A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W

ANXIETY

What is Anxiety ?

Everyone at some point or another has felt anxious. Anxiety is an unpleasant emotional experience which can vary in degree from general unease to an intense dread. There is often a sense of fear and a feeling of impending doom. The feeling of anxiety can result in physical symptoms such as a dry mouth, loss of appetite, dyspepsia, diarrhoea, sickness, headaches, dizziness or faintness, palpitations, breathlessness, muscle tension and pains and frequent passing of urine. It can also cause mental illness such as irritability, poor concentration, difficulty in making decisions, poor memory, depression and sleep disturbance.

How does Anxiety occur ?

The reason why some people feel more anxious than others will have something to do with personality. A person's personality develops as a result of hereditary factors and experiences in childhood. For instance, over-dependence on a friend or relative, under-achievement at school, or disruption in family life, may lead to a lack of self-confidence. This may contribute towards the development of an anxious personality. Sometimes anxiety can be so troublesome that the sufferer resorts to alcohol or other drugs which only worsen the situation.

Why does Anxiety occur ?

A stressful situation (e.g. taking an exam, problems at work, or marital problems) will induce symptoms of anxiety within us. Anxiety may also occur without an obvious cause. This is sometimes termed an anxiety state. Anxiety states are very common. Most anxiety states are mild but sometimes they can cause more serious depression, panic disorders or phobias.

Treatment Involved for Anxiety

A variety of treatments may be offered and sometimes these treatments are used in combination. Diet and exercise play an important part in controlling anxiety. Make sure you have a good balanced healthy diet with fresh vegetables and fruit. Try to avoid caffeine, nicotine and alcohol as they act as stimulants and often make anxiety worse. Exercise is a very effective way of getting rid of many pent up emotions. It will help you relax and enable you to sleep better. Psychotherapy is also known as talking therapy . It seeks to give patients the opportunity to discuss, express and explore some of their feelings and fears regarding their anxiety.

Such anxiety may be concerned with the problems either being experienced at present or with difficulties that have occurred in the past. Exploring these with the therapist will lead to a greater understanding of the anxiety and how to deal with it. Advice concerning diet and exercise may also be helpful. Relaxation or medication is particularly effective for the treatment of anxiety. There are many different relaxation techniques that may be taught. The instruction may take the form of a relaxation tape or be conducted within a group of other sufferers. Anxiety may be brought on by hyperventilation (overbreathing): specific exercises to teach deep diaphragm breathing may then help. Massage can be a useful way to relieve tension and may be given by a qualified practitioner.

Behaviour therapy involves a planned programme which will encourage a return to those situations which produce the anxiety. At the same time, the therapist is available for support and advice. The idea is to demonstrate that the situation is not as frightening as had been imagined. This sort of treatment may be more effective for the individual with phobia and panic disorders. Drugs are not often used as they cannot provide a cure for this problem. They may, however, be given in very severe cases for a short period of time to help cope with the fear as it occurs. If taken before an expected stress situation, they can also lessen the anxiety produced. There are two types of drugs used: anxiolytics belong to the benzodiazepine group of drugs. An example is diazepam (Valium). They reduce the anxiety feeling but may cause drowsiness and impaired decision-making. They are very addictive and therefore must only be used for a short period of time. Beta-blockers reduce anxiety by blocking the effect of adrenaline which is produced in response to anxious situations. They cannot be taken by asthma sufferers, because the asthma often gets dramatically worse.

During Treatment

This will depend on the treatment given. Drugs may cause side-effects such as addiction and drowsiness. They should not be taken with alcohol.

If Anxiety is Left Untreated

It is possible to live with anxiety. However, if it is interfering with patients' enjoyment of life or if they are abusing alcohol as a result, then it would be best to seek some help. If they did not, then it would continue to disrupt their life and they may become depressed.

Effects on Family of Anxiety

Family and friends can help by having the right attitude. They will need to be understanding. It will help if they are aware of the problem and the treatment. They will need to be reassuring and encourage the patient to show their emotions, rather than bottle them up.

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