Overview
These are actually physical byproducts of an extreme emotion that is either fear or worry. Oftentimes, fear or worry is according to something that is real. It could be associated with nervousness which an individual will feel as he is going to speak in front of the audience or as he is going to learn of the results from an important exam that he took. However, there are times when an individual will feel fear for no reason at all. He is simply plagued with an irrational but very realistic feeling of an impending doom.
It is but normal to feel anxious once in a while, particularly if it has a certain cause. This feeling of anxiety can even be advantageous which will help individuals to cope better with an activity which is going to happen. This can sharpen the person’s senses, makes his mind become alert and focused and prepares his limbs for action. As his pulse quickened, breathing becomes rapid and muscles become tensed, these will be the descriptions of the “fight-or-flee “stance which is a normal reaction to an apparent threat or danger. People in the medical field recognize this state of heightened alertness as an increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system.
Symptoms
- Tension, restlessness, tension.
- Imminent danger, panic, or sense of fate.
- Your heart rate is increasing.
- Rapid breathing (hyperventilation).
- Sweating.
- tremors.
- Weakness or malaise.
- Difficult to concentrate and think about things other than current worries.
- Sleep disorders.
- Gastrointestinal (GI) problems.
- Difficulty in controlling anxiety.
- have an urge to avoid anything that causes anxiety.
Aside from the symptoms which have been mentioned, other signs of anxiety include:
- Nausea or dizziness.
- Lightheadedness or having the faint feeling.
- Hot flashes.
- Cold flashes.
- Feeling of numbness or tingling in the arms and legs.
- Feeling of being choked or smothered.
- Sense of unreal or dissociated with the outside world.
- Intense and oftentimes, the feeling of irrational fear such as dying, going crazy or becoming out of control.
There are different types of anxiety disorders.
Agoraphobia (aguhruhFOEbeuh) is a type of anxiety disorder that often causes fear, avoiding places or situations that can lead to panic, trapping, helplessness, or embarrassment.
Anxiety disorders due to medical conditions include symptoms of severe anxiety or panic directly caused by physical health problems.
Generalized anxiety disorder includes persistent and excessive anxiety and concern about activities and events, even with normal everyday problems. Worries are not proportional to the actual situation, are difficult to control and affect your physical health. It often co-occurs with other anxiety disorders and depression.
Panic disorder involves repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense anxiety and fear or terror that reach a peak within minutes (panic attacks). You may have feelings of impending doom, shortness of breath, chest pain, or a rapid, fluttering or pounding heart (heart palpitations). These panic attacks may lead to worrying about them happening again or avoiding situations in which they`ve occurred.
Selective mutism is a consistent failure of children to speak in certain situations, such as school, even when they can speak in other situations, such as at home with close family members. This can interfere with school, work and social functioning.
Separation anxiety disorder is a childhood disorder characterized by anxiety that's excessive for the child's developmental level and related to separation from parents or others who have parental roles.
Social anxiety disorder (social phobia) involves high levels of anxiety, fear and avoidance of social situations due to feelings of embarrassment, selfconsciousness and concern about being judged or viewed negatively by others.
Specific phobias are characterized by major anxiety when you're exposed to a specific object or situation and a desire to avoid it. Phobias provoke panic attacks in some people.
Substanceinduced anxiety disorder is characterized by symptoms of intense anxiety or panic that are a direct result of misusing drugs, taking medications, being exposed to a toxic substance or withdrawal from drugs.
Other specified anxiety disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder are terms for anxiety or phobias that don't meet the exact criteria for any other anxiety disorders but are significant enough to be distressing and disruptive.
Is it necessary to see a doctor ?
See a doctor if You:
- Feel too worried and affecting my work, relationships, or other parts of my life
- Depressed using alcohol or medication that has problems, or other mental health problems other than anxiety, seek immediate emergency treatment
- Worries that it's may not go away naturally, and you can help If you don't ask, they can get worse over time. Talk to your doctor or psychiatrist before your anxiety worsens. Treatment is easy with quick help.
Causes of Anxiety?
Doctors do not fully understand the causes of anxiety disorders. It is now believed that certain traumatic experiences can cause anxiety for vulnerable people. Genetics can also be involved in anxiety. In some cases, anxiety can be caused by an underlying health problem and can be the first sign of a physical illness rather than a mental illness.- Anxiety disorders can be passed down through families.
- Anxiety disorders may be linked to faulty circuits in the brain that control fear and emotions, according to some research.
- Environmental stress: This refers to stressful events that you have witnessed or experienced Childhood abuse and neglect, the death of a loved one, or being attacked or witnessing violence are all common triggers for anxiety disorders.
- Drug withdrawal or abuse: Certain drugs can be used to mask or reduce anxiety symptoms. Anxiety disorder is frequently associated with alcohol and substance abuse.
- Medical problems : Some heart, lung, and thyroid conditions can produce symptoms similar to anxiety disorders or exacerbate anxiety symptoms. When discussing anxiety with your doctor, it's critical to get a full physical exam to rule out other medical conditions.
Diagnosis of Anxiety Disorder
If you are experiencing symptoms, your doctor will examine you and inquire about your medical history. They may perform tests to rule out any other medical conditions that could be causing your symptoms. There are no lab tests that can specifically diagnose anxiety disorders.
If your doctor cannot find a physical cause for your symptoms, he or she may refer you to a psychiatrist, psychologist, or another mental health specialist. These doctors will question you and use tools and testing to determine if you have an anxiety disorder.
Your doctors will consider how long you’ve had symptoms and how intense
they are when diagnosing you. It’s important to let your doctors or
counselors know if your anxiety makes it hard to enjoy or complete
everyday tasks at home, work, or school.
Risk Factors
These factors may increase the risk of developing anxiety disorders:
- Trauma. Children who have witnessed abuse, trauma, or traumatic events are at increased risk of developing anxiety disorders at some point in their lives. Adults who experience traumatic events can also develop anxiety disorders.
- Illness stress. Medical conditions and serious illnesses can raise serious concerns about problems such as your treatment and future.
- Accumulation of stress. Accumulation of major events and minor stressful living conditions can cause excessive anxiety-for example, family death, work stress, or ongoing concerns about finances.
- Personality. People of certain personality types are more likely to have anxiety disorders than others.
- Other mental disorders. People with other mental disorders, such as depression, often also have anxiety disorders.
- Has relatives with anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders can be performed by the family.
- Drug or alcohol. The use, abuse and withdrawal of drugs and alcohol can cause or exacerbate anxiety.
Paranoia
If there is no direct stimulus, yet, the individual will still feel anxiety, then perhaps, this is no longer beneficial or normal. Furthermore, if the increased pulse rate, breathing, blood pressure and other symptoms of anxiety will persist for a long period of time, this might result to damage to a person’s health. This will become a true medical condition which will need treatment in the hospital.Anxiety will also become destructive and abnormal if it will interfere with the normal functioning of the individual. For example, the person will not be able to work anymore and he will refuse to get out of his house due to his anxiety, these will become indications that anxiety has turned out to be a disorder that requires medical attention.
Prevention
There is no reliable way to predict what causes anxiety disorders, but there are steps to reduce the effects of symptoms when you are afraid.- Ask for help as soon as possible. Like many other mental illnesses, anxiety can be difficult to treat if you wait.
- Stay active. Participate in activities that are fun and make you feel better. Enjoy social interactions and nurturing relationships that can reduce your worries.
- Avoid the use of alcohol and drugs. The use of alcohol and drugs can cause or exacerbate anxiety. If you are dependent on any of these substances, quitting can make you uneasy. If you can't stop yourself, see a doctor or find a support group.
Home Anxiety Treatment Taking
- Medications and talking to the therapist can help you manage your anxiety, but managing your anxiety is a 24/7 job. Fortunately, there are many simple lifestyle changes that you can make at home to further reduce anxiety.
- Play sports. Establishing an exercise routine that takes place on most or all days of the week can help reduce your stress and anxiety. If you're usually a sedentary person, start with just a few activities and add more over time.
- Avoid alcohol and recreational drugs. The use of alcohol and drugs can cause or increase anxiety. If you have any problems quitting, talk to your doctor or contact your support group.
- Stop smoking and reduce or eliminate caffeine drinks. Nicotine in tobacco and caffeine drinks such as coffee, tea and energy drinks can exacerbate anxiety.
- Try relaxation and stress management techniques. Meditation, repeating mantras, practicing visualization techniques, and yoga can all promote relaxation and reduce anxiety.
- Sleep well. Lack of sleep can increase restlessness and anxiety. Contact your doctor if you have sleep problems.
- Stick to a healthy diet. Eat lots of lean protein such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, chicken and fish.
Prospects for Anxiety Disorder
Living with an anxiety disorder can be difficult and frustrating. Constant worry and fear can exhaust and frighten you If you've discussed your symptoms with a doctor, you've taken the first step toward letting go of your anxiety.
Finding the right treatment that works for you can take some time. If you have more than one anxiety disorder, you may require a combination of treatments. Most people with anxiety disorders benefit from a combination of medication and counselling. You can learn to manage your symptoms and thrive with the right care and treatment.