ANXIETY

By Ellen E. Grant, PhD, LCSW-R

What is the definition of ANXIETY? 

Ellen E. Grant, PhD. LCSW-R

I’m not talking about the song by Doechii including words like “…Anxiety keep on trying me..my anxiety..can’t shake it off of me..somebody’s watching me..”

Though many no doubt are followers of Doechii, there are many in our community who suffer from Anxiety.

First, I’ll tell you about The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders  Version Five (DSMV) .  This is the official “dictionary”  and or “Encyclopedia” so to speak used by all working in the mental health field. From students to researchers, to psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, paraprofessional workers-all may refer to the DSMV when needing to give a patient a diagnostic “label”. 

Please note, I do not want to denigrate and or stereotype anyone, but I want everyone, interested parties to be able to be educated as much as feasible when and or if you are seeking assistance.

A full Anxiety diagnosis can be a feeling of anxiousness to the point you are unable to concentrate and perform your usual daily activities. You may be restless to the point that you are active in your speech, body, mind. Your speech may be rapid, your body constantly moving, you’re up and down from your seat, you’re constantly tapping your feet, your fingers on a table. You may have a fear that something unknown to you has happened, is going to happen and you’re unable to identify exactly what.

You are unable to sleep due to the anxiety and anxious feeling you are experiencing. You’re skin may feel itchy like ants are crawling on you, you’re sweating more than usual, eyes darting, you may be crying and unable to explain why you’re crying. Your heart may be beating so hard, it may feel as if it will burst right out of your chest. You may have shortness of breath.  You may have unexplained moodiness, feeling like you want to be left alone, afraid to be out in public or engage with family, friends.  All of these symptoms I’ve written here are words used by my past patients of what they were feeling at the time of their anxiety and or feeling of anxiousness.  

I’ll emphasize here that there is a difference between feeling anxious and an anxiety diagnosis.  The anxiety diagnosis via the DSM-V will be made by the mental health therapist or physician.

You may be at the doctor’s office waiting to hear if you have a certain disease and are anxious. You may be in your car driving to meet a friend for a meal and already running late. You may be waiting to see if you passed a test, driving exam. Many of us have been through some of these and or similar events that can cause us to be Anxious.

What are the CAUSES of a diagnosis of Anxiety?

Researchers continue to explore if the cause is genetics, but it can also be caused by alcohol and or drug abuse,  a chronic illness such as cancer or other illness, a traumatic event,physical abuse, environmental stress as well as long term stress.

Though there are a few variations of anxiety, there is no one thing that is known to cause anxiety.  Perhaps your Mother, Father, Grandparent was nearly always anxious and suffered from what you perceived as anxiety. Recall that years ago and still today- there is much “stigma” attributed to having any kind of mental disorder/condition. “She’s always been that way..she’ll be fine”; “keep our family business in the house…don’t tell our business”; “just give her that root medicine to calm her nerves”.

Only within the past 15 years or so has the general population begun to understand it’s okay and necessary to talk about mental health and issues such as anxiety.

Briefly, I’ll add some suggestions for dealing with anxiety and  feeling anxious.  Exercise, deep breathing, meditation, journaling/writing. One of my favorite activities I’ve recommended to my patients that I also follow is to daily list three things that you’re GRATEFUL FOR in a  block calendar or journal- just three bullet points-for example- Thanking GOD for waking you up this morning; a great meal with friends; a call from your child(my favorite from a son who lives and travels away who doesn’t call enough); dark chocolate,etc.

Please know however, if your stress is interfering with your activities of daily life- you’re missing work, shaky, not sleeping , unable to concentrate,etc., it is time for you to please seek some help.

 If you are thinking about hurting yourself-suicide-please call the 24 hr. 7day a week Crisis Line of these three numbers “988”. You will find someone ready to speak to you, recommend a course of action.

For those of you with a primary medical physician you can also contact this person. He or she will evaluate you and may recommend an anti-anxiety medication.

You can also GOOGLE “mental health services near me” where you’ll find a number of services to contact and find the needed assistance.

Let’s all work together as a community to help those in need, refer them to the appropriate treatment vehicle for a healthier community.  Too many children are not being reached early enough in life to address their anxiety, anxiousness and end up in self-harming actions, in prisons, harming others because they were not being helped and or sought out help.

I’ll close with this quote that I found inspirational-hoping you may also.

“If we focus on our health, including our inner health, our self-esteem, and how we look at ourselves and our confidence level, we’ll tend to be healthier people anyway; we’ll tend to make better choices for our lives, for our bodies, we’ll always be trying to learn more, and get better as time goes on.”—Queen Latifah, actress and musician

Ellen E. Grant, PhD. LCSW-R

Former Commissioner of Erie County Dept. Of Mental Health, Therapist, Former Deputy Mayor and community leader