms:

• Trouble concentrating
• Intrusive or racing thoughts
• Uncontrollable worry
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Constant fear of something going wrong

😴 Behavioral Symptoms:

• Avoidance of certain places or people
• Trouble sleeping or frequent waking
• Restlessness and being “on edge”
• Sudden bursts of irritability or frustration

💥 Physical Symptoms:

• Headaches, chest tightness, or nausea
• Muscle tension
• Rapid heartbeat or shortness of breath
• Fatigue despite proper rest
• Dizziness or shakiness

🧍‍♂️ Emotional Symptoms:

• Feelings of guilt or shame
• Low self-esteem or hopelessness
• Panic attacks or emotional shutdown

Expert Insight

“Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength.”
— Charles Spurgeon

“It’s not stress that kills us, it is our reaction to it.”
— Hans Selye, Endocrinologist

Understanding anxiety is the first step to treating it with compassion — not criticism.

When to Seek Help

If anxiety is interfering with your work, relationships, or peace of mind, it’s time to reach out. Seek help from a:

• Psychologist
• Psychiatrist
• Licensed therapist or counselor

Treatment options include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR)
• Anti-anxiety medications
• Support groups
• Yoga, meditation, and lifestyle changes

🔗 Professional Resources:

• NIMH – Anxiety Disorders
• WHO – Mental Health

Self-Care Tips for Managing Anxiety

🧘‍♀️ Practice daily mindfulness (even 5 minutes helps)
📓 Keep a journal to track patterns or triggers
🛌 Improve sleep hygiene — aim for 7–8 hours nightly
🚶‍♂️ Move your body with light exercise or yoga
🧂 Cut back on caffeine and sugar
👫 Talk to someone — a friend, coach, or therapist
📱 Limit screen time, especially before bed

Final Thoughts from Dr. Garg

At Wellness360, we believe in treating mental health with the same seriousness and sensitivity as physical health. Anxiety is not weakness. It’s not “just overthinking.” It’s a valid and manageable condition — and the first step to healing is understanding.

Let’s end the stigma, one honest conversation at a time.

📌 Featured on: Wellness360byDrGarg.com
📷 Image Credit: @what.is.mental.illness (Instagram)