5 Myths About Anxiety

"Don't worry, be happy!" is a fun song, but it's terrible advice for someone with this common mental health issue.

- KATE ROCKWOOD

MYTH #1 Anxiety is all in your head.

MYTHBUSTER Anxiety causes very real physical responses that may include shaking, heart palpitations, nausea, and lightheadedness, says Karen Surowiec, Psy.D., a psychologist with the Manhattan Psychology Group. That's because fears and worries cause the body's fight-or-flight response to kick in, releasing hormones that make your muscles tense and your heartbeat and breath quicken. The brain and the gut share a connection too, which is why feeling nervous can upset your stomach and an upset stomach can make you feel nervous. One study found that 44% of people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) had anxiety compared with just 8% without IBS. All of which means that even if the fears you have aren't likely to come true, they could be causing a very real physical reaction.

MYTH #2 Anxiety is simply worrying too much.