Anxiety Disorder- Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

What Is Anxiety?

Anxiety is a feeling of apprehension or fear that lingers. The source for this uneasiness is not always known or recognized which adds to the distress.

Stress is not a disease and is a usual part of everyone’s life. Stress in small quantities is tolerable, however, too much stress is unhealthy and counterproductive. Persistent and unrelenting stress is called anxiety.

Symptoms of Anxiety

Anxiety is an emotion often accompanied by various physical symptoms. These can include twitching or trembling, muscle tension, headaches, sweating, dry mouth, or difficulty swallowing. Some people also report dizziness, a rapid or irregular heart rate, increased rate of respiration, diarrhea, or frequent need to urinate when they are anxious. Fatigue, irritable mood, sleeping difficulties, decreased concentration, sexual problems, and nightmares are also common.

Sometimes a medical illness may masquerade as anxiety.

Some people are more sensitive to stress and are more likely to develop anxiety disorders. This can be caused either by genetic predispositions or by previous (particularly early childhood) exposure to certain stresses. Other times it is simply a question of how stressful the current environment is.

Common Causes

• Actual danger– very often stress is an appropriate reaction
• Emotional stress such as grief and depression often lead to anxiety
• Physical stress such as a medical illness
• Medication side effects
• Drugs including caffeine, cold remedies (Cough/Cold Combinations – oral), sympathomimetics, decongestants (Antihistamines and Decongestants – oral), bronchodilators, tricyclic antidepressants, and thyroid supplements
• Withdrawal from drugs (including caffeine and nicotine)
• Substance abuse or withdrawal (including alcohol)
• Poor diet (deficiency of Vitamin B12)
• Hyperventilation syndrome
• Thyroid problems (hyperthyroid disease mostly)
• Low blood sugar
• Cardiac problems
• In extremely rare cases, a tumor of the adrenal gland (pheochromocytoma)

Management of Stress

Finding what is causing the anxiety and addressing it is the preferred and most effective solution. Unfortunately, this is not always possible.

A first step is to take an inventory of what you think might be making you “stressed out.” What do you worry about most? Is there something constantly on your mind? Does anything in particular make you sad or depressed?

Then, find someone you trust who will listen to you. Very often, talking can help relieve anxiety. Most communities have resources like self-help groups and hotlines, which can help with problems of anxiety. Ministers, social workers, friends, neighbors, and family can all play a therapeutic role.

Also, take a look at your lifestyle. Do you eat well? Do you sleep enough? Are you exercising? How much caffeine do you take in a single day?

Learn techniques, including biofeedback and relaxation therapy, to reduce muscle tension. Biofeedback is a process of monitoring body functions (such as the tightness of certain muscle groups) and altering these functions through relaxation. Follow a regular energetic exercise routine using aerobic exercise if possible.

Avoid using “mood-altering” drugs when overwhelmed by life’s problems. These drugs will not provide a solution and can often cause additional difficulties.

Psychotherapy such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has been shown to significantly decrease anxiety. In some cases, medications such as benzodiazepines or antidepressants may be appropriate.