What is Anxiety?|| Causes, Symptoms of Anxiety|| What is the treatment of Anxiety?

Anxiety has become a prevalent mental health issue in this fast-paced world. It affects millions of people worldwide regardless of gender, age, cultural background or other parameters. This blog will discuss the intricate details of anxiety, its types, causes, symptoms and available treatments.

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety disorders are a range of conditions characterized by excessive and persistent feelings of fear, unease, and restlessness. The main types of anxiety include:

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder(GAD):
  

This type is often without a specific trigger and involves excessive worrying about everything. It also involves aggressive concerns about various aspects of life such as work, relationships and even health.

• Panic Disorder:

A panic attack is a series of sudden and recurrent episodes of fear which is accompanied by physical symptoms such as rapid heart rate, panting and chest pain.

• Social Anxiety Disorders:
  

It involves the intense fear of social embarrassment and a constant worry about being humiliated or judged by others in different situations. It prompts a lack of confidence to involve in social activities.

• Specific Phobias:

It involves severe and irrational fears of specific objects or situations like heights, water, spiders or flying.

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD):

This disorder involves recurring, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behavioural and physical acts like cleaning himself or safety checks etc.

• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD):

This disorder results from experiencing a past scary or shocking event which had a traumatic effect on his memory. Individuals feel still in danger even after the danger is gone. It interferes with their daily life as they cannot focus on present happenings and remain indulged in past traumatic events.

Causes of Anxiety:

Anxiety disorders are a complex mechanism that depends upon genetics, environmental and psychological factors. Some of the causes of Anxiety are:

• Biological Factors:

Anxiety may occur when there is an imbalance in the brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters like serotonin and norepinephrine are the main factors that trigger the anxiety disorders. If an individual has a family history of mental health conditions then it can increase the chances of developing anxiety disorders.

• Environmental Factors:

An individual's circumstances and past history also influence the development of Anxiety disorders. Traumatic life events like abuse, neglect, job loss, and divorce also play a triggering role in the development of anxiety disorders.

• Medical conditions:

Sometimes, anxiety is manifested by many medical problems such as thyroid, heart and respiratory disorders. There are many medications which have withdrawal symptoms of anxiety.

• Personality Factors:
  

Sometimes, personal traits also predispose individuals to anxiety. Perfectionism, a history of feeling shy and negative thinking about others also induces anxiety among individuals.

Symptoms of Anxiety:

Anxiety symptoms may vary from person to person. It is not the same feeling for all. It can be manifested through physical, emotional and cognitive symptoms. 

• Physical Symptoms:

Anxiety causes physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, chest tightness, headache, dizziness, sweating, trembling, restlessness, insomnia,

• Cognitive Symptoms:

Cognitive symptoms include excessive worrying about everything, irrational fears, negative thinking, being obsessive or catastrophic thinking. This may include derealization, a condition where an individual feels disconnected from the world around him. It also includes overthinking bad situations.

• Emotional Symptoms:
  
  
  

Individuals may experience sleep disturbances, feelings of restlessness, difficulty in focusing or exhibit signs of hypervigilance. It also includes the fear of anxiety itself and individuals may always be thinking when panic attacks might happen. It desocializes them from the outer community and they become confined to themselves.

Treatment:

Anxiety disorders are highly treatable and there are a range of effective interventions that help to treat anxiety. Some common approaches are:

• Self Help:

The first treatment that your physician suggests is self-help. Self-help can be done by reading different books. Some libraries give this scheme for free. Individuals can go and read the books for free. This method helps individuals to cope with anxiety disorders.

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy App:

Nowadays, many apps are available which provide courses to treat anxiety. Individuals share their experiences with others to cope with their problems in this app through a resource that is offered to them. In this way, individuals change their negative thoughts and behaviours that contribute to anxiety.

• Talking Therapy:

The health care provider moves towards Talking therapy if the Self-Help strategy does not work for individuals. Talking therapy includes

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy(CBT):

This treatment involves methods to control anxiety situations. It teaches how to cope with negative feelings, and thoughts when a panic attack may happen.

• Relaxation Therapy:

This method teaches the methods to relax your muscles when experiencing an anxiety attack. Other therapies such as exposure therapy and psychodynamic therapy may also be beneficial.

Medication:

Medication along with Talking Therapies help to treat Anxiety disorders significantly. Some individuals feel much more helpful with the medications but medication should not be the only thing to treat Anxiety. Some of the medicines the doctor may prescribe are:

Antidepressants:

Anti-depressant drugs specifically, Serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRI) are commonly prescribed by doctors to treat anxiety.

Benzodiazepines: 

These drugs are also used to treat anxiety for short-term relief but are not recommended for a long time due to their potential dependency.

Life Style Modification:

Anxiety can be manifested by adopting a healthy lifestyle. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, getting adequate sleep and stress reduction techniques(meditation, deep breathing) can all help in treating anxiety disorders.

Support Networks:

A strong support system can be built with family and friends that provide a crucial source of understanding, encouragement and assistance during anxiety attacks.

Conclusion:

Anxiety disorders can impact an individual's everyday life. It should be recognized at an early stage so it can be treated appropriately. With the help of therapy, medication, lifestyle medications and a robust support network, individuals can manage their anxiety. Remember, seeking professional help is necessary. There is no shame in asking for help and support. You should not be alone on this journey towards better mental health.