Anxiety can be defined as the feeling of fear or nervousness out of proportion with what’s happening or expected, making life a struggle and impeding everyday activities. Anxiety is a natural response to danger; however, its manifestation can interfere with daily living.
Step one is seeing a doctor to rule out physical causes for your symptoms, then speaking to a mental health provider about possible treatment solutions.
Symptoms
Everybody experiences anxiety on occasion, and fears and phobias may increase after experiencing trauma. If these feelings continue to interfere with everyday activities and cause severe distress, however, this could be a telltale sign that professional help should be sought immediately.
Anxiety symptoms include restlessness (unable to settle down), muscle tension, difficulty breathing and a pounding heartbeat. People suffering from generalized anxiety disorder often find it hard to identify what’s triggering their symptoms – making treatment challenging. Panic disorder, on the other hand, is marked by sudden surges of terror that reach a peak within minutes (panic attacks).
If anxiety has been interfering with your work, school, or social life for multiple weeks, seeking medical help should be your top priority. They will examine your symptoms to rule out physical causes like thyroid or asthma conditions before suggesting cognitive behavioral therapy or medication treatments as possible solutions.
Diagnosis
Mental health professionals will evaluate your symptoms against clinical diagnostic criteria for anxiety disorders. Writing down your symptoms before coming in may help your provider gain a clearer understanding of what’s causing you distress and the severity of those symptoms.
Anxiety disorders can be identified if their symptoms occur regularly and cause significant distress or impairment to daily living, unlike feelings of anxiousness and worries that are occasional in nature, but typically do not interfere with functioning and don’t last beyond six months.
Anxiety disorders are typically treated through psychotherapy (talk therapy) and medication. Psychotherapy includes cognitive behavioral therapy or behavioral therapy to address behaviors or patterns of thinking that contribute to anxiety; medication can reduce severity of symptoms when used alone or combined with other therapies.
Treatment
Anxiety disorders can often be treated by primary care physicians (PCPs), who can perform a physical examination to identify any hormone imbalances, medication side effects or medical conditions which might be contributing to symptoms. PCPs can also refer patients for therapy and medications from mental health professionals.
PCPs may employ cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to teach their clients how to recognize and address irrational fears and worries more rationally, learn relaxation techniques and conduct exposure exercises that expose situations or objects that cause anxiety.
Medication and psychotherapy can work hand-in-hand to treat anxiety. Antidepressants like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs and SNRIs) are among the most widely prescribed antidepressant medications; they work by decreasing levels of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain to alleviate anxiety symptoms.
Anxiety disorders should be taken seriously as co-occurring with depression and alcohol and drug abuse, among other illnesses. Research indicates that chronic stress, childhood adversity and traumatic events may all increase your risk for anxiety disorders.
Prevention
Anxiety symptoms can be alleviated by identifying what triggers them, practicing calming techniques and getting enough restful sleep. It is also recommended to visit your primary care provider who may refer you to a mental health specialist such as a psychiatrist or psychologist for additional help.
Exercise can reduce stress hormones that contribute to anxiety and improve mood, helping reduce anxious feelings. Just adding light jogging or walking as part of your daily routine may help relieve anxious feelings. A diet rich in whole-food nutrients while limiting sugary, high-fat or processed food consumption may also aid in helping prevent anxiety from returning.
Herbal or dietary supplements aren’t monitored in the same way as prescription, and may have potentially dangerous side effects. Consuming herbal or dietary supplements without medical supervision could interfere with your treatment plan and should only be done so with medical supervision from trained health professionals. Avoiding substances like alcohol, cigarettes and drugs may help avoid anxiety as the CDC reports chronically depressed or anxious individuals tend to perform less well at work and struggle maintaining healthy relationships.