Anxiety: An Overview of Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options

Anxiety is a feeling of worry or fear that can be overwhelming. It is your body's natural response to stress, but it can become debilitating when it interferes with daily life. Anxiety can cause physical symptoms such as sweating, shaking, racing heart rate, and difficulty breathing. It can also impact your mood–irritability, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, and difficulty sleeping are common with anxiety.

What Causes Anxiety Disorders?

Because everyday factors like an upcoming exam or work presentation can trigger it, everyone experiences anxiety occasionally. But for some, it becomes a chronic condition that must be managed.

An anxiety disorder is longer-term and can cause significant distress. It typically develops due to factors like a buildup of stress due to ongoing stressful life situations, trauma, or other mental health concerns such as depression. Risk factors like genetics and personality types make one more prone to developing an anxiety disorder. 

Knowing what's at the root of your anxiety is one important part of managing this condition and living a healthy, productive life.

Getting Help for Anxiety

There are many ways to manage and reduce symptoms of anxiety. One of the most effective treatments is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). It helps people recognize patterns of thought that contribute to their anxieties and develop coping strategies to manage them better. 

CBT focuses on teaching skills like relaxation techniques and mindfulness so that people can better control their feelings of worry or fear when they arise. Other treatments include medication such as anti-anxiety drugs or antidepressants and lifestyle changes like regular exercise and a balanced diet.

If you think you might have an anxiety disorder, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional so they can help you get the treatment you need.

Imposter Syndrome: The Reasons You Feel Underserving of Success

Imposter Syndrome is a psychological phenomenon and term used to describe the feelings of self-doubt and insecurity that can accompany success. Despite evidence to the contrary, including skills and hard work, people with imposter syndrome often feel they are unqualified or undeserving of their accomplishments. This can lead to a fear of being exposed as a fraud.

What Causes Imposter Syndrome?

Several factors can contribute to imposter syndrome, including:

• Struggles with self-efficacy: People with imposter syndrome often have difficulty believing in their own abilities. This may be due to growing up in a competitive environment where they were constantly compared to others or being told that they weren't good enough. As a result, they don't trust their own judgment and instead second-guess themselves constantly. 

• Perfectionism: Many people with imposter syndrome are perfectionists. They believe that if they can do things perfectly, they'll be able to prove that they're not frauds. Of course, this is an impossible standard to live up to and only leads to frustration and disappointment. 

• Neuroticism: People who tend to be anxious, insecure, and sensitive are also more likely to suffer from imposter syndrome. This is because they're more likely to dwell on their mistakes and magnify them out of proportion.

How Therapy Can Help

Imposter syndrome is a real problem that can majorly impact your life. If left unchecked, it can negatively affect your mental health and prevent you from reaching your full potential in any area of your life. One's fears of achieving success or making a mistake can make it hard to enjoy their successes and pursue new opportunities.

If you're feeling like an imposter, don't despair—you're not alone. Many high-achieving people suffer from impostor syndrome at some point in their lives.

Therapy is a tremendously helpful resource for individuals struggling with imposter syndrome. It can help by exploring the underlying causes of your impostorism and teaching healthy ways to cope with your feelings and triggers.