Anxiety Guide
Ranges from mild, persistent worry to disabling fear and full-blown panic attacks.
Causes: Anxiety may be the result of a traumatic experience, a genetic predisposition, or an imbalance of brain chemicals. It can also occur for no apparent reason.
Effect: Generalized Anxiety Disorder causes you to feel restless, impatient and constantly ‘on edge’. You may suffer from panic attacks, dizziness, fatigue, palpitations, aching muscles, excessive sweating, digestive problems and insomnia.
Phobias are also a type of anxiety disorder. Someone with a specific phobia knows the exact trigger for their anxiety, for example spiders (arachnophobia), leaving the house (agoraphobia) or entering small spaces such as lifts (claustrophobia).
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder arises after a very traumatic or life-threatening event, and usually includes flash-backs.
Social Anxiety Disorder is diagnosed when a person experiences disabling anxiety in social situations.
Solutions:
Relaxation techniques are helpful in combating anxiety disorders. These include breathing exercises and meditation.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
Flooding and Exposure Therapy are techniques in which you are forced to confront the things you fear, either suddenly (for specific phobias) or gradually, until you no longer respond to the trigger with anxiety.
Medication may be prescribed when anxiety is severe.
Cutting out caffeine and nicotine may help.
Yoga and pilates.
Exercise such as brisk walking helps to reduce anxiety.