Anxiety - Symptom, Causes, Treatment of Anxiety

Anxiety is normal in a real, frightening situation and results from the body preparing itself, by producing extra adrenalin, to fight or escape from danger. Normal anxiety subsides when the threat goes away or is overcome.

It prohibits them from going to work; doing the things they love and enjoying the life itself. Anxiety is a major obstacle for millions of people around the world. They cannot do what they love to do because of this debilitating disorder.

Believe it or not, there are thousands if not millions of people who live with anxiety without even knowing about it. Feelings of fear, uncertainty and agitation, often associated with physical symptoms such as sweating, dry mouth, pounding heart, churning in the stomach and trembling. They realize that something is not right, but they blame stress for symptoms such as;

• not sleeping well,
• nervousness,
• sweaty palms, and
• uncontrollable trembling.

Sometimes they have stronger symptoms such as;

• there heart beats to fast or if feels like it has skipped a beat,
• mood swings,
• depression,
• trouble concentrating.

Panic attacks are acute, brief episodes (usually lasting only a few minutes) of overwhelming anxiety and fear of impending doom or death. They are usually associated with severe physical symptoms such as rapid or irregular heartbeats, breathing difficulty, dizziness, faintness, nausea, trembling and profuse sweating.

Cause of Anxiety

Here is the list of some of the common causes of anxiety disorders.

• Heredity - you may have inherited it from your parents - but not always.
• Nutritional deficit - investigations show that there is often a lack of essential minerals and vitamins present in those who suffer from anxiety and depression.
• Imbalance of neurotransmitter chemicals in the brain.
• Factors of life - environment, upbringing, and other things like stress, etc.

Symptoms of Anxiety Disorders

Overbreathing is common during attacks. This means breathing more deeply and rapidly than is necessary, which can lead to abnonnal skin sensations, faintness and sometimes painful muscle spasms in the hands and feet. Its effects can be reversed by deep rebreathing into a paper (not plastid bag for about six breaths).

Sufferers may develop phobias, panic attacks, irritability, sleeplessness and loss of concentration, and often additional physical symptoms resulting from prolonged production of excessive adrenalin, such as tiredness, weakness, loss of appetite, nausea, diarrhoea, passing urine frequently headaches, or feelings of pressure in the head. Severe chronic anxiety can make it difficult to cope with everyday life.

What are different types of Anxiety disorder?

Anxiety disorder may be of various types because of different situations and causes. Till date known type of Anxiety disorder are listed below: 

• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Panic disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Social phobia
• Phobias
• Specific phobias
• Separation anxiety disorder
• Acute stress disorder
• Anxiety disorder due to medical condition
• Substance-induced anxiety disorder
• Anxiety disorder NOS

Anxiety that persists in the absence of danger, or when apprehension is out of proportion to the real situation, is called anxiety NEUROSIS, or being in an anxiety state.

Treatment Methods for Anxiety Disorders

Tranquillisers or drugs to counteract the effects of excessive adrenalin may be used at the beginning of treatment, but are not usually needed after a good response to psychotherapy is established. Individuals affected with Anxiety Disorders can feel positive about overcoming their sickness or mental illness. Competent treatments are available and doctors and researchers are discovering new methods of treating a patient. Panic attacks are often provoked by circumstances about which the sufferer has a phobia (for example flying, open spaces or crowds).

Anxiety neurosis is mainly treated by psychotherapy that aims to discover and deal with stress or the irrational fears that contribute to the state. The patient may possibly require antidepressant drugs if anxiety is associated with depression. Medication or Psychotherapy are not the magic cures, but these are the great relievers for the patient suffering with any type of Anxiety Disorders. However, a proper diagnosis of the patient is important before he / she receives any kind of treatment with a help of an expert.

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