Anxiety attacks can be reduced and eliminated by changing one%26rsquo;s behavior. Stress management techniques, aerobic exercise, and meditation may help people suffering from anxiety. The goal is to calm, for everyone who has experienced anxiety attacks must know that caffeine, illicit drugs, and even some over-the-counter cold medications can aggravate the symptoms of anxiety disorder. However, it is very important to recognize the anxiety symptoms and be aware of the correct treatment once an attack occurs.
What is anxiety?
Fear is the human%26rsquo;s body innate response to actual danger or threat. Anxiety is also a body's reaction to a perceived, anticipated or imagined danger or threatening situation. Anxiety comes in many different forms. This disorder might be a fear of snakes or spiders, or stage fright before an important speech. However, it may also be a non-stop worry about one%26rsquo;s parenting skills, or a constant fretting about success at work. Others might not think that someone%26rsquo;s feelings of anxiety are rational or logical, but in the patient%26rsquo;s mind the dangers or fears they perceive are very real.
Anxiety is a common occurrence. Most people experience it before or after stressful situations or traumatic events. Anxiety symptoms could also develop spontaneously, even when a threatening situation is not immediately apparent. Anxiety represents a continuum including everything from ordinary symptoms of distress up to life consuming disabilities, and most people who suffer from anxiety fall somewhere in between.
What is an anxiety attack, and what is an anxiety disorder?
If a patient is suffering from an anxiety disorder, anxiety is much more than an occasional nervousness and fear. Characteristics of an anxiety disorder include anxiety which is constant, unrelenting and all-consuming. It also includes anxiety that causes self-imposed isolation or complete emotional withdrawal, and an anxiety that prevents certain normal activities, such as going outside or interacting with other people.
Anxiety attacks, also known as panic attacks, are unexpected episodes of intense terror or fear that usually come without warning. Although the fear is generally irrational, the perceived danger is very real, and the person experiencing an anxiety attack will often feel as if they are about to die or pass out, so this could be particularly frightening. It is because overwhelming fear and worry can easily take over and make life seem like it is just too hard for these people to live.
What are the symptoms of anxiety attacks and disorders?
Anxiety produces physical symptoms such as rapid or irregular heartbeat (palpitations), stomach problems or gnawing feeling, nausea, butterflies, diarrhea, irritated bowel syndrome, sweating, or feeling cold and clammy. Possible symptoms are also headaches, lightheadedness or dizziness, body tension or aches, fatigue or shortness of breath, shaking, trembling or twitching, difficulty or staying asleep, hot flashes or chills, as well as chest pain, rubbery legs, and a tingling in fingers or toes.
At the same time, emotional symptoms of anxiety include a general sense of apprehension and dread, nervousness, jumpiness, irritation, fearfulness or terror, isolation from others, feeling incredibly self-conscious and insecure, and a fear of dying or going crazy, as well as a strong desire to escape. General anxiety may produce symptoms that are chronic and long-lasting. The symptoms of an anxiety attack will usually come on suddenly and without warning, unless you know what triggers your attacks. Symptoms may last only while an attack is taking place, or may be present all the time.
What are the types of anxiety disorders?
There are several of the most commonly experienced types of anxiety attacks and disorders.
-Generalized anxiety disorder occurs if you feel consistently anxious for reasons which are not always apparent. Anxiety related to GAD often manifests itself in physical symptoms like headaches, upset stomachs, and fatigue.
-Obsessive compulsive disorder has unwanted thoughts or behaviors that seem impossible to stop or control as the main symptom.
-Panic attacks/panic disorder is a type of anxiety characterized by repeated, unexpected panic attacks. Panic disorders may also be accompanied by agoraphobia, a type of anxiety associated with being in places where escape or help is not perceived to be possible.
-Phobia is a type of anxiety that involves an extreme, unrealistic fear of a specific object or activity, such as a particular animal, or of flying, or of certain situations such as being in open spaces, or in social situations. Usually phobias cause unrelenting fear and physical symptoms that prevent the person from facing that fear.
-Separation anxiety is a normal developmental stage experienced by a child when separated from its primary caregiver. It consists of crying and distress when a child is away from a parent or home. If separation anxiety continues to occur beyond a certain age or when it negatively impairs life or activities, it may need to be addressed and treated.
-Social anxiety/social phobia can be thought of as an extreme shyness. It could be extreme to the point of avoiding social situations and causing disruption to social and professional relationships.
Self-treatments for anxiety control
To a certain extent, anxiety is a normal part of everyday life, but anxiety disorders occur when anxiety symptoms become uncontrollable and overwhelming. The combination of factors that cause an anxiety disorder may be out of your control. If you are feeling overwhelmed, you should seek help. Social and lifestyle choices do play a role in feeling anxious, and you can learn techniques to manage your daily anxiety. You could also learn to take steps to reduce sources of anxiety. There are some strategies that may help combat the anxiety, stress and fear you feel on a day-to-day basis.
-Physical exercise is very important, so try to exercise regularly. Pay special attention to exercises involving the large muscle groups, like walking or jogging. Give up alcohol and drugs. Eat a healthy, balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Eliminate caffeine from your life and do it slowly. You should notice a difference in your stress and anxiety levels during the time.
-Social treatment could also help, so cultivate a support system. Try to spend as much time as possible with people who make you feel good. Share your troubles, thoughts and fears with friends, family or a therapist. A journal might also be a helpful way of recording things that cause make you anxious, stressed or hurt. You should also know that helping someone else can take your mind off your worries and give you a different perspective. Volunteering on a regular basis, or helping someone in need from your neighborhood, church, or community can give you a break from yourself. Try to improve your intimate love relationships. especially if your anxiety stems from early life issues that interfere with your ability to build safe, trusting relationships. If this is the case with you, you may benefit from learning ways to improve love relationships.
-Mental exercise and relaxing is important, so take a time-out for play, recreation and relaxation, and try to spend time doing hobbies or activities you really enjoy. Identify your stress or anxiety triggers and try to limit the known stress factors in your life. Avoid difficult colleagues, family members, and acquaintances as much as it is possible. It would be wise to lower your expectations, so if you are feeling anxious because people or situations are not living up to your expectations, adjust them appropriately.
Try to shift gears, and if you notice an anxiety or panic attack coming on, try to break the cycle before it takes over. Stop what you are doing and do something athletic, like going for a walk or a run, or do something that you really enjoy, such as painting or knitting, to shift your thoughts. You could also become your own expert, read books, visit websites, go to lectures and workshops, and talk to your doctor and therapist. Learning more about your anxiety will help you get the best treatment and enable you to conquer your fears and improve the best treatment results. You probably know that laughter is very healthy, so laugh as much as possible and seek out things and people that you find amusing. It would be nice to find humor or absurdity in stressful situations.
Medications for anxiety disorders
Some kinds of anxiety are readily controlled by medications, which can be prescribed and monitored by a psychiatrist. The use of medications is somewhat controversial so be sure to research the options before deciding if medication is the best course of treatment. Most antidepressants are started at a low dosage and gradually increased to minimize the risk of serious side effects that are possible to occur. Antidepressants typically take weeks to affect symptoms of anxiety disorder. Some commonly prescribed drugs include fluoxetine or Prozac, sertraline or Zoloft, fluvoxamine or Faverin, paroxetine or Paxil and citalopram or Celexa. Anti-anxiety medications should only be taken for short time periods because they can become addictive and less effective over time. When going off benzodiazepines, it is important to gradually reduce the dosage amount to prevent possible withdrawal symptoms. Common brand names for benzodiazepines are Valium, Xanax, Klonopin, and Ativan.
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