A sensation of worry, dread, and unease is known as anxiety. You can start to perspire, become agitated and anxious, and experience rapid heartbeat. It can be a typical response to stress. Panic attacks, which are abrupt, strong emotions of fear or terror that peak within minutes, are frequent symptoms of anxiety disorders.
These uncomfortable, hard to regulate, out-of-proportion to the real threat, and protracted sensations of worry and panic interfere with daily activities. To stop these feelings, you could avoid certain locations or circumstances. Children or teenagers may first have symptoms, which may then last until adulthood.
Symptoms
The following list of symptoms and indicators of anxiety:
- Feeling jittery, fidgety, or uptight
- A feeling of impending peril, terror, or disaster
- Having a faster heartbeat
- Fast breathing (hyperventilation)
- Sweating
- Trembling
- Feeling drained or feeble
- Difficulty focusing or thinking about anything but the current issue
Having issues falling asleep - Having digestive system (GI) issues
- Having trouble managing worry
- A desire to stay away from things that make you anxious
There are various varieties of anxiety disorders:
Agoraphobia is a type of anxiety disorder in which a person fears and frequently avoids locations or situations that can make them feel confined, helpless, or ashamed.
- Intense anxiety or panic sensations that are directly attributed to a physical health issue are included in anxiety disorders that are caused by medical conditions.
- Anxiety and worry about things that are commonplace or routine, as well as persistent and excessive anxiety, are symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder. The worry is excessive compared to the situation, hard to regulate, and has an impact on how you physically feel. It frequently co-occurs with depression or other anxiety disorders.
- Repeated episodes of abrupt, acute anxiety, fear, or terror that peak within minutes constitute panic disorder (also known as panic attacks). Shortness of breath, chest pain, heart palpitations, or feelings of impending doom are all possible symptoms. These panic episodes may cause concern that they’ll happen again or a desire to stay away from circumstances where they’ve happened.
- Selective mutism is the inability of children to talk in some contexts, like school, despite their ability to do so in others, including at home with their immediate relatives. This may affect how you operate at work, school, and in your social life.
- A childhood disorder called separation anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive anxiety for the child’s developmental stage and anxiety associated to separation from parents or other adults who play parental duties.
- High degrees of anxiety, fear, and avoidance of social situations are symptoms of social anxiety disorder (social phobia), which are brought on by emotions of humiliation, self-consciousness, and worry about being judged or perceived adversely by others.
- Major anxiety when exposed to a particular object or scenario and a desire to avoid it are characteristics of certain phobias. Some people experience panic episodes due to phobias.
- Intense anxiety or panic symptoms that are a direct result of drug abuse, prescription use, toxic substance exposure, or drug withdrawal are the hallmarks of substance-induced anxiety disorder.
- The terms “other specified anxiety disorder” and “unspecified anxiety disorder” refer to phobias and anxieties that do not quite fit any of the other anxiety disorder definitions but are significant enough to be distressing and disruptive.
Causes
Uncertainties remain regarding the causes of anxiety disorders. People who are already anxious seem to be more susceptible to anxiety disorders when they are exposed to severe life situations. Traits that are inherited can also play a role.
Healthcare causes
An underlying medical condition may be connected to anxiety in certain persons. Sometimes the first warning signals of a medical condition are anxiety-related signs and symptoms. Your doctor may request tests to look for symptoms of a problem if they have reason to believe your worry may have a medical cause.
Examples of medical problems that can be linked to anxiety include:
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Thyroid problems, such as hyperthyroidism
- Respiratory disorders, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma
- Drug misuse or withdrawal
- Withdrawal from alcohol, anti-anxiety medications (benzodiazepines) or other medications
- Chronic pain or irritable bowel syndrome
- Rare tumors that produce certain fight-or-flight hormones
Certain drugs occasionally have the adverse effect of anxiousness.
Your worry might be brought on by an underlying medical issue if:
- You don’t have any blood relatives who suffer from anxiety disorders (like a parent or sibling).
- You didn’t grow up with an anxiety illness.
- Because of your anxiousness, you don’t avoid particular situations or objects.
- You experience abrupt anxiety that doesn’t seem to be tied to current events, and you have no prior history of anxiety.
Risk elements
These elements could make you more likely to acquire an anxiety disorder:
Trauma. Children who experienced abuse, trauma, or observed horrific events are more likely to eventually develop an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders can also manifest in adults who had traumatizing experiences.
Illness-related stress. When you have a major sickness or health condition, you may worry a lot about things like your future and treatment.
An accumulation of stress. Excessive anxiety may be brought on by a major incident or a pile of lesser stressful life circumstances, such as a loss in the family, work stress, or persistent financial worry.
Personality. Anxiety disorders are more likely to affect some personality types than others.
Other illnesses of the mind. Anxiety disorders are frequently co-occurring with other mental health illnesses, such as depression, in many people.
Having a family history of anxiety disorders. Disorders of anxiety can run in families.
Booze or drugs. Anxiety can be caused or made worse by the misuse, abuse, or usage of drugs or alcohol.
Complications
Having an anxiety disorder does more than make you worry. It can also lead to, or worsen, other mental and physical conditions, such as:
- Depression (which often occurs with an anxiety disorder) or other mental health disorders
- Substance misuse
- Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
- Digestive or bowel problems
- Headaches and chronic pain
- Social isolation
- Problems functioning at school or work
- Poor quality of life
- Suicide
Prevention
Although it’s impossible to know with certainty what will lead someone to acquire an anxiety disorder, there are steps you can do to lessen the severity of symptoms if you experience anxiety:
Get assistance as soon as possible. Waiting to get treatment for anxiety, like many other mental health issues, might make it more difficult.
Remain active. Engage in things you find enjoyable and positive for your self-image. Enjoy the company of kind people and social interaction because they can help you relax.
Avoid using drugs or alcohol. Anxiety can be caused by or worsened by alcohol and drug usage. Quitting one of these substances can make you anxious if you are addicted to it. Visit your doctor or look for a support group if you are unable to stop on your own.
