In medical terms, anxiety is defined as a state of apprehension, fear, or uneasiness about some impending or expected event. It is a specific emotional reaction that can be accompanied by a number of physical symptoms, such as difficulty swallowing, diarrhea, muscle tension or an irregular heartbeat.
Common features
Anxiety is one of the most common emotions. In some situations, such as one involving physical danger, hosting anxiety is an appropriate response. For others, neither the level of anxiety nor the anxiety response itself is justified by the situation.
Appropriate and inappropriate anxiety
Anxiety is a natural response to something that threatens health or well-being. Throughout our lives, most of us are exposed to many stressful situations that cause anxiety. However, if the level of anxiety is disproportionate to its cause, is unnecessarily exaggerated, or is triggered by unlikely events, the reaction is usually considered abnormal and may require treatment.
Reasonable anxiety is primarily by worry. For example, if your job is in jeopardy, you may be constantly thinking about where else you could find employment and planning steps to get a new job. In this situation, anxiety serves a useful purpose: it causes enough stress to send you looking for a constructive solution to the problem.
However, if the fear of job loss is not realistic, then anxiety breeds more anxiety. This type of anxiety, which has no identifiable cause, very often impairs an individual's ability to function.
The origin of such internal emotional problems is still not fully understood. In some cases, they can be traced back to childhood experiences. This often involves phobias, such as a fear of dogs, which can be traced back to a childhood dog bite. Another common example of a phobia is agoraphobia (fear of open spaces), in which anxiety is aroused when a person tries to leave the familiar surroundings of the home. Outside the home—in crowded stores, subways, or theaters—anxiety increases; the person usually hovers near the door to get away if necessary.
Since painful anxiety is reducing when fear-inducing situations are avoiding, withdrawal to familiar surroundings is enhancing, and in severe cases the person may be completely housebound. Some organic conditions, such as low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), can also cause feelings of anxiety. However, in about half of all cases of clinical anxiety, there is no discernible cause.
Anxiety states
For most people, anxiety is a temporary feeling. However, for some, anxious feelings and thoughts are almost constantly present in what is called an anxiety state. This chronic condition occasionally culminates in a "panic attack" that can occur at any time for no apparent reason. The physical symptoms of fear increase to such a frightening degree that the victim may actually think they are having a heart attack. Hyperventilation, or excessive breathing, is common during panic attacks and can lead to dizziness and even fainting.
Anxiety
Generalized anxiety
Common symptoms of clinical anxiety include:
nervousness
twitching
Perspiration
Palpitation
Fear of anticipation, vigilance
Insomnia
Panic attack
Recurrent, unpredictable panic attacks are characterized by the following:
Feelings of intense dread
Feelings of impending doom
Shortness of breath, chest pain
Dizziness, fainting
Flushes of heat or cold
Physical symptoms
When an individual is anxious, certain bodily processes are in acceleration. These are normal fight-or-flight responses that help us cope with extraordinary events. Physical symptoms include breathing irregularities, especially hyperventilation; muscle tension; sweating and increased heart rate. Other signs of severe anxiety may include gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and symptoms related to the cardiovascular or pulmonary system: vague chest pains, irregular heartbeat, fatigue or dizziness. Any of these symptoms should be reported to a physician and carefully evaluated.
Anxiety treatment
There are a number of approaches to consider when treating anxiety. In some cases, practicing relaxation techniques such as meditation, taking a warm bath, or exercising can help overcome mild anxiety. If hyperventilation is a problem, breathing into a paper bag will help overcome excessive breathing and lightheadedness.
Medications may also be recommended to help the patient cope better with anxiety, especially unwarranted anxiety that has no obvious cause. Most often, the prescribed medicine is one of the sedatives. These medications, like all medications, should only be taken as directed by your doctor. They should not be taken in combination with alcohol, and the doctor should be aware of any other medicines you are taking.
Behavior modification treatment, including desensitization, is often helpful in treating phobic anxiety states. For example, an agoraphobic undergoing desensitization would be helped in a series of gradual steps to encounter crowds and public spaces that cause anxiety. A number of other therapies are used to treat anxiety, including psychotherapy. Your doctor will be the best judge of which ones are best for your type of anxiety.
Summary
Most anxiety is normal, and most emotional conflicts can be successfully discussed with family or friends. However, if these usual methods of problem-solving do not prove to be adequate and if the anxiety causes undue distress, professional help is recommended. A number of effective treatments, which may include the use of tranquilizers, can help those suffering from anxiety live more comfortable and productive lives. Remember that no one is immune to anxiety. The important thing is to recognize anxiety as a health problem and work with your doctor or counselor to completely relieve it or, at best, reduce it to a manageable level
You must be logged in to post a comment.