Over 40 million adults in the U.S. have an anxiety disorder. It’s a persistent feeling of fear and worry, sometimes accompanied by physical sensations such as a pounding, racing heart, stomach issues, fatigue, headaches, and sleep disturbances.
A mix of environmental factors and genetics are often responsible for anxiety, and in some cases, an underlying medical condition could be the cause. There are many types of anxiety, including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, OCD, phobias, and social anxiety. This description, folks, is an underestimation of what having an anxiety disorder truly feels like, and of course, it varies from person to person.
With my patients, I describe anxiety as a “tiger in the room.” It makes you panic, you feel the fear, your hands are sweaty, and you can’t catch your breath. The most disturbing fact is that no one else can see it! My patients love this description. They always claim it’s the most accurate description they’ve ever heard and ask how I came up with it. I tell them, “It’s because I have a tiger too, and it’s right next to me!”
I have been struggling with anxiety for most of my adult life due to a medical condition and likely genetics. Besides my “God-sent supplements” I take daily, what has helped me the most is to look at my anxiety in a different manner. I see my anxiety as my “childish annoying sister”—like the annoying family member that I cannot get rid of and have to learn to live with. Seeing anxiety in this way has decreased the fear I used to have when I felt it coming. It has taught me to pay attention to it, to recognize why “she” is throwing a tantrum, and just like when people throw tantrums, “she” wants my attention and she won’t stop until I give it to her.
During the next few weeks, I will share some strategies to tame the “tiger.” I say “tame it” because, like a family member, chances are you will have to learn to deal with it for most of your life. Another truth is that, if tamed, anxiety can be a great tool for problem-solving, fostering a solution-focused mindset, and even achieving success.
Stay tuned!
Vanessa Alba
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
(818) 927-1284
