A Mental Health Awareness Month special!
Outline
Anxiety disorders are one of the most common mental health illnesses, affecting over 250 million people in our world today. Despite the growing number of people suffering from this illness, it is often overlooked and left untreated, resulting in many people with anxiety going into depression. This disease cannot completely be cured, however, there are various treatments and lifestyle changes individuals can make to reduce its increasing impacts.
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is generally the body’s natural response when dealing with stress. Even though everyone has anxiety in certain aspects of their lives, many individuals have anxiety disorders, which are extreme feelings of anxiety interfering with an individual’s daily life.
In anxiety disorders, individuals are found to be constantly doubting their own abilities and having persistent fear and worry regarding everyday situations. In serious cases, anxiety disorders may lead to panic attacks within individuals.
There are various different types of anxiety disorders. The 5 major classifications of anxiety disorders according to the National Institute of Mental Health are Generalized Anxiety disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive disorder (OCD), Panic disorder, Post-traumatic Stress disorder (PTSD), and Social phobia.
Out of these 5 major classifications, Generalized anxiety disorders are the most commonly seen. Individuals who suffer from generalized anxiety disorders have excessive worries and fear regarding a number of different things. Sometimes, just the thought of getting through the day may produce anxiety for people with this disorder.
What Causes Anxiety Disorders?
Researchers have yet to discover what the core cause of anxiety disorders is. But it’s highly likely that there is a combination of factors including genetics, health issues, medications, environmental issues, and brain chemistry (Holland, 2020).
Research shows that there is a clear correlation between anxiety disorders and one’s genetics as if you have relatives suffering from anxiety disorders you have a 2 to 6 times higher chance of developing it than if you don’t.
Furthermore, brain chemistry is another factor of anxiety disorders as stressful or traumatic experiences can alter one’s brain structure and function it to react more vigorously to triggers that would not have previously caused anxiety, which is why psychologists and neurologists often define anxiety disorders as disruptions to hormones and electrical signals to the brain.
Common Symptoms
There are various symptoms that are seen in individuals with anxiety disorders. Some of the most common symptoms associated with anxiety disorders according to the National Institute of Mental Health include:
Being easily fatigued
Having difficulty sleeping
Breathing rapidly
Having difficulty concentrating; mind going blank
Difficulty controlling feelings of worry
Often sweating and trembling
Having muscle tension
Which Demographic is at a Higher Risk?
Individuals of all ages are seen to suffer from anxiety disorders. However, research shows that women are twice as likely to develop anxiety disorders than men and it is often seen to develop among adults under the age of 35. Moreover, studies show that if anxiety disorders are left untreated during the early years the symptoms tend to worsen over time.
The Physiological Effects of Prolonged Anxiety?
There are various physiological effects that arise due to prolonged anxiety. Research is still being done regarding the various effects it has on one’s body if left untreated, but as of now studies show that certain long term effects of anxiety on the body include:
Heart problems
Frequent migraines
Loss of appetite
Memory problems
Weakened immune system - frequent illnesses
Treatments and Lifestyle Changes
Even though anxiety disorders can not be completely cured, with certain treatments and lifestyle changes one can manage and control their anxiety and stop the prolonged effects which may arise in the future.
For some people, certain lifestyle changes may be enough to cope with anxiety and medical treatments are often unnecessary. Some natural remedies which are proven to help individuals with anxiety include:
Staying active and working out
Getting at least 8-10 hours of sleep
Eating a healthy diet
In moderate to severe cases of anxiety, individuals may get medical treatments which are classified into two categories: psychotherapy and medication. Psychotherapy includes meeting with a therapist or psychologist to learn and use strategies to cope with anxiety when it occurs. Furthermore, antidepressants and sedatives are medications typically used to treat anxiety as they work to balance brain chemistry, prevent episodes of anxiety, and ward off severe symptoms of the disorder.
Sources
Tags: #mentalhealth
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