About Anxiety Disorder-
Anxiety disorder is a mental illness that causes a person to experience extremely strong feelings of fear, panic, or unease. It can be harder to manage than other mental health conditions because its symptoms can be so disabling. As a report by the National Institute of Mental health, Anxiety Disorders are the most common form of mental illness in the USA.
What is an anxiety disorder?
Anxiety disorders are a group of mental illnesses that cause feelings of extreme anxiety and worry. These disorders make it hard to function daily. If you have anxiety disorder symptoms, you may feel like your mind is racing or like you’re in a constant state of panic.
Anxiety affects 40 million Americans each year, making it the most common mental illness in the U.S., according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA). While these conditions can be debilitating, there are treatments available that help many people live full lives with symptoms under control.
How does it feel to suffer from an anxiety disorder?
Feelings of anxiety can be described as a feeling of unease, such as feeling nervous, panicky, or scared.
Anxiety can be a normal reaction to stress and is often useful. It helps us think more clearly and increases our concentration and memory, but it can also make us feel like we’re losing control or going crazy.
People with an anxiety disorder experience persistent worry that is not focused on any one object or situation. They may also suffer physical symptoms such as headaches, difficulty sleeping, and muscle tension (tense muscles).
Causes of Anxiety Disorder-
The exact causes of anxiety disorders are not known, but they appear to be related to a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
The researchers say that the cause of anxiety disorder can be due to various factors. They include –
Chemical imbalance – Due to severe or long-lasting stressful sessions, there can be the flow of chemicals inside your brain that control your mood. Similarly, such a change of chemicals inside the human brain can result in the long-term issue of anxiety disorder.
Surrounding/Environmental factors – There can be certain events in life that may trigger anxiety in a person. It generally occurs when you start a new job or any such task where you get nervous too quickly.
Runs in the family – Some people suffer from anxiety as it runs in their family. Meanwhile, if your parents or someone in the family has faced anxiety disorder symptoms, then it surely can result in your case as well.
Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder-
Anxiety disorders are a group of disorders that cause feelings of anxiety and fear. These feelings can be extreme, overwhelming, and difficult to control. Those with an anxiety disorder may experience symptoms similar to those who have panic attacks. The difference is that those with anxiety disorder symptoms don’t just feel the physical symptoms; they also feel an intense emotional response as well.
More so, some of the common anxiety disorder symptoms include:
Physical Symptoms:
• Cold hands
• Dry mouth
• Rapid heartbeats
• Muscle tension
• Nausea and vomiting
• Numbness in hands and feet
• Falling short of breath
Mental Symptoms:
• Sudden fear
• Feeling panic
• Hallucination
• Nightmares
• Unusual thoughts
• Continuous thinking
• Obsessive thoughts
• Traumatic experiences
Behavioral Symptoms:
• Unable to stay calm
• Repeated washing hands
• Nervousness
• Trouble falling asleep
Treatments of Anxiety Disorder-
If you’re experiencing anxiety symptoms, it’s important to get help. Anxiety disorders are treatable and there are many different methods that can help.
Self-treatment
In some cases of anxiety, a person can treat an anxiety disorder at home without physician supervision but it may not be effective for severe or long-term anxiety disorders. There are several exercises, yoga, and action to help with short-term anxiety
Medication
A doctor may prescribe medications to help with physical symptoms of anxiety such as muscle tension, insomnia, and headaches
Medication is often an effective treatment for anxiety disorders and can be used to supplement the therapy that is best for you.
Diagnosis
Your physician will ask about your anxiety disorder symptoms and medical report history.
A physical exam may be done to check for other causes of the symptoms, such as hyperthyroidism or a thyroid nodule.
Blood work can be done to measure certain hormones and chemicals in the blood (such as thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH] levels) that help determine whether you have an overactive thyroid gland. This is especially important if you’re feeling tired all the time, as this is a common symptom of hyperthyroidism.
Counseling
If we talk a stander way of treating anxiety is psychological counseling. This can include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), psychotherapy, or a combo of therapies.
Leave a Reply