Anxiety Disorders or Normal Anxiety?
Dave Pipitone
What is an anxiety disorder? You're driving on a lonely expressway at night. The car behind you has its high beam lights on and is tailgating you. You turn off the nearest ramp and the car follows you. You keep driving, faster, and the car continues to follow. You feel tense and stressed. Your heart starts beating faster. Beads of sweat form on your forehead. Finally, the car turns off on another road and disappears. Whew!
What went through your mind? Was the other driver "out to get you?" Probably not, but you did experience a number of anxiety symptoms. Did you have an anxiety attack? Are you normal? An anxiety disorder can manifest itself in a variety of ways. From one-time attacks, to recurrent episodes linked to phobias - panic attacks are much more common than previously thought. The reason for its increase includes a variety of causes, including a more stressful culture, unhealthy diets, and the proliferation of substance abuse. An anxiety disorder can greatly impair a person's functioning and treatment is imperative.
Anxiety Disorder – A Brief Overview
Initial Symptoms – People who develop anxiety disorders notice an increase in the amount of nervousness and fear. They begin to have exaggerated fears about objects or events. The fear escalates into extreme paranoia accompanied by physiological symptoms. These include shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, dizziness, and muscle tension.
Diagnosis – People experience varying levels of anxiety attacks. Some experiences may not even be classified as a disorder. Typically, medical experts will diagnose an anxiety problem as a disorder if the individual begins experiencing difficulties with his daily routines because of the attacks. Recurrent anxiety attacks that occur over a period of months can be classified as an anxiety illness.
Treatment – There are a number of treatments available for anxiety disorders. Milder forms of anxiety problems are usually treated with behavior therapy or homeopathic medicine. Behavior therapy is a natural method of modifying behavioral patterns to eliminate anxiety. This can include any number of exercises which help curtail the escalation of fear or anxiety. These exercises can include mental exercises or breathing exercises.
More severe versions of anxiety problems will need medication. Doctors are generally very careful about providing antidepressants because they are very addictive. Medication is usually the last resort of psychiatrists. Aside from antidepressants, some doctors also prescribe medication that help relieve stress. These can be nutritional supplements or hormonal medication.
Factors – An anxiety disorder can originate from drug addiction, but it can have its roots from traumatic experiences or phobias, too. It's important for people who are prone to anxiety disorders to take preventive measures to ensure their psychological well-being. Being able to cope well at stressful situations, a happy environment, and a good support system of family and friends can help people ward of anxiety problems.
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Power to Peace