9 Surprising Things You May Not Know About Anxiety

anxious woman

Today, most people in a fast-paced world feel anxious, stressed, and overwhelmed. Everyday responsibilities, current events, and overwhelming catastrophes seem to take a toll on people. As a result, they’re diagnosed with mental health issues, particularly anxiety.

Anxiety is a mental health condition that makes a person experience persistent and intrusive fears and worries that are often disproportionate to the actual situation. Such a condition can make it hard to fulfill daily responsibilities. If you think you’re living with anxiety, getting a proper diagnosis from a medical professional may be helpful in getting the appropriate treatment. 

Besides getting the proper treatment, you must learn more about the condition. Doing so makes it easier for you to overcome it and get back to being you. 

Here are nine things about anxiety that you may not know:

Anxiety Can Cause Memory Issues

People suffering from anxiety often have trouble staying in the present, which can lead to forgetfulness. Many struggles to overcome their anxiety and worries. 

Furthermore, persons with anxiety disorders frequently worry about something that hasn’t happened yet or are concerned about the future. It makes them appear inattentive, uninterested, or unconcerned.

Taking A Probiotic May Help Reduce Anxiety

Probiotics are mainly beneficial to the gastrointestinal tract. They’re composed of dietary bacteria that benefit your body’s health. But did you know they can also help you relax and de-stress? Researchers appear to have discovered signs probiotics are working, specifically, those containing Lactobacillus.

Probiotic supplements can benefit both gut microorganisms and physical and mental wellness. As a result, it can help to improve mood and protect the body from the negative physical and emotional impacts of stress.

Furthermore, Lactobacillus isn’t the only probiotic that can help with anxiety. All probiotics work to maintain a healthier gut and improve overall health, including stress and anxiety management. With more research, probiotics can treat anxiety in even more ways. If you wish to try adding probiotic supplements to your diet, you can seek advice from reputable providers such as Essential Formulas and others.

anxious girl

Anxiety Can Raise The Likelihood Of Health Complications

Anxiety disorders raise one’s chances of getting sick. Chronic stress, which may be accompanied by worry, might weaken your immune system. Aside from lowering immunity, it may also harm the heart and lungs. This increases one’s susceptibility to respiratory infections, fever, and other viral and bacterial disorders.

Childhood Anxiety Is Common

Anxiety among children and adolescents has increased due to a variety of factors. One of the most important reasons is that kids spend all their time sitting in front of screens instead of playing or being active. This decreased their chances of decompressing, resolving issues, and forming supportive relationships.

Also, parents today often put a lot more pressure on their kids.  Some parent wants their kids will go on to more success than they’ve had. As a result, children bear the stress of meeting expectations as well as the fear of not meeting them.

Some People Don’t Believe That Anxiety Exists

Certain people who are fortunate enough to never have to deal with anxiety themselves think it isn’t a legitimate medical condition. Anyone who’s living with anxiety will likely admit to being told to ‘get over it.’ Anxiety, in the eyes of these individuals, is merely an issue of the mind that can be quickly and easily remedied.

Unfortunately, some people think that people who have anxiety are just lazy, want attention, and aren’t social. They expect people suffering from anxiety disorders to simply snap out of it. This is mostly because they don’t understand and cannot relate to what a person suffering from an anxiety illness is experiencing. As a result, those suffering from anxiety find it difficult to convince others that their symptoms are real, severe, and not a fabrication of their mind.

Anxiety Is More Prevalent In Women

Anxiety is said to affect women more frequently than men. Women tend to overthink more. They have a tendency to dwell on the bad, which can amplify anxiety symptoms. Other contributors to the higher risk of having an anxiety disorder in women include variable hormone levels during a woman’s menstrual cycle, pregnancy, postpartum, and perimenopause.

Anxiety Can Run in Families

If one or both parents suffer from anxiety, their child is likely to suffer from it as well. This is because anxiety is caused by a number of reasons, one of which is genetics. In addition to genes, a person’s environment, lifestyle, or traumatic events may also increase their risk of developing anxiety.

anxiety sad man

Certain Consumer Goods Can Aggravate Symptoms

Consumer products, like caffeine and cigarettes, can exacerbate symptoms of anxiety. Caffeine, alcohol, and smoking can all amplify a person’s symptoms. As these products affect the body’s central nervous system, they can heighten pre-existing behaviors in those suffering from anxiety disorders. Symptoms such as trembling, difficulty focusing, a fast heartbeat, and sweaty palms are common. For those who experience sweaty palms as a result of anxiety, resources and support can be found on sweaty-palms.com.

Those who eat more fruits and vegetables, meat, whole grains, and fish are less likely to suffer anxiety than those who consume processed or fried meals, refined grains, alcoholic beverages, and caffeine-containing items.

Anxiety Can Impede With One’s Senses Of Smell

People who suffer from anxiety may be more likely to identify natural odors as unpleasant. Typically, your olfactory system is activated when you breathe in and process smells. But when a person is experiencing the symptoms of anxiety, the emotional system can get mixed up with the olfactory system. This can potentially alter how they smell things.

Final Thoughts

Anxiety is a worldwide condition that affects millions of individuals. Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, it’s still one of the so-called ‘hidden disorders,’ as its symptoms aren’t always obvious.

If more people learned about anxiety disorders and understood how these conditions impacted those who suffered from them, then everyone would be able to be more sympathetic and understanding toward those who suffer from anxiety disorders. As a result, if you know anyone who’s suffering from anxiety symptoms, try to be more knowledgeable about their situation.