Anxiety is a natural emotion. However, it can also cause physical symptoms, such as shaking and sweating. Anxiety disorders can affect daily life and improve with treatment.
Anxiety disorders are a category of Mental Health diagnoses that lead to excessive nervousness, fear, apprehension and worry.
This article discusses the symptoms, causes and treatments of anxiety.
According to Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), approximately 40 million people in the United States suffer from anxiety disorders. This is the most common group of mental illnesses in the country. However, only 36.9% of people with an anxiety disorder receive treatment.
The American Psychological Association (APA) defines anxiety as “an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes such as increased blood pressure.”
Knowing the difference between typical feelings of anxiety and an anxiety disorder requiring medical attention can help a person identify and treat the condition.
Learn more about anxiety in our dedicated hub.
Anxiety and anxiety disorders
Anxiety is a complex response to real or perceived threats. He
A real or perceived danger causes a adrenaline rusha hormone and chemical messenger in the brain, which in turn triggers these anxiety responses in a process called fight or flight response. Some people may experience this reaction in difficult social situations or during important events or decisions.
The duration or severity of feelings of anxiety can sometimes be out of proportion to the initial trigger or stressor. Physical symptoms, such as increased blood pressure and nausea, may also develop. These responses go beyond anxiety and develop into an anxiety disorder.
Once anxiety reaches the stage of a disorder, it
Learn more about anxiety disorders here.
THE Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders: 5th Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR) Classifies anxiety disorders into several main types.
In previous editions of the DSM-5-TR, anxiety disorders included obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) And post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as acute stress disorder. However, the manual
Anxiety disorders now include the following:
GAD
This chronic disorder involves excessive, long-lasting anxiety and worry about non-specific life events, objects, and situations. GAD is the most common anxiety disorder and people who suffer from it are not always able to identify the cause of their anxiety.
Panic disorder
Brief or sudden attacks of intense terror and apprehension characterize panic disorder. These attacks can cause tremors, confusion, dizziness, nausea and difficulty breathing. Panic attacks tend to occur and escalate quickly.
Panic disorders usually occur after frightening experiences or prolonged stress, but can also occur without a trigger.
Learn more about panic disorder and panic attacks here.
Specific phobia
It is a fear and avoidance of a particular object or situation. Phobias are not like other anxiety disorders because they
A person suffering from a phobia may recognize the fear as illogical or extreme, but remain unable to control the feelings of anxiety related to the trigger. Triggers for a phobia range from situations and animals to everyday objects.
Learn more about phobias and how they develop here.
Agoraphobia
It is a fear and avoidance of places, events, or situations from which escape may be difficult or for which help would not be available in an emergency.
People often misunderstands this condition as a phobia of open spaces and the outdoors. A person suffering from agoraphobia may be afraid of leaving home or using elevators and public transportation.
Learn more about agoraphobia here.
Selective mutism
Some children experience this form of anxiety in which they can’t speak in certain places or contexts, although they may have excellent verbal communication skills with familiar people.
Learn more about selective mutism in adults and children here.
Social anxiety disorder
This is a fear of unfavorable judgment from others in social situations or public embarrassment. Social anxiety disorder understand
Learn more about social anxiety disorder.
Separation Anxiety Disorder
High levels of anxiety after separation from a person or place that provides a feeling of security characterizes separation anxiety disorder. Separation anxiety is
Learn all about separation anxiety in adults here.
The causes of anxiety disorders are complicated. Several may occur at once, some may lead to others, and some may not lead to an anxiety disorder unless another is present.
Possible causes include:
- environmental stressors, such as relationship problems or family problems
- genetic
- medical factors, such as symptoms of illness or effects of medication
- substance withdrawal
Treatment
Sometimes alcohol dependence, depression, or other underlying conditions require treatment before treatment for an anxiety disorder can take place.
Self-treatment
Sometimes a person can treat an anxiety disorder at home without clinical supervision. However, this may not be effective for severe or long-term anxiety disorders.
There are several exercises and actions to help a person deal with milder, more focused or short-term anxiety disorders, including:
Discover other ways to treat anxiety naturally.
Advice
A standard way of treating anxiety is psychological advice. This may include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), psychotherapyor a combination of therapies.
CBT is a type of psychotherapy that aims to recognize and change harmful thought patterns that form the basis of anxious and bothersome feelings.
Learn more about different types of therapy here.
Drugs
A person can support anxiety management with
Medications that may control some physical and mental symptoms include antidepressants, benzodiazepinesAnd tricyclic antidepressants.
- Benzodiazepines: A doctor may prescribe them to some people with anxiety, but they can cause addiction. Diazepamor Valium, is a common benzodiazepine.
- Antidepressants: These generally help with anxiety, although they also target depression. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), fluoxetineAnd citalopram are examples.
- Tricyclic antidepressants: This is an older class of medications that benefits most anxiety disorders other than obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Imipramine and clomipramine are two examples of tricyclics.
Additional medications a person may use to treat anxiety include:
See a doctor if side effects from prescribed medications become serious.
There are ways to reduce the risk of anxiety disorders. Remember that feelings of anxiety are a natural part of daily life and experiencing them does not always indicate the presence of a mental health disorder.
People can benefit from the following:
Learn about some foods that can help prevent anxiety.
Below are some frequently asked questions about anxiety.
What coping skills help with anxiety?
THE Anxiety and Depression Association of America recommend that someone with anxiety try the following coping strategies:
- take a time out
- eat well-balanced meals
- limit alcohol and caffeine
- get enough sleep
- daily exercise
- take deep breaths
- find out what triggers their anxiety
How to calm anxiety?
THE National Health Service (NHS) from the United Kingdom recommend that a person try the following breathing exercises to calm anxiety:
- Let your breath flow as deep into her stomach as possible, without forcing it.
- Try breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth.
- Inhale gently and regularly. Some people find it helpful to count from 1 to 5 regularly.
- Then let it flow out slowly while counting from 1 to 5 again.
- Continue like this for at least 5 minutes.
What makes anxiety worse?
Also Anxiety and Depression Association of America claim that alcohol and caffeine can worsen anxiety and trigger panic attacks.
Should a person see a primary care physician or psychiatrist?
A person may see both a primary care physician or a psychiatrist for their anxiety.
Generally speaking, if a person suffers from mild to moderate anxiety, they can often get effective treatment from their primary care physician, but if their condition is more severe or complex, they will likely need to see a psychiatrist.
Anxiety is not a medical problem but a natural emotion vital for survival when an individual is faced with danger.
An anxiety disorder develops when this reaction becomes exaggerated or disproportionate to the trigger that causes it. There are several types of anxiety disorders, including panic disorder, phobias, and social anxiety.
Treatment involves a combination of therapy, medication and counseling as well as self-help measures.
An active lifestyle combined with a balanced diet can help keep anxious emotions within healthy limits.
