How to Deal With Anxiety Symptoms

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How to Deal With Anxiety Symptoms

While many self-help methods can help alleviate anxiety, professional help is usually required for extreme cases. Anxiety disorders can have physical manifestations that may be mistaken for other illnesses. Healthcare providers may order tests to rule out any underlying physical causes. Other measures include observing the patient’s behavior patterns and consulting the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) of the American Psychiatric Association.

Although the relationship between anxiety and heart disease is not as well understood as that between depression and heart disease, researchers have noted that anxiety can exacerbate the condition. For example, people suffering from a heart attack often experience severe anxiety after the event and become hesitant to do things they once did. The person will continually relive the life-threatening event and avoid certain places. Additionally, recurring anxious thoughts can interfere with regular sleep. The patient’s outlook on life will become greatly altered.

While anxiety symptoms are common among people of all ages and backgrounds, it should not be overlooked as a symptom of any other illness. People suffering from anxiety disorders should see a mental health therapist to determine the cause of their symptoms. A therapist will be able to determine if there is an underlying medical problem and devise a treatment plan accordingly. For people who aren’t able to afford professional help, self-help groups are a good option.

Anxiety can lead to panic attacks and a heightened heart rate. While some people experience anxiety as a normal reaction to stressful events, those suffering from generalized anxiety disorder experience intense worry and fear in their everyday lives. People suffering from this disorder experience anxiety attacks multiple times a day. In some cases, they even experience panic attacks, which are periods of intense discomfort without clear danger. A person suffering from anxiety disorders may even be unable to perform normal daily activities.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is an effective treatment for anxiety disorders. It includes psychotherapy and exposes the patient to anxiety-provoking environments and activities. The goal of successful exposure therapy is to help the patient learn how to deal with the anxiety while avoiding the feared situations. It is also worth mentioning that women are twice as likely as men to experience anxiety disorders. Further, women are more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and are more sensitive to traumatic situations.

Separation anxiety is a normal stage in a child’s development and is not necessarily a sign of an anxiety disorder. Separation anxiety can interfere with activities in school and cause a child to complain about being sick to stay at home. Not everyone who is worried may have an anxiety disorder. Chronic worrying and overthinking may be a result of an overly demanding schedule, lack of sleep and exercise, and a pressured lifestyle.

Unlike other forms of anxiety, specific phobias usually involve a fear of a specific object or situation. People with phobias avoid the triggering situation because of an intense fear of the event. Such anxiety can be so crippling that the sufferer is unable to function normally in normal social situations. It can affect a person’s quality of life, affecting both their work and social life. Anxiety disorders are a significant cause of anxiety and need to be treated as soon as possible.