Question

what is anxiety , its cause, symptoms and treatment

Answer 1

The American Psychological Association (APA) defines anxiety as “an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts and physical changes like increased blood pressure.” Anxiety, part of the body’s natural response to stress, can cause feelings of nervousness, unease, and worry. It is a fear characterized by behavioural disturbances. Experiencing occasional anxiety is a normal part of life for almost everybody. However, people with anxiety disorders frequently have intense, excessive and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. Often, anxiety disorders involve repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense anxiety and fear or terror that reach a peak within minutes which is also known as panic attacks. Anxiety disorders are the most common form of emotional disorder and can affect anyone at any age. According to the American Psychiatric Association, women are more likely than men to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.

There are several disorders related to anxiety, few are mentioned below which include:

• Panic disorder: Experiencing recurring panic attacks at unexpected times. A person with panic disorder may live in fear of the next panic attack.
• Phobia: It is excessive fear of a specific object, situation, or activity
• Social anxiety disorder: An extreme fear of being judged by others in social situations
• Obsessive compulsive disorder: It has recurring irrational thoughts that lead to perform specific, repeated behaviors

Few common Causes include:

• Stress that can result from work, school, personal relationship
• Emotional trauma
• Financial concerns
• Stress caused by a chronic or serious medical condition
• A major event or performance
• Side effect of certain medications
• Alcohol consumption, drugs such as cocaine
• Lack of oxygen

Symptoms:

• Continuous restlessness
• Uncontrollable feelings of worry
• Increased irritability
• Concentration with difficulties
• Sleep difficulties, such as problems in falling or staying asleep

Treatment:

One can do Self-treatment which incorporates Self- care steps that may be helpful in some less- serious cases.

They include:

• Exercising daily
• Maintaining a positive attitude towards life
• Getting enough sleep everyday
• Learning about the triggers of anxiety and alleviating topics
• Eating a well- balanced diet
• Practicing relaxation techniques such as yoga
• No smoking and consumption of caffeinated drinks

One also needs to see a doctor if below mentioned symptoms occur:

• The anxiety is interfering with daily tasks
• If the person has a previous history of anxiety
• The anxiety is accompanied by insomnia
• Depression can be seen evident

One must rush to a doctor immediately, if noticed:

• Suicidal thoughts
• That you are having a panic attack