Understanding Anxiety
Module I | Session One
Session Overview
M1 | Session One: Understanding Anxiety
If you are feeling thoughts of self harm please dial your relevant crisis number here.
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Defining Anxiety
Causes of Anxiety
Effects of Anxiety
Session Skill: Write For Your Life
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What Is Anxiety?
Anxiety is your body’s natural response to stress. It’s a feeling of fear or apprehension about what’s to come.
The first day of school, going to a job interview, or giving a speech may cause most people to feel fearful and nervous.
But if your feelings of anxiety are extreme, last for longer than six months, and are interfering with your life, you may have an anxiety disorder.
What Causes Anxiety?
Neurobiology Factors
Chemical Imbalances can be a factor in the presence of anxiety disorders.
Research suggests we can inherit neurobiological factors that put us more at risk of anxiety disorders.
Severe or long-lasting stress can change the chemical balance that controls your mood.
Experiencing a lot of stress over a long period can lead to an anxiety disorder.
Heredity: Anxiety disorders tend to run in families. You may inherit them from one or both parents, like eye color.
Source: Cleveland Clinic
Environmental Factors
Experiencing a trauma might trigger an anxiety disorder, especially in someone who has inherited a higher risk to start.
Exposure to stressful and negative life or environmental events in early childhood or adulthood can also put us more at risk of anxiety disorders.
Severe or long-lasting stressors due to living situations, work environment, or other factors may also trigger anxiety symptoms.
Effects Of Anxiety
Anxiety Statistics
Anxiety is an illness, not a weakness. It is not your fault you have anxiety.
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264 million
people
264 million people worldwide live with anxiety.
1 in 3
adults
1 in 3 of all adults in the US are expected to be diagnosed with anxiety in their lifetime.
1 in 4
women
1 in 4 women have experienced an anxiety disorder.
1 in 6
men
1 in 6 men have experienced an anxiety disorder.
13-18
years old
1 in 4 children 13-18 years old are diagnosed with an anxiety disorder & are at risk of substance use & poor school performance.
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Source: Anxiety & Depression Association of America, The Recovery Village
Y O U A R E N O T
A L O N E .
There are people just like you, in moments just like this. You can make it through this.
Session Skill
Write For Your Life
Writing out or talking out what is going on inside of you is a crucial life skill to help you regulate your emotions. You can do this in Anxiety: A Guidebook or whatever is easiest for you (e.g, write on paper, type, or dictate into a notes app on your phone).
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3 MINUTE JOURNALING
Start writing nonstop whatever comes to your mind in this moment. Try to write or speak for at least 3 minutes or until you feel a little lighter. If you need to, please use one of the prompts below.
What brought you to take this app?
What are you feeling right now and why?
What symptoms are you struggling with right now and why do you think this is?
What circumstances and/or feelings have been the most overwhelming over the last two weeks and why?
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