According to the World Health Organization (WHO), anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent mental health conditions worldwide, particularly in the modern era. Anxiety can be characterized by persistent worry, fear, or nervousness; fear of people’s perceptions and evaluation; restlessness; fatigue; concentration issues; avoidance of social interactions; and other concerns. There are various types of anxiety disorders, which are as follows: Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): It is characterized by constant worry about various aspects such as work, health, social relationships, the world, and others. Social Anxiety: It is manifested as fear and nervousness in social situations and fear of evaluation and judgment, which lead to avoidance of social interactions. Panic Disorder: It is characterized by repeated unexpected panic attacks that can peak within a very short period of time.
There are other types of anxiety, such as agoraphobia, specific phobias, and selective mutism.
Why People Experience Anxiety?
Anxiety is an adaptive and natural human response designed to promote safety, as it functions as a short-term reaction to perceived threats. When a threat is perceived, the brain activates the body’s stress response and releases the hormones cortisol and adrenaline. This physiological process prepares the individual to respond rapidly—whether by fighting, fleeing, or freezing—in order to ensure protection.
However, in modern life, many individuals are exposed to environments with persistent stressors and often feel unable to escape anxiety-provoking situations—such as unhealthy work settings, bullying, or unresolved relationship issues. Consequently, the brain interprets these conditions as continuous threats and repeatedly activates the stress response, even in the absence of immediate danger. Over time, this chronic activation can result in sustained anxiety, leaving individuals mentally and physically exhausted.
There are other common causes of anxiety which are as follows:
1. Unresolved Past Traumas: Experiences such as abuse, accidents (e.g., motor vehicle accidents, MVAs), abandonment, or significant loss can keep the mind in a prolonged state of heightened alertness. 2. Negative Thought Patterns: Cognitive distortions, such as catastrophizing (e.g., “Something bad will happen”), can amplify anxiety and maintain a cycle of worry. 3. Social and Environmental Factors: Experiences of judgment, shame, or social pressure can contribute to persistent anxiety by reinforcing feelings of vulnerability. 4. Biological and Genetic Factors: A family history of anxiety can increase susceptibility, making some individuals more prone to developing anxiety disorders than others. 5. Major Life Changes: Events such as becoming a parent, losing employment, or experiencing a breakup can trigger uncertainty and elevate anxiety levels.
How Does Anxiety Manifest?
Anxiety may present through negative thoughts or cognitions and emotional disturbances, in addition to unexplained, somatic, physiological or medical conditions. Some of these symptoms are as follows: Cognitive (thinking) symptoms of anxiety The following are typical cognitive or thinking-related signs of anxiety:
Excessive worrying or overthinking
Racing thoughts
Difficulty concentrating or mind going “blank”
Catastrophizing (expecting the worst)
Intrusive or unwanted thoughts
Emotional symptoms of anxiety Some common emotional signs of anxiety include:
Persistent fear or dread
Feeling unsafe even when there is no danger
Irritability or feeling “on edge"
Restlessness
Feeling tense or unable to relax
Physical symptoms of anxiety Anxiety may also manifest through various somatic or physical symptoms, body-based reactions caused by the “fight-or-flight” response, such as:
Rapid heartbeat
Shortness of breath
Sweating
Trembling or shaking
Muscle tension or aches
Fatigue or weakness
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Nausea or stomach issues (mostly for children)
Headaches
Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
Evidence-Based Anxiety Treatment
At Soul-Alliance Psychological Services, we use scientifically supported approaches tailored to each individual, including therapies that promote healing across the entire neural pathway:
Anxiety treatment is extremely important. When anxiety is left untreated, it can intensify over time and begin to affect multiple areas of an individual’s life. Many individuals experience what is often referred to as the “double effect” of anxiety, also known in psychology as anticipatory anxiety: feeling nervous in the time leading up to an event because they anticipate the same anxiety they experienced in similar situations previously. This ongoing anticipation amplifies worry and makes it difficult to achieve a sense of calm or grounding.
Over time, untreated anxiety may contribute to additional mental health challenges, including depression, irritability, anger, and feelings of guilt or shame. It can also influence self-perception, often reducing self-confidence and increasing self-doubt.
Furthermore, anxiety can limit an individual’s ability to pursue personal or professional goals, maintain healthy relationships, and function effectively at work or school. Without appropriate support, this cycle can become increasingly difficult to interrupt. At Soul-Alliance Psychological Services, our Calgary psychologists specialize in evidence-based therapies to help individuals address and heal the underlying causes of anxiety.
