Leaders and Executives take on huge responsibilities, and are subject to stresses that most people never experience, and cannot understand.
How do you know if you are suffering Anxiety?
Brief answer
If you feel tense, nervous, experience sweaty palms, elevated heart rate, shallow breathing, a sense of tension in any or many parts of the body, dry mouth… in situations when most people would not react like that, you may be experiencing anxiety.
The good news is that there are many effective ways to overcome an anxiety challenge, so many, that several of them can probably be adapted to suit you and your specific experience of anxiety.
Anxiety is a normal, helpful, healthy response when a challenging situation or danger is present, but unpleasant in almost all other circumstances.
How do you know if you are experiencing Anxiety?
More detailed answer
Do you?
1. Have a feeling of tension that is with you almost constantly?
2. Have feelings of tension/fear/apprehension in specific situations that do not affect most other people?
3. Find that tension/fear/apprehension interferes with your work or some other area of your life?
4. Experience thoughts and feelings that seem to be disproportionate, or inappropriate to the situation you are in?
5. Have a sense of dread with you, much of the time?
6. Avoid situations in which you think your anxiety will be made worse?
7. Experience palpitations of the heart, clouded judgment, sweaty palms, dry mouth, or muscle tension?
8. Experience performance impairments when under pressure?
The more questions to which you answered Yes, the more likely it is that you are experiencing some kind of anxiety problem.
Types of Anxiety
There are several broad categories of anxiety, but each executive’s experience is unique.
- Generalised anxiety disorder
- OCD (Obsessive compulsive disorder)
- Panic disorder, anxiety attacks
- Post traumatic stress disorder
- Phobias
- Social anxiety
Treatments for Anxiety Problems
Each person is different, as such, it is unlikely that any one off-the-shelf treatment for anxiety can work for everyone. A skilled psychotherapist will find the way (usually several ways) to best help you overcome your anxiety problem.
More information on the anxiety disorders
Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
If you have a sense of impending doom, if things are always about to go horribly wrong, if you are anxious all the time, yet can’t really find anything to justify that feeling of dread, you may be experiencing GAD.
Long-term, GAD can manifest as a wide range of physical symptoms and illnesses, such as high blood pressure, heart conditions, stomach complaints, unshakable tiredness… If you experience GAD it is wise to address it before it leads to serious health complications.
OCD (Obsessive compulsive disorder)
OCD is a specific manifestation of anxiety. For more information please click to go to the dedicated page on OCD.
Panic Disorder, Anxiety Attacks
If you have ever had a panic attack it will need no description. Your body and mind are nearly impossible to control, and, in extreme cases, it can feel as though you are dying.
After a series of panic attacks secondary anxieties and phobias can emerge. For instance, the fear of losing control in a public place, or, of being in a place where no help is possible if you have a panic attack.
Panic attacks are life impairing and if you have experienced them you will know just how impairing they are. Addressing the panic attacks will dramatically improve your life.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Traumatic events can trigger PTSD in even the most robust and resilient of people. Hardened battle veterans can suddenly be afflicted, after years of coping with things that most of us would not wish on anyone.
PTSD can appear to be similar to anxiety attacks, with the difference that it is at its most intense in the presence of triggers associated with the traumatic event(s). PTSD, unlike the intermittent nature of panic attacks, can be all consuming. It can be present even when the person is asleep in the form of nightmares and night terrors.
Long-term untreated PTSD can lead to further complications, and addressing it as soon as possible is the most likely way of overcoming it.
Phobias
Phobias are a specific form of anxiety. For more please click to go to the dedicated page on Phobias.
Social Anxiety
Executives and professionals who experience social anxiety have a fear of being perceived adversely by other. Most people can relate to that. With social anxiety sufferers, the fear reaches levels that impair their lives, leading to progressively more and more isolation.
Treatments for Anxiety Problems
Each person is different, as such, it is unlikely that any one off-the-shelf treatment for anxiety can work for everyone. A skilled psychotherapist will find the way (usually several ways) to best help you overcome your anxiety problem.
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