ABOUT/DESCRIPTION
"Anxiety: A painful uneasiness of mind, usually over an anticipated ill. An abnormal apprehension and fear often accompanied by physiological signs such as sweating and increased pulse, by doubt about the nature and reality of the threat itself and by self-doubt."
Everyone experiences feelings of anxiety at some point in their lives. Whether it's the birth of a first child, the sudden loss of a job or in preparation for a major medical procedure, everyone will experience occasions where their stress level will become overwhelming. A close relative of excitement, anxiety can be best described in terms of worry, a general troubled or uneasy feeling of apprehension.
Anxiety Disorders however are altogether different from the ordinary, periodic feelings of apprehension we all experience from time to time. The worry and fear experienced by people suffering from an Anxiety Disorder is persistent and habitual, often initiated by unrealistic situations or thoughts. In addition, this worry is seemingly uncontrollable and often interferes with their ability to concentrate or otherwise function normally day to day.
Carolyn Dickman, former anxiety sufferer who today serves as the Education Director for the Midwest Center shares the following example which is so typical of the worry and fear associated with Anxiety Disorders.
"I honestly believed I would die young. I remember crying my heart out when I was alone, literally begging God to allow me to live just long enough to raise my children. 'Please, please God let me stay until they are all grown up. Let me live long enough to see that they are safe and secure on their own with a loving partner.'
This sentiment and feeling was very real to me, I certainly didn't believe my plea to be 'unrealistic.' Of course now that I am recovered I can see the error of my thinking - the difference between possible and probable. Sure I could have died at 24-35-45 but it certainly wasn't very likely. It certainly wasn't so likely that I needed to be focused on it every minute of every day. It wasn't so possible or probable that I needed to sacrifice my health, happiness, literally years of my life prematurely running from my ghost."
Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder vary by type, but some general symptoms may include: feeling of intense inner nervousness and fear, dry mouth, tightness of throat and shortness of breath, heart palpitations, uncontrollable obsessive/scary thoughts, sleep problems, flashbacks, nausea, and muscle tension.
Indeed for many, an Anxiety Disorder is a serious, crippling condition; one that is commonly misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and chronically under-treated.
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QUICK FACTS
Anxiety Disorders are the most common emotional problem in the country today; affecting an estimated 19-million American adults (more recent statistics cited in other sources nudges that figure closer to 25-million). Anxiety Disorders affect everyone - man, woman and child - but women experience anxiety and stress related problems at a higher rate than men.
Anxiety disorders often coexist with other ailments including depression, alcoholism, and other types of substance abuse.
While the exact cause of Anxiety Disorders is unknown, researchers have focused their attention on a combination of risk factors including personality characteristics, genetics/biology, and environmental factors.
Chronically under-diagnosed and under-treated, some studies suggest that the anxiety sufferer will see an average of five doctors before receiving a correct diagnosis.
More than half of patient's with an anxiety disorder receive their treatment from a primary care provider rather than a mental health professional.
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TYPES
There are several categories or types of Anxiety Disorders. Anxiety Disorders generally include:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
- Panic Disorder
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Social Anxiety Disorder
- Specific Phobias and Agoraphobia
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OSD)
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GENERAL HELP/TREATMENT TECHNIQUES
Exact treatment varies from person to person based on the type of disorder, severity, and other individual factors. Anxiety Disorders are typically treated with medications, therapy, or a combination of the two.
Both antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs are prescribed to reduce the symptoms associated with Anxiety Disorders. Specifically, these drugs include benzodiazepines, beta-blockers, tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and most recently selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
Many forms of therapy are used to treat Anxiety Disorders including psychotherapy, relaxation therapy, and exposure therapy. Perhaps the most researched and clinically proven form of treatment therapy for Anxiety Disorders is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT is simply an integration of the cognitive (thought) restructuring approach of traditional cognitive therapy and the behavior modification techniques of traditional behavioral therapy. CBT is a structured, relatively short-term, action oriented form of therapy based on the premise that bad or faulty thinking patterns cause negative emotions and negative behaviors. This treatment teaches people to understand and change their thinking patterns so that they can change their behavior and emotional state. CBT teaches people to think and respond differently in situations that cause anxiety.
There are a number of relatively simple lifestyle changes you can institute on your own that may help relieve anxiety symptoms.
- Avoid products that contain caffeine such as coffee, colas, chocolate, etc.
- Avoid nicotine
- Reduce intake of foods that are high in sugar and fats.
- Get a moderate amount of aerobic exercise daily - consult your physician before beginning any exercise routine.
- Practice some form of relaxation daily (guided imagery, muscle relaxation techniques, meditation, massage, yoga, etc.)
- If you consume alcohol, do so only in moderation
- Add foods that calm to your diet: whole grains, pasta, potatoes, turkey, corn, rice (especially brown rice)
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