What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a natural phenomenon of the human body, which is triggered by stress or fear. It is normal to get anxious every now and then; also, it is quite necessary in certain situations. Feelings of anxiety give us an adrenaline rush that activates the ‘fight or flight’ response. This helps us evade danger or effectively cope with a difficult situation. It is normal to feel anxious before an important school exam, first day at a job, public speaking, or meeting up with your crush.
Balancing work and life can be stressful on its own; worrying about deadlines and pivotal events motivates us to strive and perform our best. The sinking feeling in the pit of the stomach, elevated heart rate, nervousness, and cold feet are a few common symptoms of anxiety we experience on a regular basis.
Nonetheless, if feelings of anxiety recur too frequently and irrationally, as well as interfere with your daily regime, your concern is valid. When anxiety gets out of control and reaches extreme levels, it can be called an anxiety disorder. Ordinary anxiety comes and goes, but an anxiety disorder is like a dark cloud that looms over you at all times.
Symptoms of an Anxiety Disorder:
- Never-ending restlessness and jitters
- Insomnia, interrupted sleep cycles
- Inability to concentrate or focus
- Severe irritability
- Throbbing headaches
- Dizziness and Nausea
- Muscular tension
- Shortness of breath
- Numbness or Tingling sensation
- Constantly panicked or afraid
- Always feeling isolated or lonely
Types and Causes of Anxiety Disorders
There is no specific cause for anxiety, as it is just one of many naturally occurring emotions. Nevertheless, medical and science researchers claim that various biotic and abiotic factors can be held responsible for causing anxiety. Typically, anxiety is caused by a combination of brain chemistry, genetics, and environmental dynamics.
Now let us discuss the different kinds of anxiety disorders:
GAD (generalized anxiety disorder) is the most common and subtlest form of anxiety disorders. It involves stressing over many day-to-day small and insignificant matters. People suffering from an OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) are included in this category. These people simply overthink things and experience far too many intrusive thoughts.
2. Specific Phobia
This anxiety disorder refers to being overwhelmed or terrified by a particular object or situation. An individual suffering from this kind of phobia may demonstrate excellent emotional stability in the most gravest of circumstances, though they will lose their mind over an encounter with that that specific thing (no matter how harmless or ridiculous). For instance, many people are scared of travelling by air, taking the escalator, or getting into a lift.
PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) is a type of anxiety disorder that is fostered after going through a painful or life-threatening situation. Victims of car accident injuries, war, terrorism, kidnapping, and domestic abuse may develop PTSD.
4. Panic Disorder
A person’s genetic makeup/family history paired with an extremely stressful situation may push them into a state of extreme terror, thereby causing a panic attack. Panic attacks can occur unexpectedly and escalate quickly. Uncontrollable shaking, nausea, heart palpitations, and suffocation are some commonly occurring symptoms.
5. Social Anxiety
Many individuals are overpowered by everyday social interactions. They are constantly under the fear of being judged, embarrassed, or ridiculed in public. Some children and adults also suffer from ‘selective mutism’, which deprives them of the ability to speak around unfamiliar or new people.
6. Drug induced Anxiety
Many people who are addicted or dependent on a mind-altering substance feel helpless when the effect wears off or the drug is withdrawn.
7. Separation Anxiety
Both adults and children can be left devastated after losing something or someone they were emotionally attached to. For example, separation anxiety could be the result of a breakup/divorce or leaving a childhood home. The person or object lost granted them a sense of security that they no longer have.
John Adams writes about physiological traumas and personal healing. He encourages readers to fight their fears and overcome obstacles holding them back. He believes that any person can improve the quality of his or her life by incorporating positivity in every thought and action. He loves to share his insight on life experiences, and contributes on various online platform in the same niche. https://www.healthnic.com/