Stress & Anxiety Control

 
For anyone living with stress or anxiety, fear is common.  Obviously, no person wants or deserves to live with fear on any level or for any reason so understanding anxiety and getting proper treatment is imperative.  With anxiety fear, this could be the result of the three things such as:

     1. Disorder – When a person is diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, it is normal for him or her to feel fear, which is usually fear of the unknown.

     2. Symptoms of an Anxiety Disorder – For the person suffering from anxiety, symptoms vary as to type and severity of the disorder but some of the more common include heart palpitations, shortness of breath, excessive sweating, and confusion.  For this individual, symptoms evoke an overwhelming sense of fear, often associated with death.

     3. Fear or Phobia – The third scenario is the actual fear or phobia.  As an example, anxiety fear could be a fear of flying, a fear of social settings, a fear of clowns, and so on.

 No matter the type of  anxiety fear  and in mild cases, the individual typically finds it difficult to lead a normal existence.  In the back of the mind is the constant and nagging concern that something unexpected is going to trigger an anxiety attack.  This alone is fear, which can be very debilitating.  Some people have become so fearful they refuse to leave the home, visit with friends, go to family gatherings, or work, meaning their entire life has been disrupted.

 Sadly, for people that have never experienced or known someone with anxiety fear, they often view this as a mental issue, not a viable disorder suffered by millions of people around the world.  Because of this, anxiety sufferers find it difficult to maintain friendships and relationships due to a lack of trust or go to work knowing they might need to leave, putting their job in jeopardy.  Situations and environments contribute to existing anxiety, which only worsens the problem.

 What happens is that some people who deal with one or more anxiety disorders begin putting all their focus and energy on fear, which makes getting to a doctor a huge challenge.  When people are consumed by fear, coupled with anxiety, behaviors and cognitive thinking begins to change.  A once vibrant and confident person turns into someone that is withdrawn, has no self-confidence, or becomes angry.  Trying to deal with a disorder, insurmountable anxiety fear, and a miserable life is simply too much.

 Studies have been conducted over the years specific to stress and anxiety fear.  These studies have shown that people living with an anxiety disorder often focus on trying to predict when the next attack or series of symptoms will occur.  In a short amount of time, this type of thought process begins wrecking havoc, which slowly sends the person into a downward spiral leading to disaster.

 Remember, anxiety fear is a powerful force that can cause physical illness and irrational behavior.  The body is designed with a “fight or flight” response to trauma or injury, meaning some people in certain situations will respond by fighting to survive and beat the disorder but others go into a flight mode, wanting to run.  For people in flight, they are frantically looking for a means of escape, which can lead to odd or even dangerous behaviors and choices.

 The key to overcoming anxiety fear is for the disorder to be controlled.  Therefore, anyone that notices symptoms of stress or anxiety should take them seriously and seek assistance from a doctor immediately.  An opportunity for recovery is missed when the problem is ignored and without proper treatment, anxiety fear will worsen.  For this reason, the individual needs to act on symptoms and work with a skilled and compassionate doctor for treatment options and then follow medical instructions exact as ordered.

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Stress and Anxiety are nothing new but the definition for the question of what is anxiety is misunderstood.  In this article, we provide a good definition for anxiety but also myths and truths surrounding this illness.  While some people experience only slight problems associated with anxiety, others have severe responses, which can be devastating if not diagnosed and treated.

 By definition, the answer to the question, “What is anxiety” is that this is a reaction created by the body’s “fight or flight” response for survival.  When a healthy person is in a position of feeling threatened or challenged, they respond appropriate but for the person with an anxiety disorder, responses would not only be different, but also inappropriate and in excess.

 Truths about Anxiety

 What is Anxiety – Classifications

 Anxiety disorders are classified so the answer to what is anxiety depends on the type of disorder, as well as intensity and duration of attacks and/or symptoms.  The following are the most common types of anxiety disorders treated today.

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) – This is a long-lasting disorder although symptoms are generally mild
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) – With this disorder, symptoms may start out mild but they can become debilitating
• Panic Disorder – Symptoms for this disorder come on fast and are usually intense
• Phobias – This disorder is comprised of fears (phobias) such as fear of flying, fear of clowns, fear of death, etc, with symptoms being situation-based
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PSTD) – With this, symptoms could show up slowly or quickly, and vary in intensity from moderate to life-threatening
• Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD) – While seen in adults on rare occasion, this anxiety disorder primarily affects children

 What is Anxiety – Statistics

 Statistics are another important part of the answer to what is anxiety, which shows people struggling with a disorder that they are not alone.  Experts estimate that currently close to 20 million people in the United States between the ages of 18 and 54 has an anxiety disorder, with some having more than one.

 We also know that anxiety disorders affect women more than men by about 50% for all types except for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Social Phobia, which affect both men and women equally.  Then, of the four million people living with a panic disorder, just over half have at least one actual panic attack every year.

 Myths about Anxiety

 What is Anxiety Relating to Depression

 Unfortunately, information has circulated for years that people dealing with depression as a part of an anxiety disorder can simply move on in life without complications.  The truth is that depression on any level can be devastating.  People with anxiety often have depression, which creates a sense loneliness, sadness, defeat, boredom, and hopelessness.  Although a small number of people will push through very mild bouts of depression, this is rare.

 Anxiety with or without Depression is a Figment of the Imagination

 When looking at myths pertaining to what is anxiety, nothing could be further from the truth than this.  Both anxiety and depression are very real illnesses that if left untreated can progress and even lead a person committing suicide or murder.  In both instances, not only is the mind affected but the body also responds negatively with symptoms such as insomnia, weight loss, low or no appetite, stomachaches, headaches, diarrhea and/or constipation, etc.

 Drugs do Not Cure Anxiety – Drugs only hide Symptoms

 Today, many people are completely opposed to prescription medication, choosing alternative medicine instead.  Using herbs and supplements, as well as homeopathic treatments for anxiety is fine but in many instances, the disease can only be cured, controlled, and prevented with proper medication.  Typically, doctors prescribe medication based on the severity and duration of attacks/symptoms for each type of disorder along with cognitive and behavioral therapy.  This combination has proven successful in many cases.

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Anxiety, in its simplest form, is a psychological state that can cause a person to have irrational fears and worries. It is similar to stress in that it can have negative effects on a person’s well-being and quality of life and even lead to physical ailments.anxiety form

Anxiety can oftentimes be caused by an event or “trigger.” A person might feel scared or anxious to talk in front of a large crowd, for example, leading to them feeling anxiety. On the other hand, a person might feel anxiety getting behind the wheel of a car after they’ve been in an accident. Anxiety can also be produced when a person is scared for no rational reason, such as being afraid to of their loved one dying when there is no danger present.

Most anxiety is based around fear. The fear can be anything from fear of dying to fear of being stung by a bee. Sometimes, anxiety can lead to different specific phobias. A person with social anxiety might become agoraphobic and be afraid to leave the house.

Anxiety is generally triggered by stress that occurs in our life. Negative self-talk, and a lowering of self-confidence, can also lead to anxiety. Telling yourself repeatedly that something bad is going to happen, even when you have no sound proof that it is true, is one way that negative self-talk can cause anxiety.

Anxiety can have many symptoms associated with it. A person having an anxiety attack might feel stressed, a shortness of breath, have heart palpitations, feel nauseated, and even faint. The person might also have an irrational fear of dying or something horrible happening to them.

Anxiety can have a severe impact on the quality of life that you experience. While a little bit of stress is okay, after all it keeps up motivated in some cases, anxiety can severely impact your judgment. It can make you afraid to do things that you normally would enjoy doing. It can also limit the amount of fun that you have, which isn’t good at all. In severe cases, anxiety can lead to physical ailments like backaches, migraines, and even irritable bowel syndrome.

While there are ways to manage anxiety, such as focusing on pleasant events, using positive thinking, meditation, and even writing in a journal, if your anxiety becomes too severe you should seek medical attention. Anxiety can be managed with the care of a doctor and is treatable.

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Separation Anxiety is typically an anxiety disorder that occurs in children, although it can also occur in adults as well. The symptoms for both children and adults are similar, usually with the adults throwing tantrums, although the underlying causes are different.

Children first start understanding that objects continue to exist even when you can’t see them when they are about 6 months old. That is usually around the time that Separation Anxiety can start forming. Before that, babies are fairly happy as long as they are being fed, changed, and rocked to sleep. Once they begin understanding, however, that you are a concrete person and a center point in their life, they might start reacting to your absence.

Children can show Separation Anxiety in different ways. They might throw tantrums, cry uncontrollably, and sometimes even hold their breath until they turn blue. Some things can trigger Separation Anxiety, such as changes in the child’s routine. This can occur when you go on vacation or if you move or change childcare providers.

Separation Anxiety in children is quite common, but a recent study has shown that mothers who experienced a lot of stress during pregnancy went on to have children who have Separation Anxiety.

One of the worst things that you can do when your child is facing Separation Anxiety is probably the very thing that you feel you should do-run back to them. However, if you keep reappearing when they cry for you, it will just reinforce the fact that they can cry and you will return. Obviously, if you have to work or leave you will need to go at some point.

If older children suddenly develop Separation Anxiety, it could be a different problem all together. They might be bullied or harassed at school so it worth talking to them to get to the root of the problem.

Adults can also face Separation Anxiety.  As a matter of fact, almost 7% of the adult population in the United States has some form of Separation Anxiety. Adult symptoms might include avoidance of being alone, fear, depression, and fear that something terrible will happen to the one that they feel the attachment to.

There is no known cause for Separation Anxiety in adults. However, biological factors and genetics might be causes. In addition, adults who have suffered trauma or great loss in the past might also be prone to fear of losing a loved one which could result in Separation Anxiety.

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Social anxiety disorder, also commonly referred to as “social phobia”, is an anxiety disorder in which the person feels as though they are constantly being judged by people. As a result, they often become afraid of leaving the house in fear of embarrassing themselves or drawing attention to themselves. Sometimes, Social Anxiety Disorder can even lead to a person becoming agoraphobic.

Occasionally, the person’s feelings of being judged and watched by others are based on actual occurrences. For the most part, however, they are imagined or grossly overestimated. For example, an attractive woman with low self-esteem could develop Social Anxiety Disorder because she feels that every time she goes out in public she is being watched and stared at. She might feel as though she is being judged and talked about, when in fact, people are probably simply just looking at her because she is attractive.

There are several physical symptoms associated with Social Anxiety Disorder. A few of the common symptoms are: feeling faint, dizziness, sweating, and heart palpitations. Depression can also follow long periods of Social Anxiety Disorder.

People who have Social anxiety disorder are not just shy; they actually feel frightened to be in social settings. The social setting can be anything from going grocery shopping to even going to a restaurant or the doctor’s office. If they go out in public, they usually feel more comfortable in a place that does not contain a lot of people, like in a sparsely populated park.

Sometimes, people turn to alcohol and drugs to control their symptoms and feelings. They might begin taking drugs in order to “feel normal” about going out in public and being in social settings. The drugs and alcohol might make them feel as though they can handle the pressure and the people by giving them a type of confidence that they do not usually possess.

Although there is no known cause for Social Anxiety Disorder, many people who suffer from it had traumatic childhood experiences in which they were severely embarrassed. Children who were bullied or harassed in school have also reportedly been diagnosed with the disorder later on in life. Genetics might also play a part in the disorder although studies at this time are inconclusive.

There are several types of treatment available for help with Social Anxiety Disorder. A common counseling technique is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Medication is also used and can come in the form of anxiety medication such as Klonipin or antidepressants like Prozac.

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When it comes to stress and anxiety, every person has a unique chemical make-up and therefore can experience differing symptoms. The intensity and frequency of these symptoms can also differ. One of the most common and scariest symptoms that can occur when a person is feeling stressed and anxious is tightness in the chest.

Although feeling tightness in the chest with anxiety is common, it can be scary. Most people associate this feeling with an impending heart attack, although when it comes to stress this is generally not the case. As a matter of fact, feeling this tightness is actually one of the most common symptoms of a panic attack.

Along with the tightness in the chest, there is also occasionally a painful feeling in that area as well. Sometimes, the pain is sudden and sharp, while at other times it can be dull and constant. Occasionally, the feeling is described as “tight.” Generally, however, the pain is felt in the center of the chest if it is anxiety-related. This is important due to the fact that your heart is not located in the center of your chest. So, while it might feel as though it is coming from your heart, if it’s in the center, it probably isn’t.

So why do you feel a tightness in your chest with anxiety? Well, it has something to do with your Sympathetic Nervous System. During times of high stress or anxiety, your body more or less prepares for battle and thinks that the situation is more serious than it actually is. As a result, it goes into defense mode and raises your heart rate as well as your blood pressure. This, in turn, can cause all sorts of things to occur within your chest cavity, including the tightening sensation.

The important thing to remember is that you know your own body and you know when something doesn’t feel right. If you’re under a stressful situation and begin having trouble with anxiety, it is important that you see your physician. Although it rarely causes long term problems, it can diminish the quality of your life if you are experiencing problems on a daily basis. In addition, even though tightness in the chest is a common symptom when it comes to anxiety, it should also be looked at by a physician in order to determine that there isn’t something more serious going on. If nothing else, it will help give you peace of mind.

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There are many reasons why people suffer from anxiety attacks. However, it is important to remember that some stress is actually good for our bodies. We need stress in order to motivate us, get our adrenalin pumping, and to invigorate our nervous system. Nevertheless, when stress and anxiety become too severe, and our bodies go into defense mode, mild to severe anxiety attacks can occur.

A mild anxiety attack can occur when our bodies think that we are in danger and begin preparing for defense. This is an illusion, however, since there is generally not any danger present. In fact, most anxiety attacks are caused by an underlying fear that a situation represents to us, not the actual situation itself. With a severe anxiety attack, you can experience a feeling of doom and even impending death. A mild anxiety attack, however, might just increase your alertness. There are many symptoms of mild anxiety attacks and some of them can still feel quite serious.

The most common mild anxiety attack symptoms are physical. You may begin to sweat, have shortness of breath, or feel a little bit dizzy. You might even tremble or shake a little bit, but it shouldn’t be severe. Afterwards, you might feel lightheaded, as if you just stood up too quickly. Occasionally, there is also a tingling sensation in your feet, hands, and face. This should feel similar to the feeling you get when part of your body falls asleep.

Other mild anxiety attack symptoms might not be physical at all. You might find yourself having difficulty thinking straightly. Or, you might want to withdraw from social situations. In some cases, your mind might seem to race and you may have trouble focusing on one specific thing because you feel as though your mind is “jumping” around.

When this occurs, you might feel the need to get away. Being around other people might make you physically nervous and anxious due to the amount of people or the loud noises that they could be producing, or you could feel as though you can’t control your actions and behavior and you need to get away. Either way, it’s important to remember that you are okay and that more than likely everything you are experiencing is internal and not something that people are going to notice.

The important thing to do during a mild anxiety attack is to try to ride it out and not try to fight it. Mild anxiety attacks are generally not long-lasting and are over quickly. If you try to fight it, it might even lead you to feeling more stressed and more anxious, thus enhancing the attack itself.

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Anxiety disorders, although generally specific to each individual, are the most common psychiatric illnesses that affect adults. There are several types of anxiety disorders including panic disorders, phobias, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and Social Anxiety Disorder.

People who have panic disorders usually suffer from panic attacks. Panic attacks can be mild or very severe. The symptoms can be quite scary as they often feel similar to those of a heart attack. The symptoms might include having a shortness of breath, chest pain, a feeling of tightness in the chest, sweating, shaking, and even irrational fears of dying. Panic attacks are a difficult anxiety disorder to mange because they usually come on very suddenly and can be difficult to get under control, causing the person to suffer poor quality of life if they don’t find ways to manage them.

When it comes to phobias, people usually suffer from specific types of phobias, such as being afraid of bees or being afraid to leave the house. People who suffer from strong phobias can sometimes let their phobias rule their life and will avoid common, everyday things in fear. This anxiety disorder is sometimes treated by subjecting the person to their phobia in a safe environment.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder that gives a person recurring thoughts that are usually accompanied by fear. For example, a person might feel compelled to walk around a table three times with the strong feeling that if they don’t, something bad will happen. Many people with OCD also worry incessantly about cleanliness. Anxiety typically follows this, as can other symptoms such as depression, hoarding, and various compulsions.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a blanket term for an anxiety disorder that is usually caused by one or more factors in the person’s life. For example, a person might have anxiety about their job or health. This can lead the person to worrying constantly which can then lead to bowel problems, insomnia, sexual side effects, and even aches and pains.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder typically occurs after a person has been through a stressful situation, such as a death, physical assault, or abuse. The person can then have panic attacks when reminded of this event. PTSD can last for years and substantially decrease the person’s quality of life. They might find themselves reliving the event when reminded of it and also have trouble forming close relationships, concentrating, and living a happy life.

With Social Anxiety Disorder, the person is afraid to be in social settings because they think that they are being judged. This might eventually lead them to become agoraphobic in that they’re afraid to leave their home.

Almost all anxiety disorders can be treated with medication and counseling. It’s always important to seek medical care if you ever feel as though your quality of life is being affected.

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Anxiety attack symptoms can range from mild to severe. There are way to many symptoms to be able to list them all. The list I have provided for you below are the most common symptoms. If you have a symptom that is not on the list don’t become alarmed. If you’re uncomfortable not knowing if a symptom you are experiencing is a symptom of anxiety or not, call your doctor and ask.

Anxiety attack symptoms can be mild, moderate or severe. An anxiety attack can be very similar to a panic attack. Knowing your own body and mind is the key to knowing if there is cause for alarm.

If you think you have anxiety or have been diagnosed with anxiety, it is always a good idea to have a check-up and make sure there is not an underlining medical condition that is causing the symptoms instead of the anxiety. This check-up will reassure you that it is just anxiety and not a more serious problem. Ironically, just knowing that it is anxiety can make the process of getting through an anxiety attack a lot easier.

People who suffer from anxiety tend to start to believe that every ache and pain or symptom is going to cause them great harm. This is anxiety working overtime and my friends, that is the worst kind of anxiety attack.

Let’s look at those tell-tale signs of an anxiety attack. These symptoms are in no particular order, so if you experience the first three on the list that doesn’t mean your anxiety is any worse than if you have the last three symptoms on the list:

•  Dizziness
•  Shortness of breath or feeling unable to your catch breath
•  Numbness is fingers, toes, arms or legs
• Chest Pain
•  Feeling that something bad is going to happen
•  Sensation of a lump in the throat (although you can still swallow)
•  Nausea or upset stomach
•  Headaches
• Feel like your heart is pounding out of your chest
•  General ill feeling

The above are the most common, there are more symptoms of anxiety attacks. When you begin to experience symptoms of an anxiety attack, stop what you doing. Take a few deep breaths and do something you enjoy for a few minutes or until the attack passes.

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Anxiety can present its self in many ways. It can start out as a form of severe stress, which the individual will experience numerous symptoms including; insomnia, fatigue, no desire to do daily tasks or things they enjoy doing. To more severe symptoms such as moodiness, fits or anger, crying, symptoms similar to depression, and a whole host of physical symptoms.

Physical symptoms of anxiety can be mild, moderate or severe. Headaches, heart palpation’s, increase in heartbeat, chest pain, shortness of breath, muscle and joint pain with no apparent cause. Even back pain and spasms are an anxiety symptom. Muscle twitches which can occur anywhere there is a muscle in the eye lids, face, arms, legs. Muscle twitches in the legs can turn into a condition called Restless Leg Syndrome, where the legs seem to be constantly moving. This makes sleeping or even sitting extremely difficult.

Shaking, sweating, feeling weak, sharp quick pains in the jaw, neck, shoulder area and even in your eyes are all physical symptoms of an anxiety attack. There are of course several more anxiety symptoms these are just a few of the most common and the most uncommon!

Being able to tell the difference of an anxiety caused pain and another type of the pain is key to truly knowing what your anxiety symptoms are. Not everyone will experience all of the symptoms of anxiety. Or they will experience a symptom and not even recognize it as an anxiety symptom.

Usually people who suffer from anxiety have a few of the symptoms, by a few I mean up to a dozen. They tend to experience these symptoms either individually or all at once. The symptoms are what most people define as an anxiety attack. When a new symptoms is introduced to the mix, it can not only frighten the already anxious person but cause an anxiety attack.

It is really important to be able to recognize “your” anxiety symptoms as well as educate yourself about all the other symptoms. In the event that you should start experiencing new anxiety symptoms you don’t want to become alarmed.

The best advice anyone can give you, is too see your doctor tell him/her all the symptoms (write ever last one of them down.) Your doctor may want to run a couple of routine tests (blood work, EKG, chest X-ray, the general check-up tests) to make sure there is no underlying medical condition that is causing any or all of the symptoms.

Once you are given your clean bill of health, you can seek treatment(s) for your anxiety and hopefully all or most of the anxiety symptoms will go away and you can get back to the business of living a happy, enjoyable life!

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