The Anatomy of Anxiety

Anxiety is not only a psychological response to stress, it is a disorder and can be disruptive to our quality of life. There are biological, genetic and physiological components that coincide with the genesis of anxiety as well as how it is experienced in people. The parasympathetic nervous system including the autonomic nervous system and the sympathetic nervous system all play a part in our body’s “fight or flight” response. This is an automatic response that can be triggered by stress, trauma, or even excitement. The structural anatomy of anxiety in our brains is fascinating to say the least and its neurological components show that people who struggle with anxiety are not “imagining things” and cannot just “get over it”.

I have always said that our brains are our most important organ, controlling our heart and lungs as well as other necessary functions in our body. If we believe what society has been telling us for a long time, that mental illness is a problem, a choice and is not a disease, we are selling ourselves short to the possibilities of healing or coping with these issues. Research shows that approximately 40 million adults age 18 and older are affected by anxiety every year. Although not everyone that experiences anxiety symptoms such as rapid heart beat, shortness of breath and racing thoughts has a diagnosable disorder, there are many people for whom this is an everyday experience.

Please take a look at the graphic which shows a little of what a person with anxiety may experience whether it is one time in their lives or everyday. We should take care of our brains just as we do the other organs in our bodies. http://hardanxiety.blogspot.com/fight_or_flight.html