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| anxiety.org |
Obviously, if you have a
problem with anxiety, you experience the cost of distressed, anxious feelings.
Anxiety feels lousy. You don’t need to read a book to know that. But did you
know that untreated anxiety runs up a tab in other ways as well? These costs
include
✓ A
physical toll: Higher blood
pressure, tension headaches, and gastrointestinal symptoms can affect your
body. In fact, recent research found that certain types of chronic anxiety
disorders change the makeup of your brain’s structures.
✓ A
toll on your kids: Parents with
anxiety more often have anxious children. This is due in part to genetics, but
it’s also because kids learn from observation. Anxious kids may be so stressed
that they can’t pay attention in school.
✓ Fat!: Anxiety and stress increase the stress hormone
known as cortisol. Cortisol causes fat storage in the abdominal area,
thus increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke. Stress also leads to
increased eating.
✓ More
trips to the doctor: That’s because
those with anxiety frequently experience worrisome physical symptoms. In
addition, anxious people often worry a great deal about their health.
✓ Relationship
problems: People with anxiety
frequently feel irritable. Sometimes, they withdraw emotionally or do the
opposite and dependently cling to their partners.
✓ Downtime: Those with anxiety disorders miss work more often
than other people, usually as an effort to temporarily quell their distress.
Copyright © Charles H. Elliot, PhD, Laura L. Smith, PhD – Originally appeared in Overcoming Anxiety for Dummies 2nd editionby Charles H. Elliot, PhD, Laura L. Smith, PhD
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