Anxiety – Everything you need to know

Anxiety is an overwhelming feeling of unease or worries about a future event or development. It is the result of tension and restlessness when we fear the way an important situation would resolve. That said, anxiety is our mind’s expected reaction when we are under loads of stress. Unfortunately, it could interfere with our performance and further result in frustration and discontent. In its extreme forms, it could affect every aspect of our lives and disturb our everyday tasks. In this case, we are talking about anxiety disorder, which differs from the occasional problem. We need to be familiar with its symptoms and mechanisms in order to understand what is happening to us. It is only then that we can take specific steps towards dealing with the situation. One thing we cannot emphasize enough is that anxiety, as hard as it can be on us, is possible to deal with. We need to pay attention to what our minds and bodies tell us and try to stay ahead of the condition.

Types of anxiety disorders:

Anxiety does not simply exist on its own. It rather relates to a series of different conditions.    They all have something in common and that is a debilitating degree of worry or nervousness that would not allow us to function properly on an individual or social level. Among these conditions are:

• Generalized anxiety disorder: This is when one feels worried without any apparent reason and on a daily basis. If you are aware you are stressing over insignificant or harmless issues, this speaks of generalized anxiety disorder.

• Social anxiety disorder: This is a common condition and many people experience it in a milder form. Social anxiety disorder makes one fear what others might think of their behavior, looks, comments, etc. It can seriously hamper social interactions. It can affect our behavior in ordinary situations, such as ordering at a restaurant or making a phone call.
• Phobias: A phobia is an irrational but overwhelming fear. There are all kinds of phobias but some of the most common ones are acrophobia (fear of heights), speech anxiety, fear of mice and so on. Unlike an ordinary fear, with phobias, the person is aware that they are not in immediate danger and the object of their fear is in many cases completely harmless. Yet, the person is inexplicably terrified at the sight, presence or experience of the object or situation.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder: Here, anxiety is triggered by a reminder of a traumatic event that one has seen or experienced. PTSD anxiety can be extremely severe, mixed with recurring nightmares and obsessive thoughts of the traumatic experience.
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder: OCD features obsessive thoughts that compel the person to carry out a particular activity. Consequently, it results in movements, sounds or thoughts that the person performs uncontrollably. These function as a form of ritual, which delivers short relief but is soon repeated because of the recurrence of the obsessive ideas.
• Panic disorder: This condition features panic attacks, which can occur unexpectedly. Many times, the patient cannot be certain of the trigger. This leads to a constant fear of the next attack, which makes one feel helpless and vulnerable. Panic attacks have a physical manifestation in the form of sweating, limb numbness and trouble breathing, caused by a sudden feeling of being in danger.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

  Symptoms of anxiety:

  Anxiety symptoms are highly individual but they usually affect both mind and body. Some people experience palpitations or a tingling sensation in their stomachs. Twitches and shaking are also common. In terms of the emotional state, the person might feel extremely agitated, threatened or restless. Here are some of the most common symptoms of anxiety:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Rapid or irregular heartbeat
  • Dry mouth
  • Numbness in the limbs or muscle tension
  • Nausea
  • Extreme fatigue