We all experience anxious thoughts and feelings at times. But for many it can become so overwhelming that it significantly interferes with day to day life. Anxiety shows up in a multitude of ways and looks different for everyone.

• Physically, anxiety might cause you tightness in your chest, shallow breathing, restlessness, sweating, digestion issues, or aches and pains in your body.

• It may impact you mentally through intrusive thoughts, worry about what might happen, or difficulty being in the present.

• Anxiety may show up behaviorally in anger or irritation, addiction, perfectionism, or people-pleasing.

Anxiety is a very uncomfortable experience so naturally, we usually want to get rid of it or avoid it all together. You may have found yourself trying to push away anxious thoughts or feelings or avoiding situations that might cause you to feel anxious. You may try to stay busy or otherwise distract yourself or you may even use medication, drugs, or alcohol to “zone out” so you don’t have to think anymore.

While this may help temporarily, have you noticed that what was once the solution to your anxiety has become the problem?