Anxiety

Overview:

Anxiety disorders differ from normal feelings of nervousness and involve excessive fear or anxiety. Anxiety in particular also refers to anticipation of a future concern and is associated more with muscle tension and avoidance behavior. These disorders can cause people to avoid situations and places that might cause them to feel trapped, helpless, panicking, embarrassed, and scared. Job performance, school work, and personal relationships can be affected. Anxiety disorder is the most common of mental disorders affecting majority of population. For people who have it, worry and fear are constant and overwhelming. It is a serious mental illness, but proper treatment helps most people lead normal and productive lives.

Symptoms:

All anxiety disorders share one major symptom, which is severe or persistent fear and worry. Common symptoms of anxiety might include:

• Feelings of apprehension or dread
• Restlessness or trouble concentrating
• Feeling completely blank
• Pounding heart, and sweating
• Headaches, upset stomach, or dizziness
• Frequent urination or diarrhoea
• Shortness of breath
• Muscle tension
• Fatigue or insomnia

Causes:

Common causes of anxiety are:

• Previous or recent exposure to stressful scenarios or conditions, whether in professional or personal life
• Excessive intake of caffeine or tobacco
• Any kind of trauma or abuse
• Personality traits such as easily flustered or low self esteem

Risk Factors:

Some common risk factors of anxiety are:

• Family history of the disorder
• Stressful or traumatic environment
• Hypertension and heart disease
• Asthma
• Diabetes

Diagnosis:

The following preventive measures can help save yourself from anxiety:

• Reduce intake of caffeine
• Indulge in healthy lifestyle
• Avoid substances like alcohol and tobacco
• Keep yourself fit by exercising
• Make time for a hobby