Aahara sat on the edge of her bed, staring at her hands. They were trembling again. She felt like her chest was caving in, and her thoughts were racing so fast that she couldn’t grasp a single one. A knot twisted in her stomach, making her feel nauseated. The air in the room felt heavier than usual, as though it were conspiring against her to make breathing just that little bit harder.
Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, the name ‘Nikita’ lighting up the screen. It was her best friend, calling to confirm their lunch plans. Aahara had already texted Nikita twice that morning, first saying she’d be a little late, then coming up with a vague excuse about a “last-minute work deadline.” Now Nikita wanted to call and make sure everything was okay.
But Aahara couldn’t answer the phone. Even the thought of talking to Nikita felt overwhelming. She had no idea how to explain all the different thoughts and worries that were going through her head. Her mind spun through its daily cycle of worries. “Did I forget to send that email? What if my boss thinks I’m incompetent?” “I should check on my parents. What if something happens to them, and I didn’t call in time?” “I don’t feel right. What if I have some undiagnosed illness and the doctors just missed it?” No amount of reassurance ever silenced these thoughts.
Aahara tried to reason with herself to no avail. She had been living like this ever since her mother took ill a few months ago. Aahara’s worries continued even after her mother came back to health.
She wasn’t just nervous; she wasn’t just overthinking. She had Generalized Anxiety Disorder, a type of anxiety disorder which made even the most ordinary parts of life feel overwhelming.
Aahara and her story is fictional, but this could happen to anyone. Based on a study conducted by Risal et al. (2016) among 2100 people all across Nepal, the prevalence of anxiety is 22.7 percent. That’s 70,14,300 people affected with anxiety.
Anxiety is more than just feeling nervous before a presentation or jittery before an important event. It’s a complex mental health condition that can make ordinary tasks feel insurmountable.
At its core, anxiety is a natural response to stress. It’s your brain’s way of keeping you alert to potential danger. Imagine you’re walking through the woods and hear a rustle in the bushes. Your body floods with adrenaline, preparing you to fight, flee, or freeze. This is your body’s fight-or-flight response, and it’s a helpful survival mechanism when there’s an actual threat.
The key difference between fear and anxiety lies in their triggers. Fear is a response to an immediate, real danger—like encountering a wild animal in the woods. It’s a short-lived reaction that helps you take action in the face of a specific threat. Anxiety, on the other hand, is often future-focused, triggered by perceived threats that may never materialize. It lingers, creating a sense of unease and worry, even when no immediate danger is present. While fear fades once the threat is gone, anxiety can persist, making everyday situations feel just as alarming as life-threatening ones.
The problem arises when this response gets stuck in overdrive. For someone with an anxiety disorder, their brain sounds the alarm even when there’s no immediate danger. A casual conversation, a grocery trip, or even sitting in silence can trigger the same physiological reactions as facing a life-threatening situation.
Such physiological reactions can be:
- Fastened heart rate
- Shortness of breath
- Tightness in the chest
- Nausea or stomach pain
- Muscle tension
- Sweating or trembling
These sensations can be terrifying, leading to thoughts like, “Am I having a heart attack? Am I dying?” Many people with anxiety also experience insomnia, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating, making even the simplest tasks feel overwhelming. It is also important to emphasize that anxiety is an umbrella term for many different types. Some types of anxiety are:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Panic Disorder
- Social Anxiety Disorder
- Specific Phobia
- Agoraphobia
- Separation Anxiety Disorder
- Selective Mutism
Aahara’s story sheds light on the often hidden yet pervasive struggles that anxiety brings. It serves as a reminder that anxiety isn’t just a fleeting feeling of nervousness, it’s a mental and physical burden that can take over someone’s entire existence. But it’s important to remember that while anxiety may feel like an inescapable maze, there are ways to navigate through it.
Seeking support is the first step. Whether through therapy, conversations with loved ones, mindfulness practices, or medical treatment, there are tools to help individuals regain control over their lives. Aahara’s journey is far from over, but by acknowledging her anxiety and taking small steps toward healing, she’s moving toward a life defined by courage rather than fear.
