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Stress and Anxiety

Anxiety encompasses feelings of worry, nervousness, or dread. Although unpleasant, occasional bouts of anxiety are natural and sometimes even productive: By signaling that something isn’t quite right, anxiety can help people both avoid danger and make important and meaningful changes.


Anxiety disorders manifest in different ways, and are often diagnostically distinct. Generalized anxiety disorder is a chronic state of severe worry and tension, often without provocation.


Individuals suffering from anxiety may feel restless, on edge, and irritable. They may have difficulty concentrating or controlling their emotions. Physical symptoms can also include fatigue, trembling, trouble sleeping, stomachaches, headaches, and muscle tension.


Anxiety often involves worrying to an intense, excessive degree. Those worries can apply to any aspect of life, from social situations and family dynamics to physical health and professional concerns.

PTSD and C-PTSD 

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can develop after experiencing or witnessing a deeply distressing or life-threatening event. Rather than being “stuck in the past,” PTSD reflects a brain and body that learned to stay alert to protect you.

Common experiences of PTSD may include:

  • Intrusive memories, flashbacks, or vivid dreams

  • Heightened alertness or feeling on edge

  • Avoiding reminders of what felt unsafe

  • Difficulty sleeping, concentrating, or relaxing

  • Feeling disconnected from others or from yourself​

 

Complex PTSD often develops when trauma occurs repeatedly or over long periods of time, especially within relationships where safety, care, or escape were limited. Many people with C-PTSD survived environments where they had to stay vigilant, self-reliant, or emotionally guarded to get through each day.

In addition to PTSD symptoms, C-PTSD can affect how you see yourself and relate to others.

Common experiences of C-PTSD may include:

  • A deep inner critic or persistent feelings of shame

  • Difficulty trusting, setting boundaries, or feeling safe in relationships

  • Emotional overwhelm or emotional numbness

  • Feeling disconnected from your identity or sense of worth

  • Emotional flashbacks—strong feelings without clear memories

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