What is anxiety?

 Anxiety is a state of mind that allows for increased fear and alertness. Anxiety can be beneficial, especially in times when it helps you outline dangerous situations and helps you focus your mind on staying safe. Anxiety disorder can be defined as a state of mental health disorder where an increased level of anxiety has a negative impact on the day-to-day activities and productivity of the person affected.

In what cases can you experience anxiety?

You can experience anxiety as often as daily and it can be present in:

- Your workplace

- Academic work

- Your relationships (work and personal relationships)

- Day-to-day tasks (things like cooking, laundry, and other chores)

- In your health (especially if you have an underlying illness)

- In your financial engagements.

What are the causes of anxiety?

There are different causes of anxiety. Some could be factor based while some others could be due to specific anxiety disorders.

1. Biological Factors

If a family member has an anxiety disorder, the possibility of the descendant having the same disorder is high as well. The imbalance of neurotransmitters like GABA (Gamma Amino Butyric Acid) and serotonin can cause anxiety. This is because these neurotransmitters are in charge of the regulation of mood, response, and sleep. Health disorders like heart conditions, can affect anxiety

2. Psychological Factors

Negative thought patterns add to anxiety. These negative thought patterns can arise especially when the patient or loved one has an underlying health condition. Traumatic experiences and stress can trigger anxiety. This stress can be seen in people with an excessive workload or in pregnant women.

3. Environmental Factors

Social pressures, job insecurity, and financial difficulties can also contribute to anxiety.

Types Anxiety Disorders

There are several types of anxiety disorders, each with its unique symptoms:

1. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

 This is manifested as excessive and consistent worry about different parts of life for most days. It does not have a particular thing the anxiety is channeled to.

2. Panic Disorder

 This involves sudden and unexpected panic attacks, which are intense periods of fear or discomfort. It could be felt with a sudden increase in heartbeat and sweating. Sometimes, the patient experiences trembling, chest pain, choking, and fear of dying.

3. Specific Phobias

These are irrational fears of specific objects or situations that are specifically not harmful. The patient presents with excessive fears for these things. A good example is the fear of water known as aquaphobia. Another example is agoraphobia. Agoraphobia is the fear of being in situations that would be difficult, embarrassing, or impossible in case of a panic attack.

4. Social Anxiety and fear of being judged negatively

So, you see, people with this type of anxiety disorder are mostly introverted.

5. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

This involves intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors, which eventually make the person repeat certain actions just to feel at ease.

6. Separation anxiety disorder

This type of disorder presents with a fear of being separated from someone the patient is attached to. This person could be family, a caregiver, a lover, or a friend.

7. Selective mutism.

Selective mutism is where a person cannot speak in social settings where the person is expected to speak. This acts as a hindrance to communication. This is mostly common with children.

Symptoms of anxiety.

The symptoms and their intensity differ according to the type of anxiety the patient presents with. Some of them include:

- Inability to control worry

- Constant feelings of panic, fear, dread, and uneasiness.

- Feeling on edge or irritable.

- Uncontrollable, obsessive thoughts.

- Short attention span

Physical symptoms may include:

- Visible Restlessness.

- Increased Heart palpitations.

- Sudden shortness of breath.

- Taut muscles

- Cold or sweaty hands.

- Xerostomia (Dry mouth.)

- Nausea.

- Fatigue

- Insomnia

- Issues with Gastrointestinal movements.

- Reduced speech and stammering.

What are the possible treatment options?

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT):

This is a form of psychotherapy and is a popular approach that helps individuals identify and challenge negative thought patterns.

Medication:

Medication is not an outright cure for anxiety, but in some cases, medication can help manage symptoms and bring relief to those physical symptoms like increased heart rate.

Lifestyle Changes:

Healthy habits like regular exercise, a balanced diet, and sufficient sleep can be adopted in the patients schedule to improve overall well-being and reduce anxiety.

Relaxation Techniques:

Mindfulness, meditation, and deep breathing exercises can help calm the mind and body.

Support Groups:

This is an important factor that would help the person psychologically. Connecting with others who understand what it is like to live with anxiety can provide support and encouragement.

Conclusion.

Having an anxiety disorder is not something to be ashamed of or hide. If you begin to notice signs and symptoms of anxiety, speak up and seek help as soon as possible. Having anxiety interfering in your day-to-day activities can be quite challenging, but with a proper understanding of your triggers and how to manage them, it would be easier to deal with these anxieties. Have you suffered anxiety in the past, how did you deal with it? Share lets learn from you as well.