What is anxiety and how to cure it

Feeling restless or nervous is a normal part of everyday life. Everyone gets worried or anxious from time to time. Mild to moderate anxiety can help you focus your attention, energy, and motivation. If the anxiety is severe, you may experience feelings of helplessness, confusion, and extreme anxiety that are out of proportion to the actual severity or likelihood of a fearful event.

The overwhelming anxiety that interferes with daily life is not normal. This type of anxiety can be a symptom of generalized anxiety disorder or a symptom of another problem, such as depression.
Anxiety can cause physical and emotional symptoms. A certain situation or fear may trigger some or all of these symptoms for a short time. When the situation passes, the symptoms usually go away.

Physical symptoms of anxiety:

1. Trembling or shaking.

2. Sensation of fullness in the throat or chest.

3. Shortness of breath or palpitations.

4. Dizziness.

5. Sweaty, cold, clammy hands.

6. Nervousness.

7. Muscle tension, pain or soreness (myalgia).

8. Extreme fatigue.

9. Sleep problems such as inability to fall asleep or stay asleep, waking up early or restless.

Anxiety affects the part of the brain that helps control how you communicate. This makes it difficult to express yourself creatively and function effectively in relationships. Emotional symptoms of anxiety:

• restlessness, irritability, feeling of excitement;

• fear that something bad will happen; feeling of doom;

• inability to concentrate; the feeling that your mind is becoming empty.

anxiety disorder

Anxiety disorders occur when people have both physical and emotional symptoms. Anxiety disorders interfere with how a person gets along with others and affect daily activities. Women are twice as likely as men to have problems with anxiety disorders. Examples of anxiety disorders include panic attacks, phobias, and generalized anxiety disorder.
Often the cause of anxiety disorders is unknown. Many people with an anxiety disorder say they have been nervous and worried all their lives. This problem can occur at any age. Children who have at least one parent diagnosed with depression are more likely to develop an anxiety disorder than other children.

Anxiety disorders often occur along with other problems, such as:

• mental health problems such as depression;

• problems with the use of psychoactive substances;

• a physical problem, such as heart or lung disease.

A complete medical evaluation may be required before an anxiety disorder can be diagnosed.

panic attack

A panic attack is a sudden feeling of extreme anxiety or intense fear for no clear reason or when there is no danger. Panic attacks are common. They are sometimes found in healthy people. The attack starts suddenly and usually lasts from 5 to 20 minutes, but can last longer. The greatest anxiety occurs approximately 10 minutes after the onset of the attack.
Symptoms include a feeling of death or loss of control, rapid breathing (hyperventilation), numbness or tingling in the hands or lips, and a rapid heartbeat. You may feel dizzy, sweaty, or shaky. Other symptoms include difficulty breathing, chest pain or tightness, and an irregular heartbeat. These symptoms appear suddenly and without warning.

Sometimes the symptoms of a panic attack are so severe that the person fears that he or she will have a heart attack. Many of the symptoms of a panic attack can occur with other conditions, such as hyperthyroidism, coronary heart disease, or COPD. A complete medical evaluation may be required before an anxiety disorder can be diagnosed.
People who have recurring sudden panic attacks and worry about these attacks are thought to have panic disorder.

Phobias

Phobias are extreme and irrational fears that interfere with daily life. People with phobias have fears that are incommensurable with the real danger, and they are not able to control them.
Phobias are common and sometimes occur with other conditions such as panic disorder or Tourette's disorder. Most people deal with phobias by avoiding the situation or object that causes them to panic (avoidant behavior).
Phobic disorder occurs when avoidance behavior becomes so extreme that it prevents you from participating in daily activities.

There are three main types of phobic disorders:

• fear of being alone or in public places where help may not be available or escape is impossible (agoraphobia);

• fear of situations where the individual may be criticized by others (social phobia);

• fear of specific things (specific phobia).

Phobias can be treated to reduce feelings of fear and anxiety.
Analyze your symptoms to decide if and when you should see a doctor.

If the above symptoms and manifestations appear, we recommend that you contact a psychotherapist. This will facilitate diagnosis and further treatment.

home treatment

Recognize and accept your anxiety about specific things or situations, and then make a plan to deal with the disease. For example, if you are constantly worried about finances, create a budget or savings plan.
Don't dwell on past problems. Change what you can to make yourself more comfortable with current problems, but forget past problems or things you can't change.
Be kind to your body:

• relieve tension with exercise or massage;

• try stress relief techniques that aim to relax your mind and body;

• get enough sleep;

• practice healthy thinking and avoid negative thoughts;

• avoid alcohol, caffeine, chocolate and nicotine. They can increase your anxiety levels. Certain illicit drugs such as cocaine, crack, and amphetamines (speed) can also cause anxiety.

Take care of your mind:

• go out and do something you enjoy, like going to a funny movie or taking a walk;

• plan your day. Too much or too little to do can make you more anxious;

• keep a diary of your symptoms. Discuss your fears with a good friend. Trusting others sometimes relieves stress;

• join social groups or volunteer to help others. Loneliness can make things seem worse than they really are.

Prevention

Avoid caffeine, especially in coffee, tea, cola, energy drinks, and chocolate. Caffeine can keep you tense, aroused.
Do not smoke or use smokeless tobacco products. Nicotine stimulates many physical and psychological processes, causes your blood vessels to constrict, and makes your heart work harder.
Exercise throughout the day. Even a quick walk around the block can help you stay calm.
Talk to your doctor about your anxiety or panic symptoms. Your doctor or other healthcare professional can help you find ways to reduce your symptoms through methods such as biofeedback, hypnosis, or cognitive behavioral therapy.

Preparing to visit a doctor

You can help your doctor diagnose the condition by being prepared to answer questions such as:

1. What is your main symptom?

2. How long have you had these symptoms?

3. What causes your symptoms to appear?

4. Do you have other symptoms that may be related to your main symptom? These other symptoms may include:

   • fast or irregular heartbeat;

   • nausea;

   • numbness or weakness;

   • excessive sweating.

   • feeling like you are out of breath

   • anxiety, irritability;

   • feeling of depression;

5. Have you ever had a similar problem in the past?

6. Has anyone else in your family ever been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, depression, or other mental illness?

7. Has anyone in your family tried or died by suicide?

8. What home remedies have you tried? Did they help?

9. What medicines do you use?

10. What herbal supplements do you take?

11. Do you use alcohol or marijuana or other drugs such as cocaine to manage your symptoms?

12. Do you smoke or use other tobacco products?