Anxiety Information Guide

According to a study conducted in 2017, 197 million Indians were suffering from mental disorders, of whom 46 million had depression and 45 million anxiety disorders. The prevalence rate is increasing across India, especially in Southern states affecting women. Source: the print.com

Reading through many articles, news and stories we may often come across words like - ‘anxiousness’, or ‘anxiety’. We might presume this word to be an alternate of ‘worrying’, which is correct to some extent but behind this lays a deep meaning and understanding.

Anxiety is a term we denote to when there is an overwhelming or unmanageable problem, more like comes up unexpectedly but don’t worry it is a normal reaction towards danger. People who suffer from anxiety may try avoid facing anxiety provoking stimulus to move on with their lives.

At some point, anxiety plays a keen role in improving our performances or fighting against dangerous situations to keep us safe and to maintain homeostasis between our bodily functions. The physical response of our body during fight-flight system comes from our autonomic nervous system which determines our next move towards a particular situation. However, if the constant feeling of agitation and fear interferes in our daily life we term this into- Anxiety Disorder.

Anxiety disorders involve significant fear, agitation, and nervousness and can impair functioning in any or all spheres of life, including school, work, and interpersonal relationships (Abnormal psychology by: Robin Rosenberg and Steven Kosslyn). Depression and anxiety two relative words who gains a lot of attention when carrying out the stats of study. So, how to recognise the symptoms?

These involve:​

• Feelings of apprehension

• Constantly checking the environment for any sought of danger.

• Have a difficulty in concentrating

• Tensed or over jumpy

• Irritability

• Shortness of breath

• Tensed muscles or shaking body.

• Insomnia

• Pounding of heart and Sweating.

• Dizziness

• Racing thoughts or unwanted thoughts.

​Some of these symptoms mentioned above might be normal to experience in daily lives but people who are suffering from Generalised Anxiety Disorder, may suffer them on daily basis which results into disrupting their routine. It is important to note that seeking treatment in this condition is an absolute must because there are some studies whom indicate instances of depression and their effect on anxiety, Vice versa.

Types of Anxiety and Phobia

Generalised Anxiety Disorder

A common type of anxiety disorder in which a person has feelings of dread and apprehension along with physical symptoms of stress, which lasts up to six months or more. The stimulus or source of this triggering response is still sensed to be unknown and neither the victim is aware about it. ​ Symptoms may include:

• Tendency to worry about situations, people or objects.

• Tension

• Muscle aches

• Sleeping problems

• Concentration problems

Social Anxiety Disorder

This disorder involves a fear of interacting with others or being in social situations and is one of the most common phobias people experience. People suffering from this disorder tends to avoid social gatherings or speaking in public as their belief holds them to think of doing something embarrassing or Humiliating. Symptoms may include:

• Stage fright

• Fear of public speaking

• Fear of urinating in public

• Fear of eating with others

Panic Disorder

Disorder in which panic attack occur more than once or repeatedly, and cause persistent feeling of worrying or changes in behaviour. ​ Symptoms may include:

• Various physical symptoms

• Racing heart

• Dizziness

• Rapid breathing

• Dulled senses

• Feelings of terror

Agoraphobia

In this phobic disorder, an individual fears to be in a place or situation where escape is difficult or next to impossible. The anxiety is present in more than one situation. ​ Symptoms may include:

• Using public transportation

• Open spaces

• Enclosed places

• Being in crowd

Specific Phobia

An irrational fear of some object or specific situations, such as fear of dogs or a fear of being in small, enclosed spaces. For example: Claustrophobia, Trypanophobia (Fear of injections), fear of dental work (Odontophobia), Hematophobia (fear of blood). Symptoms may include:

• Fear of specific objects

• Natural environment objects

• Situations, such as flying

Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder

Disorder in which intruding, recurring thoughts or obsessions create anxiety that is relieved by doing a repetitive behaviour or mental act. Symptoms may include:

• Compulsive behaviour

• Hypervigilance

• Meaningless repetition of own words

• Social isolation

• Agitation

• Nightmares

• Repeatedly going over thoughts

Causes and Risk Factors

As there have been no specific cause behind anxiety problems but researchers do have pointed some risk factors and causes that may cause anxiety disorders. These include:

• Genetics or family history in anxiety and depression

• Stressors (a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from certain situations.), Environmental.

• Substance abuse or withdrawal

• Medical conditions

• Traumatic experiences or history of child sexual abuse

• Low self-esteem.

Takeaway Message

The purpose of this article is to help the viewers get familiar with the term anxiety, its Symptoms, Types and Causes and Risk factors.

The above mentioned material may vary among people and the guidelines may change overtime.

SpeakyourMind.in (free listening service) will soon be posting treatment measures to help it’s viewers.

References

• DSM-V, The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

• ICD, The International classification of diseases