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Anxiety

"Anxiety is not a disease but a symptom."

Anxiety is a problem that affects almost everyone at some point of life. It is just a normal reaction to a stressful situation. Anxiety can exist alone or in combination with other symptoms of several emotional disorders. It can adversely affect your work if it occurs often. It is the most common feature of majority of psychiatric illnesses.

Anxiety is often confused with fear. Read this page on anxiety and fear.

How common is anxiety?

• Anxiety is one of the most under-reported conditions largely due to ignorance. Most peope suffering from anxiety do not consult a doctor as they believe only "mentally sick" people need to visit a psychiatrist.
• In US, an estimated 5% of the total population suffer from anxiety.
• Due to pressures of modern life, it is believed that people suffering from anxiety is increasing at an alarming rate.

It is important that you should learn to deal with anxiety in order to lead a happy and more productive life.

See: Symptoms of Anxiety

Effects of anxiety

There may be following two effects of anxiety:

• Intense panic and therefore inability to function normally or adapt to the situations. (Traumatic Anxiety)
• An ability to anticipate the danger and take appropriate preventive measures against it. (Signal Anxiety)

Causes of anxiety

• Anxiety is usually the result of an exaggerated response to an emotional stress.
• All the memories suppressed during the childhood have an impact on the adult life and result in anxiety.
• It is largely dependent on the entire life's experiences.
• Specific events or situations can precipitat anxiety attacks but only after a basic pattern of an anxious respponse to life's experiences is established.

The following are the main factors that influence development of the pattern of anxious response:

Surroundings: It influences the way you think about yourself and others. Anxiety is common if you are insecure about your surroundings.

Suppressed Emotions: Anxiety can occur if you are unable to find an outlet for your feelings in personal relationships. This is especially true if you suppress anger or frustration for a very long time.

Physical causes: The mind and body are constantly interacting with each other and any change in this interaction may cause anxiety. This is commonly seen in conditions such as pregnancy, adolescence and recovering from an illness. During these conditions, mood changes are common, and they may lead to anxiety.

Many types of Anxiety Disorders

• Panic disorder with or without agoraphobia
• Agoraphobia without history of panic
• Specific phobia
• Social phobia
• Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Acute stress disorder / acute situational anxiety
• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
• Anxiety disorder due to a general medical disorder
• Substance-induced anxiety disorder

Treatment of Anxiety

It involves following four main approaches:

Psychotherapy for anxiety

It is used for treating large number of mental and emotional disorders. It involves determination of the strength of the inner self that affects the stability of your relationships, motivation for treatment and ability to cope up with difficulties in your life. Freedom from inner conflicts will relieve the symptoms of anxiety.

It may also involve discussing your difficulties with your doctor. A doctor is likely to reassure you about unrealistic fears and encourage you to face situations and circumstances that lead to anxiety. It helps you to understand the situations that lead to anxiety and change them in order to reduce stress.

Relaxation Therapy for anxiety

You may learn specific relaxation techniques either by your doctor or on the internet. However, it is recommended that you practise these techniques under your doctor's guidance initially so that both of you are confident that you are able to practise correct relaxation techniques. Daily routine of these relaxation techniques is necessary for controlling anxiety. You should also practice them whenever you feel the inner tension rising or when faced with situations that normally lead to anxiety.

Meditation for anxiety

Transcendental meditation or other simple forms of meditation that are not related to religious rituals or practices are likely to relieve symptoms of anxiety. Several research studies worldwide have indicated that meditation helps maintain an optimum levels of the involuntary functions of the body.

Medicines for anxiety

Your doctor may prescribe mild tranquilizers and antidepressants to reduce the symptoms of anxiety. Tranquilizers are medicines that calm agitated or anxious people without affecting the consciousness. Antidepressants are medicines that relieve depression by restoring the balance of chemical substances in the nervous system. Some common medicines used for the treatment of anxiety are

• Benzodiazepines
• Lorazepam
• Alprazolam
• Buspirone

The medicines can only relieve symptoms of anxiety, they cannot cure anxiety.

Herbs like Kava Kava and Valerian may also be very useful in treating anxiety.

Related Disorders

Anxiety

• Anxiety and Fear
• Anxiety Symptoms
• Anxiety and Depression
• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

Social Phobia

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

• ADD/ADHD Information
• Children with ADD/ADHD
• Adults with ADD/ADHD
• ADD/ADHD Treatment
• ADD/ADHD Coping Tips

Insomnia

• Stimulus Control
• Relaxation
• Cognitive Therapy
• Sleep Hygiene

Tourette’s Syndrome Disorder

Neurasthenia

Adenosine Deaminase Deficiency and Depression

Disruptive Behavior Disorders

Paranoia

Personality Types

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Oppositional Defiant Disorder

Pick’s Disease

Adjustment Disorder

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

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