Symptoms Of Anxiety Disorders Are Easy To Spot
It is estimated that almost two in ten people suffer from anxiety throughout their lives. Examples of anxiety disorders are generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder (anxiety), specific phobias or separation anxiety disorder, as well as many others. You could have more than one anxiety condition. In some cases, anxiety results directly from a physical condition that requires immediate treatment.
For some people, the causes of their anxiety may be attributed to life events. These events can trigger a response in the body which is then turned into a generalized anxiety disorder or panic disorder. Other people can experience anxiety disorder directly as a result of traumatic life events. When life events occur, it is important to identify the risk factors for having anxiety disorders.
Some life events or factors may cause elevated levels of anxiety or panic attacks for a certain segment of the population. These include post-traumatic stress, abuse, poverty, unemployment, substance abuse and others. It may also be caused by genetics. If someone in your family has suffered from anxiety or other mental health conditions, you are at greater risk of developing an anxiety problem.
Other factors such as depression or substance abuse can lead to increased worry or fear. People who drink alcohol or use drugs are particularly at risk. Alcohol and drugs often times lead to a state of hyper-agitation. This can increase the level of worry or fear felt by someone who is already high on anxiety. Many times, anxiety disorders are a direct result of drug use or alcohol abuse.
People with depression and anxiety may experience symptoms such as excessive sweating, fast heart rate or palpitations. Sweating is a natural process that speeds up metabolism and removes toxins from the body. Fast heart rate is associated with high blood pressure. Sweating can also be a symptom of high anxiety or panic attacks when the body is experiencing extreme fear.
Physical symptoms associated with anxiety disorders include headaches, shaking or trembling, tingling, muscle tension, nausea, upset stomach and dizziness. These physical symptoms are caused by the body’s reaction to stressful feelings or fears. Often times, these feelings and fears are unrealistic. Physical reactions to anxiety disorders and their symptoms are very real. When these feelings become frequent and intense, they interfere with daily activities and can be overwhelming.
Many common anxiety signs include trembling or shakes, sweating, chills or hot flashes and difficulty breathing. Although it may not always be possible to predict when these symptoms will occur, it is important to be aware that they do exist and can be a valuable clue in determining if someone is indeed experiencing an anxiety attack. Other symptoms of anxiety include feelings of danger or impending doom, feelings of nervousness or dread, feelings of losing control or losing touch with reality, insomnia or excessive sleepiness and feelings of hopelessness.
If you have any of these physical symptoms, make a note of them and talk to your doctor. Don’t be embarrassed because you feel anxious or ashamed. Anxiety and depression are a very real thing. And if you go away untreated, they will only get worse.
It’s often said that a little anxiety is normal, especially for women. But if you experience extreme and constant worries and fears, and if those worries and fears are interfering with your quality of life, you may have to get help early. There are several mental health conditions that can cause anxiety or depression, and if you don’t get help early, the condition will likely worsen.
One example of a mental health condition causing anxiety is specific phobias. Phobias are more specific than the generic anxiety. Specific phobias are defined as abnormal and persistent fear of a specific object, situation or person. These phobias often develop over time or in response to a specific event in your life. In general, if you have a fear of flying, chances are that you also have a general worry about being unable to fly.
Specific phobias can also lead to more serious anxiety disorders, which can be very dangerous. Anxiety that becomes destructive or obsessive usually stems from a specific and unresolved physical health problem. When the body feels threatened, it releases chemicals called neurotransmitters, which travel through the brain to give the sensation of anxiety or fear. When these chemicals become too abundant or go away on their own without any input from the person experiencing them, the body incorrectly interprets that lack of neurotransmitters as an actual physical health problem, and that is when anxiety starts to go away.
However, many people with anxiety disorders do not release the chemicals on their own, and these people must take medication in order to stop the symptoms from getting worse. When the medication is not working, anxiety may start to increase again, and may even become worse. Many times, anxiety disorders may also begin as simple mild concerns or even fears. If you are having trouble breathing, you may experience shortness of breath and think that you’re having a heart attack. These symptoms may eventually turn into something much more serious than they were at first, and you may need to get medical attention to ensure your safety.