{"id":7138,"date":"2022-01-18T12:10:48","date_gmt":"2022-01-18T17:10:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/corelifemd.com\/?p=7138"},"modified":"2022-01-18T16:33:26","modified_gmt":"2022-01-18T21:33:26","slug":"understanding-anxiety-and-weight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/corelifemd.com\/dev\/understanding-anxiety-and-weight\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding the Impact of Anxiety on Weight"},"content":{"rendered":"

A certain level of anxiety is normal, and even healthy, in helping us avoid danger and stay safe. However, when the symptoms become persistent or intrusive, it is not only exhausting, but anxiety can impact your weight and overall health. The impact of anxiety on weight has been well-documented, but how do you know if your anxiety is \u201cnormal\u201d or if you should seek treatment?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Leah Mandley, CoreLife\u2019s vice president of behavioral health explains what qualifies someone as having an anxiety disorder, and how you can identify your symptoms and get the support you need.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is Anxiety?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Anxiety is an emotion characterized by feelings of worry, tension, and fear.\u00a0 You are probably familiar with some for the most common symptoms, such as worry, nervousness, sleep problems, muscle tension, poor concentration, increased heart rate, upset stomach, restlessness, fatigue, and irritability.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Experiencing these symptoms does not necessarily mean you have an anxiety disorder, but you may be wondering \u201chow do I know if my anxiety is impacting my weight?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you have been experiencing one or more of these symptoms for two weeks or more, and the symptoms cause a disturbance in your daily life, it might be time to seek care. A licensed behavioral health specialist will perform a diagnostic assessment to determine if\/what type of anxiety you may be experiencing and help you find solutions to prevent anxiety from impacting your weight management goals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Types of Anxiety Disorders\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Common anxiety diagnoses are generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder (previously known as social phobia), panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Generalized Anxiety Disorder<\/span><\/h3>\n

People with generalized anxiety display an excessive amount of worry and fear, for more days than not for at least 6 months. This excessive amount of anxiety will cause significant impairment in their daily living.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Generalized anxiety disorder symptoms include many of the symptoms listed above, especially restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge, becoming easily annoyed, difficulty concentrating or mind going blank, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep disturbances.<\/span><\/p>\n

Social Anxiety<\/span><\/h3>\n

Social anxiety is the irrational fear someone may experience in one or more social situations. That person may also believe people are negatively judging them because they have anxiety. Social anxiety almost always provokes fear, and as a result, avoidance of social situations. Symptoms last for 6 months or more and cause significant impairment in someone’s daily living. Social anxiety disorder is extremely common for people who may be struggling with their weight.<\/span><\/p>\n

Panic Disorder<\/span><\/h3>\n

Panic disorder causes panic attacks, which occur suddenly and last several minutes. During these attacks four or more of the following symptoms may occur:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n