Anxiety affects millions worldwide!  It can show up as a combination of fears, worries, and challenges varying from mild discomfort to debilitating panic.

Understanding the answer to the question, “will anxiety go away” will help you understand where you should go next within your mental wellness journey.

In this blog post, we delve into the details of these conditions, going over the risk factors, exploring the symptoms, the differences between fear and anxiety and lastly, shedding light on effective strategies for managing and overcoming them.

Join us as we navigate this maze together, seeking understanding and empowerment in the face of anxiety’s grip on the mind.

• Genetics: A family history of anxiety disorders or other mental health conditions can increase the likelihood of developing anxiety.

• Brain Chemistry or Brain Injury: Imbalances in neurotransmitters like serotonin, norepinephrine, or gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) can play a role in anxiety disorders.

• Personality: Certain personality traits, such as being prone to negative thinking, perfectionism, or being shy or withdrawn, may increase vulnerability to anxiety.

• Life Experiences: Stressful or traumatic events, such as abuse, violence, or significant life changes (e.g., moving, divorce, job loss), can trigger or exacerbate anxiety.

• Medical Conditions: Chronic illnesses or conditions that affect physical health can contribute to anxiety symptoms.

• Substance Use: Alcohol or drug abuse can worsen anxiety symptoms or trigger anxiety disorders.

• Other Mental Health Disorders: Co-occurring conditions such as depression or PTSD can increase the risk of developing an anxiety disorder.

• Personality Disorders: Certain personality disorders, such as borderline personality disorder, may increase susceptibility to anxiety.

• Environmental Factors: High levels of stress, unstable living conditions, or lack of social support can contribute to anxiety disorders.

Persistent and excessive worry about everyday things, often paired with physical symptoms like restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, muscle tension, and sleep problems.

Sudden and repeated episodes of intense fear that can lead to panic attacks. Panic attacks often include physical symptoms such as palpitations, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, and feelings of impending doom.

Intense worry of social situations where there is potential for harsh judgement or embarrassment. Individuals may fear being humiliated in front of others, leading to avoidance of social interactions.

Consistent failure to speak in specific social situations despite speaking in other situations, often observed in children.

Separation anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive worry about separation from significant attachment figures, such as parents or caregivers.

It often leads to distress when separated from them and can interfere with daily activities and relationships.

Separation anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive fear or anxiety about separation from significant attachment figures, such as parents or caregivers.

It often leads to distress when separated from them and can interfere with daily activities and relationships.

Fear and avoidance of situations or places that might cause panic, helplessness, or embarrassment. Examples of this might be fear of open spaces, public transportation, enclosed spaces, or being in a crowd.

Anxiety symptoms caused by the use of substances (e.g., drugs, medications, or alcohol) or withdrawal from them.

Anxiety symptoms that are directly attributed to another medical condition, such as thyroid disorders or heart conditions

Symptoms of an anxiety disorder can vary widely depending on the specific type of disorder but generally include a combination of emotional, cognitive, and physical symptoms.

According to the DSM-5, each anxiety disorder must be evaluated by a mental health professional through the criteria of duration and intensity along with the number of symptoms.

• Feeling apprehensive, nervous, or on edge.
• Experiencing a sense of impending danger or doom.
• Feeling irritable or easily startled.

• Racing or intrusive thoughts.
• Difficulty concentrating or focusing on tasks.
• Persistent worry or obsession over specific concerns.

• Increased heart rate or palpitations.
• Sweating, trembling, or shaking.
• Shortness of breath or feelings of being smothered.
• Dizziness, lightheadedness, or feeling faint.
• Gastrointestinal problems such as stomachaches or nausea.

• Avoidance of situations that trigger anxiety.
• Ritualistic behaviors or compulsions to alleviate anxiety.
• Slurred speech
• Difficulty sleeping or disrupted sleep patterns.
• Restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge.

• Difficulty with social interactions or relationships.
• Impaired performance at work, school, or daily activities due to anxiety.

Fear is an emotional response to an immediate threat that is real or perceived and its survival mechanism triggers the body’s fight-or-flight response. It tends to be short-lived, dissipating once the threat is removed or addressed.

Anxiety is more about anticipation and worry about potential future threats or events with a state of inner turmoil and unease. It tends to be more prolonged, persisting even in the absence of an immediate threat.

Fear usually has a specific, identifiable source, such as a dangerous animal, an impending accident, or any immediate danger.

Anxiety, on the other hand, often lacks a clear or immediate threat and can be triggered by a variety of stressors, including thoughts about the future, personal concerns, or general worry. However, both can be trigger by past traumas.

The feeling of fear typically involves physical reactions like increased heart rate, sweating, and heightened alertness.

Anxiety can include physical symptoms similar to fear (e.g., increased heart rate, sweating), but also includes cognitive symptoms like excessive worry, restlessness, and difficulty concentrating.

It’s crucial to consult with a mental health professional and undergo a comprehensive evaluation for any potential mental health disorders before seeking guidance from a coach.

Mental health professionals, such as psychologists, psychiatrists, or licensed counselors, possess the training and expertise to accurately assess and diagnose mental health conditions.

This assessment ensures that individuals receive appropriate care tailored to their specific needs, whether it involves therapy, medication, or other interventions.

By obtaining a professional evaluation first, you can ensure that you are addressing any underlying psychological issues that may require clinical treatment, while also benefiting fully from the supportive practices and techniques offered by a coach in tandem with their therapeutic journey.

Mental health professionals can give you interventions within evidenced-based modalities that have been proven to help with anxiety disorders including CBT and ACT.

CBT helps people identify and challenge negative thought patterns and behaviors, replacing them with more balanced and constructive thoughts.

ACT is another type of psychotherapy and it involves helping people develop psychological flexibility by focusing on acceptance, cognitive defusion, present-moment awareness, values, and committed action. 

Anti-anxiety medications prescribed by a psychiatrist can also be beneficial after an evaluation.

Medication, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) work by increasing serotonin levels in the brain, which can help regulate mood and reduce anxiety.

A study in The Lancet (2018) concluded that SSRIs are effective for the acute treatment of generalized anxiety disorder.

Mindfulness coaching can be a great tool if you have not been diagnosed with any complex mental health issues but occasionally deal with normal amounts of anxiety.

A mindfulness coach primarily focuses on teaching and guiding individuals in mindfulness practices such as meditation, mindful deep breathing exercises, and present-moment awareness to enhance overall well-being and stress management.

Their training is specialized in mindfulness techniques and does not include past trauma work that may be required for complex cases and treatment of mental health disorders.

Both caffeine and alcohol can exacerbate anxiety symptoms. Reducing or eliminating these substances can help manage anxiety.

Physical activity, like walking, running, yoga, or swimming can release endorphins, which can improve mood and reduce anxiety.

Ensuring you get enough quality sleep is crucial for mental health. Establish a regular sleep routine and create a relaxing bedtime environment.

Writing down thoughts and feelings can help build self-awareness for anxiety triggers and reactions while also providing an outlet for expressing emotions.

Practices such as mindfulness meditation can help reduce anxiety by promoting relaxation and present-moment awareness.

Everyone experiences occasional anxiety from time to time. However, there is a point where it might become too much.

It’s important to seek professional help if any of the symptoms you are experiencing are causing significant impairment within your day-to-day living. This includes problems at work, with your relationships, sleep, eating, and so forth.

When in doubt, seek help from a healthcare professional to get the right treatment plan. Depending on the scenario, you may be offered one or more of the treatment options including support groups, talk therapy, anti-anxiety medication, or a physical exam. 

If you are asking, “will anxiety go away”, the answer is that it depends. Not everyone’s anxiety is the same. Some may experience anxiety as a normal response and some may experience anxiety for no apparent reason.

People experiencing frequent or debilitating anxiety that affects their daily functioning should consult a healthcare provider to access effective treatment options.

Anxiety tools such as lifestyle changes and self-awareness exercises are wonderful, however, it’s important to get a full evaluation before you start attempting to use any self help tool.

Action step: Seek a clinical assessment or evaluation from a healthcare provider to see what your next step should be to minimize your feelings of anxiety. Here, you will get the thumbs up if you have normal anxiety or deliberating anxiety.