What is Anxiety and How Can it Be Treated?

Anxiety is a normal part of life, but excessive or persistent worrying can become a problem. It’s important to know what anxiety is and how to get help if you or someone you know is struggling with it.

People with anxiety disorders have intense, excessive or persistent worries or fears about everyday situations that interfere with their lives. Symptoms can begin in childhood and often continue into adulthood.

Many people with anxiety also experience physical symptoms such as a fast heartbeat, sweating and a shaky voice that can make them feel uncomfortable. These symptoms are called disorder symptoms and can be treated with medication such as beta-blockers, which reduce the amount of adrenaline and other stress hormones in your body.

Your healthcare provider can help you work out what the cause of your symptoms is, and they may do a physical exam or blood tests to make sure it’s not something else. They can also refer you to a mental health specialist, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist or social worker.

Psychotherapy and lifestyle changes can also help relieve the symptoms of anxiety. Therapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps you understand the links between your thoughts, feelings and behaviours.

It can help you learn how to change irrational thoughts and behaviours that make you feel anxious, and it will teach you to cope better with your anxiety and not let it control your life.

Medication such as benzodiazepines, which reduce the anxiety-inducing effects of adrenaline and other stress hormones, is another option. They are prescribed by your healthcare provider, and they can reduce some of the symptoms you experience. They’re not a quick fix, but they can help you feel calmer.

There are lots of things you can do to reduce your anxiety and keep it in check, including getting plenty of sleep and exercising regularly. You should also cut down on alcohol and drugs as these can worsen your symptoms.

Anxiety is usually caused by a combination of genetics, brain biology and chemistry, your environment and your emotions. It’s a condition that can run in your family, so it’s important to talk with your doctor about your symptoms and get help.

You can also reduce your anxiety by reducing the amount of stress in your life. Keeping active, taking care of yourself and having good relationships can help you to relax and cope with your worries.

It’s also important to make time for yourself to do the things you enjoy, even if it doesn’t always feel like enough. You can do this by scheduling regular breaks of 5-10 minutes into your day. You might find that you do this by chatting to a friend, watching Netflix or listening to a podcast.

Medications such as antidepressants and sleeping medicines can also be used to treat anxiety disorders. They are usually prescribed by a doctor, and they can help to improve your mood and sleep patterns.

The best treatment for anxiety is a combination of psychotherapy and medication. Medications can be used to manage the short-term symptoms of your anxiety, while psychotherapy can address the deeper causes that have made your anxieties so overwhelming.