Understanding Anxiety

Causes, impact, and effective strategies for management

By Zaituni Amir

#What Is Anxiety?

Anxiety refers to intense and extreme worry or restlessness that doesn't go away even in the absence of a stressor. Experiencing some anxiety when facing difficult or unexpected situations is normal. However, severe or extreme fear can indicate an underlying anxiety disorder.

#Types of anxiety disorders

1.Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

This condition causes fear, worry and a constant feeling of being overwhelmed. It’s characterized by excessive, frequent and unrealistic worry about everyday things, such as job responsibilities, health or chores.

2.Agoraphobia

This condition causes an intense fear of becoming overwhelmed or unable to escape or get help. People with agoraphobia often avoid new places and unfamiliar situations, like large, open areas or enclosed spaces, crowds and places outside of their homes.

3.Panic disorder

This condition involves multiple unexpected panic attacks. A main feature of the condition is that the attacks usually happen without warning and aren’t due to another mental health or physical condition. Some people with panic disorder also have agoraphobia.

4.Specific phobias

A phobia is when something causes you to feel fear or anxiety that’s so severe it consistently and overwhelmingly disrupts your life. There are hundreds of different types of phobias, and there’s one diagnosis for almost all of them: specific phobia. Only one phobia, agoraphobia, is a distinct diagnosis.

5.Social anxiety disorder

This condition (formerly known as social phobia) happens when you experience intense and ongoing fear of being judged negatively and/or watched by others.

6.Separation anxiety disorder

This condition happens when you feel excessive anxiety when you’re separated from a loved one, like a primary caregiver. While separation anxiety in babies and toddlers is a normal stage of development, separation anxiety disorder can affect children and adults.

7.Selective mutism

This condition happens when you don’t talk in certain situations because of fear or anxiety. It usually affects young children, but it can also affect adolescents and adults.

#Causes of anxiety

Everyone’s experiences of anxiety are different, and the causes of anxiety can be complicated. The causes of anxiety disorder are more complex and can involve several factors:

1.Brain changes: A part of your brain called the amygdala plays an important role in managing fear and anxiety. Studies show that people with anxiety disorders show increased amygdala activity in response to anxiety cues.

2.Genetics: Anxiety disorders tend to run in biological families. This suggests that genetics may play a role. You may be at an increased risk of developing one if you have a first-degree relative (biological parent or sibling) with an anxiety disorder.

3.Childhood trauma: Childhood trauma such as physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, or neglect, can cause long-lasting effects on a person’s mental health. Experiencing childhood trauma can predispose people to developing anxiety. This can be due to changes in brain development affecting our fight or flight response, memory, and emotion regulation. Childhood trauma can also lead to negative beliefs about oneself or the world, making it more difficult to manage stressful situations and increasing the likelihood of developing anxiety.

#What are the signs and symptoms of anxiety?

Common anxiety signs and symptoms include:

-Feeling nervous, restless or tense

-Having a sense of impending danger, panic or doom

-Having an increased heart rate

-Breathing rapidly (hyperventilation)

-Sweating

-Trembling

-Feeling weak or tired

#Management and treatment

How are anxiety disorders treated?

An anxiety disorder is like any other health condition that requires treatment. Your healthcare provider will tailor a treatment plan that works for you. Your plan may include a combination of medication and psychotherapy (talk therapy).

#Medication for anxiety disorders

Medications can’t cure an anxiety disorder. But they can improve the symptoms and help you function better.

Medications for anxiety disorders often include:

1.Antidepressants: While they mainly treat depression, these medications can also help with anxiety disorders. They adjust how your brain uses certain chemicals to improve mood and reduce stress. Antidepressants may take some time to work, so try to be patient.

2.Benzodiazepines: This class of medications may decrease your anxiety, panic and worry. They work quickly, but you can build up a tolerance to them. They also have addiction potential, so you have to take them cautiously.

3.Beta-blockers: These medications can help reduce some of the physical symptoms of anxiety disorders, like rapid heartbeat, shaking and trembling. They don’t treat the psychological aspects of anxiety disorders.

#Psychotherapy for anxiety disorders

Psychotherapy, also called talk therapy, is a term for a variety of treatment techniques that aim to help you identify and change unhealthy emotions, thoughts and behaviors. A mental health provider talks through strategies to help you better understand and manage an anxiety disorder.

Approaches to psychotherapy include:

1.Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): This is the most common type of psychotherapy to help manage anxiety disorders. CBT for anxiety teaches you to recognize and identify thought patterns and behaviors that lead to troublesome feelings. You then work on changing the thoughts and your reactions to triggering situations.

2.Exposure therapy: This is a type of therapy in which a mental health provider creates a safe environment to expose you to your fears. Fears may be things, situations and/or activities. Exposure therapy helps show you that you’re capable of confronting your fears. You’ll learn to attach new, more realistic beliefs to the things you’re afraid of. You’ll become more comfortable with the experience of fear.

#Can I prevent developing an anxiety disorder?

Currently, there’s no known way to prevent anxiety disorders. But you can lessen many of the related issues with treatment. Seeking help as soon as symptoms appear can help decrease the disruption to your life.

#How can I take care of myself if I have an anxiety disorder?

Aside from seeking professional medical help and treatment, certain strategies can help you manage an anxiety disorder and make treatment more effective. They include:

-Explore stress management techniques, like meditation, breathing exercises, mindfulness and regular exercise.

-Participating in a support group for people with anxiety.

-Learning more about your condition and educating loved ones can help you and them better understand the condition and offer support.

-Limiting or avoiding caffeine: Caffeine can make the physical symptoms of anxiety worse.

#When should I see my healthcare provider?

Your healthcare provider is your partner in your care. If you feel like treatment for an anxiety disorder isn’t working or have questions about your medication, contact your provider. Together, you can figure out how to best move forward.

#Please take note

You don’t need to live with constant worry and fear. If you notice symptoms of an anxiety disorder, talk to a healthcare provider. It’s best to get diagnosed and treated as soon as possible. Doing so can limit the problems that anxiety disorders can cause. Often, a combination of medications and counseling for anxiety can help you feel your best.

Author bio: Zaituni Amir is a mental health advocate and writer dedicated to educating and empowering people about mental health. She aims to raise awareness, promote understanding, and provide practical strategies for improving mental well-being. When she's not writing, Zaituni enjoys hiking and gardening.