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Ask someone to describe anxiety symptoms. You’ll probably hear plenty about sweaty palms, shaky voices, and racing heartbeats. Probably the only aches that stand a chance of being mentioned is a headache. In reality, chronic pain is a common indicator of an anxiety disorder. It can range from unexplained tension and pain to diseases like fibromyalgia or arthritis.
You can’t be anxious. These are your golden years, right? Ideally, we’d treat all of our years as golden but retirement does have a unique status in modern society. You’ve paid your dues and now come the rewards. No more daily grind. You’ll have more time than ever before and with that, an opportunity to try out ideas, hobbies, and pursuits that were previously put on hold. So… why does it all feel so stressful?
Anxiety has a bad reputation. To most people, that word evokes images of stress, worry, fear, and dread. In reality, it’s a normal and inevitable emotion that can be mighty helpful. Anxiety is our body’s alarm system. It has the potential to warn and protect you. However, when you feel anxious too often — when danger is not present — it can turn into an unhealthy cycle.
Author Joan Didion once remarked that “virtually everyone who has ever experienced grief mentions this phenomenon of waves.” Everyone must, of course, experience and process grief in their own way. There is no one “right” way. But no one fully avoids the sensation of waves. Sure, there are stages of grief but they are not linear.
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health condition on the planet and are inextricably connected to physical pain. It’s been observed that at least 75 percent of medical doctor visits are related to anxiety. Even when you make an appointment for chronic pain, you may actually be talking about anxiety.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a popular, effective, and highly regarded psychological treatment. It’s applied to many conditions and problems — including managing painful or traumatic memories. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is also a popular, effective, and highly regarded form of psychological treatment. While it is, in some ways, influenced by CBT, EMDR has some very unique characteristics. It’s best known for its stellar record with people struggling with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Trauma is a result. When someone endures or witnesses a horrific event, there is the potential for them to experience trauma. Such events may include neglect, abuse, assault, loss, violence, illness, and so much more. Whether or not we are traumatized depends on several specific factors. What matters most is how we experience the events and what impact it has on us (and our life).
It should come as no surprise that a condition called Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) involves a cycle of obsessions and compulsions. The key word is “cycle.” Each of us, from time to time, has obsessive thoughts or compulsive behaviors. They can be unpleasant and feel intrusive. But, with OCD, they are disruptive. The obsessions and compulsions are extreme enough to hamper daily functioning.
All of us have moods, temperaments, and personalities. Each of these is subject to change — although making personality changes is a large undertaking. Beneath these individual trends lies something more fundamental. People may use words like “soul” or “heart” to describe it. It’s sort of an internal compass that shapes your thoughts, beliefs, emotions, and behaviors.
Everyone goes through grief. It’s a painful yet inevitable part of life. Despite this universality, very few of us are prepared. Our culture doesn’t talk much about grief and we live our lives vulnerable to how much it can change us (see next section). But there’s good news. It’s never too late to put in the work to understand and address your grief.
Trust is a powerful foundation for any marriage. Without it, you can never feel true safety with one another. When trust is broken, rebuilding it is one of the biggest challenges any couple will ever face. Of course, each couple brings with them a unique set of characteristics and circumstances. For example, when two Christians get married, they may view their connection in some very specific ways.
You have almost certainly heard of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Thanks to Hollywood and news headlines, we usually associate PTSD with war zones and natural disasters. However, different forms of PTSD exist and they can be caused by a very wide range of events. Take, for example, Post-Traumatic Relationship Syndrome (PTRS).
Trauma is an all-too-common reality. Studies find that anywhere from 50 to 60 percent of adults report experiencing at least one traumatic event in their lives. This is obviously not good news. But from this growing need has established a vast array of powerful treatments for trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
