WHAT IS ANXIETY AND HOW CAN YOU COPE WITH IT?

In my last post, I talked about depression. This post will be discussing another mental health issue, anxiety. 

At some point in our lives, we must have felt apprehensive. Stage fright or stomach cramps before that presentation, worry over exams, shyness when we meet new people. It’s all part of human nature and is probably the only thing most people remember when they think of the word anxiety. It shows that your brain recognizes danger signs and is trying to make a decision between fight or flight. Excessive anxiety, however, can become a challenging issue. 

An anxiety disorder is an unpleasant state of mental uneasiness, nervousness, apprehension, and obsession or concern about some uncertain event. Anyone can suffer from an anxiety disorder, children included. Anxiety can manifest in different ways.

The five major types are:

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Social Anxiety
• Panic Disorder
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Symptoms of anxiety vary according to the type of disorder and the sufferer.

They include:

• Panic, fear, and uneasiness
• Feelings of panic, doom, or danger
• Sleep problems
• Not being able to stay calm and still
• Cold, sweaty, numb, or tingling hands or feet
• Shortness of breath
• Breathing faster and more quickly than normal (hyperventilation)
• Heart palpitations
• Dry mouth
• Nausea
• Tense muscles
• Dizziness
• Thinking about a problem over and over again and unable to stop (rumination)
• Inability to concentrate
• Intensely or obsessively avoiding feared objects or places

Anxiety can be caused by some factors which include biological, environmental, and even genetics. Parents suffering from anxiety can also transfer the disorder to their children. 

Just like depression and other mental health issues, anxiety can be managed. With therapy and medication in some cases, people with anxiety can live a normal life.