Have you ever pondered the origins of icebergs. They sit in vast oceans; just a large mass of clumped together ice. The pieces of glaciers break off from various places, and some how, they all in up together in this one spot in the middle of no where? Ice melting in a normal process, and small chunks of ice can be easily plowed over. But then there are large accumulations that pose a threat and cannot be ignored. This analogy describes general anxiety disorder (GAD). It is a real thing which refuses to be ignored without dire consequences.
Medically Speaking….
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety is defined simply as having more days of constant worry that without. That’s it. While it is normal to worry, one should never go days of excesses torture such as constant worry. With that said, if you notice this in yourself don’t delay in talking to someone about it.
What causes worry to tip the line between average and over the top? Some of us are predisposed to it through genetics. Our circumstances and environment can also plunge us into this debilitating state, especially if one is in said stressful for an extended period of time. In some cases, the two mix together into a perfect storm, which like a changing climate, you have causes and effect.
So How Do We Handle What We Don’t Fully Understand?
Just as it takes a crew to steer a ship clear of an iceberg, same is true of approaching anxiety. Talk to a friend, see a doctor, start medication, journal; there are many different ways. But, one thing that is 100%, you can’t go it alone. Take the first step to facing the monster in the vast ocean of life, then take it 1% at a time.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO SINK!
photo credit: www.pixaby.com