In its simplest definition, anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness or unease about something with an uncertain outcome. Anxiety can be appropriate, but when experienced regularly the individual may suffer from an anxiety disorder. In relation to health, anxiety disorders are one of the most common disorders associated with mental illness. It is important to know the difference between normal feelings of anxiety and an anxiety disorder that requires medical attention.
“When faced with potentially harmful or worrying triggers, feelings of anxiety are not only normal but necessary for survival.”
“The duration or severity of an anxious feeling can sometimes be out of proportion to the original trigger, or stressor. Physical symptoms, such as increased blood pressure and nausea, may also become evident. These responses move beyond anxiety into an anxiety disorder. “
Anxiety Disorder can be grouped into different categories, namely:
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
It is characterized by excessive, uncontrollable and often irrational worry about events or activities.
- Panic disorder
Panic attacks are sudden periods of intense fear that may include palpitations, sweating, shaking, shortness of breath, numbness, or a feeling that something terrible is going to happen. The cause of panic disorder is unknown. Risk factors include smoking and psychological stress.
- Phobia
This is an extreme or irrational fear of or aversion to something. Phobias differ from other anxiety disorders, as they relate to a specific cause. The fear may be acknowledged as irrational or unnecessary, but the person is still unable to control the anxiety. Triggers for a phobia may be as varied as situations, animals, or everyday objects.
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD):
This is an anxiety disorder characterized by thoughts or actions that are repetitive, distressing, and intrusive. The individual usually knows that their compulsions are unreasonable or irrational, but they serve to alleviate their anxiety.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD):
This is anxiety that results from previous trauma such as military combat, sexual assault, a hostage situation, or a serious accident. PTSD often leads to flashbacks, and the person may make behavioral changes to avoid triggers.
Treatment
“The first step in the management of a person with anxiety symptoms is to evaluate the possible presence of an underlying medical cause, whose recognition is essential in order to decide its correct treatment”
Common treatment options include lifestyle changes, medication, and therapy. Metacognitive therapy seeks to rid anxiety through reducing worry, which is seen as a consequence of metacognitive beliefs.
About 12% of peoplen are affected by an anxiety disorder in a given year and between 5-30% are affected at some point in their life. They occur about twice as often in women than they do in men, ad generally begin before the age of 25.
Metacognition - awareness and understanding of one's own thought processes.
References:
www.medicalnewstoday.com/info/anxiety
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anxiety