Understanding Anxiety: Signs, Symptoms, and Ways to Find Support

First published March 6, 2023. Last updated September 8, 2025.

"I have anxiety"

It is a phrase you might hear often, sometimes used casually to describe feeling nervous or stressed. But anxiety is more than just everyday worry. When it becomes overwhelming, it can affect your body, your thoughts, and your daily life in ways that feel impossible to ignore.

In this post, I want to walk through what anxiety really is, the different ways it can show up, and how support and therapy can make a difference.

Anxiety as a Normal Response vs. Anxiety Disorders

In Anxiety: Understanding the cycle I outlined briefly on how anxiety can work, but one of the biggest challenges with anxiety understanding and managing it is how it presents in so many different ways.

At its core, anxiety is a normal human response to stress or danger. It is part of how our nervous system keeps us alert. A little bit of anxiety can even be helpful, motivating us to prepare for a presentation, meet a deadline, or react to a threat.

But anxiety can also become excessive, persistent, and disruptive. When it interferes with daily life such as keeping you awake at night, making it hard to focus, or leading you to avoid situations, it may be an anxiety disorder.

Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health challenges, and while each one looks a little different, they share the same theme: excessive fear and worry that feels hard to control. Fear is the emotional response to a real or perceived imminent threat, wheres anxiety is anticipation of future threat.

Different Ways Anxiety Shows Up

Clinical levels of anxiety can take many forms, including:

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Persistent, uncontrollable worry about many areas of life. Symptoms often include restlessness, fatigue, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep problems.

• Panic Disorder: Recurrent panic attacks that bring sudden waves of intense fear that peak within minutes. Physical signs may include chest pain, a racing heart, sweating, or feeling like you are losing control.

• Social Anxiety Disorder: Intense fear of being judged, embarrassed, or rejected in social situations. This often shows up as blushing, sweating, trembling, or avoiding social contact.

• Specific Phobias: Strong fear of a particular object or situation such as flying, heights, or spiders. The reaction is often much stronger than the actual danger.

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Unwanted thoughts (obsessions) combined with repetitive behaviours (compulsions) such as checking, cleaning, or counting. These behaviours may reduce anxiety temporarily but can take over daily life.

Symptoms You Might Notice

Anxiety is not only “in your head.” It can also affect your body in powerful ways. Common symptoms include:

• Restlessness or feeling “on edge”.

• Irritability or difficulty concentrating.

• Muscle tension.

• Trouble sleeping.

• Shortness of breath.

• Chest tightness or rapid heartbeat.

• Sweating or trembling.

• Stomach issues such as nausea or diarrhea.

• Dizziness or feeling weak.

  
  

Over time, chronic stress and anxiety can contribute to serious health issues such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and lowered immunity.

Why Anxiety Develops

The causes of anxiety are complex and different for everyone. Some of the factors include:

• Biology: Genetics, brain chemistry, and family history can play a role.

• Personality: Traits like perfectionism or sensitivity can increase risk.

• Life experiences: Trauma, abuse, or prolonged stress often contribute.

• Environment: High pressure jobs, financial strain, or constant uncertainty can fuel anxiety.

  
  

It is rarely just one factor. More often, it is a combination of influences that gradually push your system into overdrive.

How Common Is Anxiety?

If you live with anxiety, you are far from alone. Some important numbers from Canadian research:

• According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, Anxiety Disorders affect approximately 12% of the Canadian population in any given year.

• 10 to 20 percent of Canadian youth live with anxiety disorders, making it the most common mental health concern among children and teens.

• Women are more likely to experience anxiety disorders than men, though men often underreport symptoms. Lifetime prevalence is around 21 percent for women and 12 percent for men.

• In 2020, a survey by the Angus Reid Institute found that 41% of Canadians reported feeling anxious.

These numbers highlight just how widespread anxiety is and how important it is to take it seriously.

The Good News: Anxiety Is Treatable

While anxiety can feel overwhelming, help is available and effective. Seeking support is not weakness, it is a sign of strength.

There are several evidence based therapies proven to help manage anxiety, including:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): Helps identify unhelpful thought patterns and replace them with healthier ways of thinking and responding.

• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT): Offers skills for managing intense emotions, improving mindfulness, and building resilience.

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Focuses on accepting uncomfortable thoughts and feelings while still moving toward your values.

These approaches can give you tools to manage symptoms, reduce avoidance, and create a sense of control in your daily life.

Moving Toward Support

If you are living with anxiety, whether it is occasional panic, constant worry, or physical symptoms that will not let up, know that support is available.

At Evan Vukets Counselling, I work with men in Abbotsford, across the Fraser Valley, and online throughout British Columbia. My focus is on helping men step out of survival mode, build practical skills, and reconnect with themselves.

You do not have to go through anxiety alone.

If you are ready, I would be honoured to walk alongside you. You can book a session, or reach out directly at e.vukets@gmail.com.