What is anxiety?

Question

What exactly is it? How does it make you feel? Do you like forget to breathe? And do you worry like nonstop?

Answer 1

Anxiety is a mental state of exagerrated worry and nervousness for a given situation. There are different types of anxiety. For example, someone with Generalized Anxiety will feel anxious more often than not (for some that means non-stop), while someone with Panic Disorder won't necessarily be worried all the time, but will have panic attacks that are not related to any external stresses.

For more generalized anxiety, I can tell you first-hand (this is how it is for me, anyway) that it's just a constant, nagging anxiety, even if you're not really thinking about anything stress-provoking. The butterflies-in-the-stomach feeling is almost constant. Also, being so anxious all the time really exhausts you, and sometimes I'll just want to take a nap only hours after I've woken up even if I'd gotten plenty of sleep the night before. Sometimes I do forget to breathe, I think. And this leads to what some would call "air hunger," and basically you just feel like you can't get a good breath of air. It's not physically bad for you, but it's probably just about the most frustrating feeling ever.

Answer 2

I think anxiety is what happens when the natural fear instinct gets out of control.

When I have anxiety, I worry a lot, and I feel a kind of choking feeling in my throat.

When you talk about "forgetting to breathe", that sounds like a panic attack, which is an extreme anxiety symptom.

I have had panic attacks where my heart starts beating faster, I have exaggerated reflexes, and sweat profusely.

I have heard of people having chest pain and breathing abnormalities like you describe; as part of a panic attack.

If you are having symptoms like that, maybe you should talk to a doctor; there are several medications that can help.

Deep breathing also helps quite a bit, but if it's really bad and happens often, you'll probably need medication.

Answer 3

It's pretty much one of the most difficult and uncomfortably overwhelming feelings that a human being can possibly experience. In my case I found that people are less sympathetic to those battling anxiety vs. those with depression because others feel as though we should "just calm down." People with depression handle life differently, they become very sad. People with anxiety become restless, overwhelmed, uncomfortable, irritable, nervous, hot, sensitive to touch, etc, etc.... At times it's difficult to breathe, yes. And yes, I've forgotten to breathe more times than I can count. It makes everything on your body feel like it's being tourtured. It's as though a thousand people are sparking all of your five senses all at once and they all demand your attention at that exact moment. Worrying often is not how I like to spend my day, but I've found (through therapy) that I waste ALOT of time doing so. It wouldn't be irrational to say that I worry "non-stop" no. Not at all.

Answer 4

Feeling nervous!! Sometimes people get anxiety for know reason. Everyone can feel that way from time to time. Others have a disorder called Social Aniexty Disorder. Some people have panic attacks which I think are another form of aniexty. Everyone gets nervous. For some people it's a more serious problem. For those people they can't help their aniexty expect by taking medication.

Answer 5

Anxiety is having an extreme case of nervousness about something. It could cause you to forget to breathe, yes. It will cause you to constantly worry about something.

Answer 6

My anxiety is like a constant feeling of nervousness. My mind races and I tend to worry about everything and anything. Sometimes it includes panic attacks and stuff like that. Its different for everyone.

Answer 7

anxiety is all mind over body...if u think about your breathing...it will cause you to breath irregular...and it's a circulating effect...each thing you think /worry about...will happen... mind over body + get to know when your anxiety is approaching..... and tell yourself that you know what it is + not going to let it control you... and you will once again have control over your body + be able to fight of anxiety before it becomes an attack of any kind :)

Answer 8

when you get anxiety your chest tightens up and you feel like you cant catch your breath