Most people feel anxious in certain situations. The symptoms and causes of anxiety can differ. Anxiety is a type of body response toward stress or any danger. People face anxiety while giving an interview, delivering a speech, or on the first day of school. But the anxiety disappears when the person encounters the same situation many times. Having anxiety is normal and very common. However, a problem appears when the person has an anxiety disorder. In this situation, the person faces anxiety whenever he meets a situation. Anxiety disorder is a type of mental condition that affects everyday life.
Types of Anxiety Disorder
Social anxiety disorder: This is the most common type of anxiety disorder where the person faces excessive fear of being judged by others in any kind of social situation.
Panic disorder: In this condition, the person experiences recurring panic attacks unexpectedly.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder: The person has recurring irrational thoughts that lead to specific and repeated behaviours.
Phobia: It is a kind of excessive fear of a specific object, activity, or animal.
Separation anxiety disorder: This is a fear of being away from loved ones or home. Separation anxiety disorder mainly appears in kids.
Illness anxiety disorder: In this condition, the person also feels anxious about his health.
Along with these common types of anxieties, some other conditions can feature anxiety like major depressive disorder, PTSD, chronic pain, inflammatory conditions, etc.
Common symptoms of Anxiety
The symptoms of anxiety differ by type. It also depends from person to person. In some cases, anxiety feels like butterflies in the stomach whereas some may feel like a heart attack. Some common symptoms of anxiety include:
Restlessness
Trouble concentrating
Fatigue
Unable to control thoughts
Irritability
Aches and pains
Some people can get panic attacks due to anxiety. It is a kind of intense fear that appears suddenly and peaks within 10 minutes. The trigger of a panic attack can be unknown. Some symptoms of panic attacks are similar to heart attacks Common symptoms of a panic attack are chest pain, fear of losing control, sweating, chis, feeling like choking, and fear of dying.
What can cause anxiety?
Certain factors can cause anxiety meanwhile there is no exact reason behind anxiety.
Common causes of anxiety include:
Stress
Environmental concerns
Substance abuse
Medicine abuse
Depression
Diabetes
Situations like surgery or accidents
Occupational hazard
Risk factors for anxiety disorders
There are a few factors that can increase the risk of getting anxiety disorder such as:
Life history: A person is exposed to any negative or stressful life events.
Genetics: Anxiety can run in genes. However, some research shows that it can be behavioral as the kids learn the behavior they witness at home.
Personality traits: People who are shy or often feel nervous in childhood often grow this anxiety.
Certain health conditions: Some conditions like thyroid etc can make a person prone to anxiety.
Treatment options for anxiety disorder
Psychotherapy
Therapy like CBT can help in treating anxiety. In this therapy, the therapist identifies your anxiety type, symptoms, and triggers. He will provide tailored therapy that can help in removing the negative thoughts that cause anxiety.
Homeopathy
You can talk to homeopathic doctors in New York for managing anxiety symptoms. Homeopathy is a dynamic medication that can manage the symptoms and also help in preventing recurrence. You can take these medicines for a long time without having any side effects.
Medicines
Doctors sometimes suggest antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs to manage the symptoms. However, depending on these drugs can be harmful. You can’t use these medicines for a long time as they can cause serious side effects.
Best ways to cope with anxiety disorder
Keep yourself physically active
Make a good daily routine of physical activities. These exercises can be very helpful in managing anxiety symptoms. Stress is one of the major triggers for anxiety. Regular exercise can be a good stress reducer.
Quit alcohol and smoking
Many people drink alcohol and smoke to reduce anxiety. But it will only help you temporarily. It can cause various other issues. You should quit alcohol as it can worsen anxiety symptoms.
Get good sleep
Never compromise your sleep. If you are not getting enough sleep, you may get more anxiety issues. To get good sleep, go to bed at the same time daily. Keep your room dark and cool.
Eat good food
You should avoid oily and junk food. People love eating junk food when they are stressed. But you should avoid junk food and eat a healthy diet that is rich in vitamins, minerals, and fibers.
Do meditation
Meditate daily for about 20 minutes and you will see a positive change in a few days. Meditation reduces stress and provides positive energy to cope with anxiety and various other situations.
Don’t ignore it
People know about anxiety but still, ignore it. If you want to treat the condition, first you have to identify it. Learn about your anxiety and find the best ways to manage it.