Anxiety Disorder: How to Stop Its Prevalence

In recent times, anxiety disorder seems to be on the increase and according to the World Health Organization (WHO), almost 300 million people suffer from this disorder globally. In the United States of America alone, almost 1 out of 5 people suffer from anxiety, making it the most prevalent mental illness. Having a good knowledge about this disorder and ways that you can to limit the snowballing effects of anxiety disorder is very important and this article provides you with such knowledge.

What Exactly Is Anxiety Disorder?

Anxiety Disorder is best described as a mental health disorder that is characterized by strong feelings of fear, worry or anxiety, which persist long enough to cause a disruption in a person’s daily activity. Although a specific cause of this form of mental health disorder has not been found, researchers believe it can be as a result of the combination of various factors including genetic factors, stress from the environment and a minor or major alteration that occurred in the brain.

What Are The Various Types Of Anxiety Disorder?

Anxiety disorder is a mental illness that encompasses different mental health conditions. Therefore, the various types of mental health disorder include:

1. Social Anxiety Disorder:

Also referred to as Social phobia, Social anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive self-consciousness and the feeling of worry about day to day social circumstances that you have to partake in. Social anxiety disorder can be experienced in various forms such as general fear and anxiety of being around other people as well as fear of speaking or eating in public.

2. Panic Disorder:

This form of anxiety is characterized by the random and regular occurrence of intense worry and fear. This disorder usually occurs with physical symptoms such as shortness of breath, dizziness, sweating, palpitations and/or chest pain.

3. Generalized Anxiety Disorder:

With a generalized anxiety disorder, you will experience an overstated feeling of fear and tension without any specific cause of trigger.

4. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD):

This form of anxiety is one that develops due to a past event that was greatly frightening in which physical harm was done or almost done to the person involved. Some of such events include; military combat, assault, accidents and any form of disaster.

5. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD):

This is depicted by repeated obsessive thoughts or behaviors that an individual has to engage in and not engaging in this set of actions can cause a surprising increase in anxiety and worry.

Symptoms Of Anxiety Disorder

The symptoms generally associated with this mental health disorder include:

1. Inability to remain calm or stay in a still and quiet position.

2. Feelings of uneasiness, panic or fear.

3. Inability to fall asleep.

4. Lightheadedness or dizziness.

5. Feeling of stiffness in the muscles.

6. Inability to breathe freely or tightness of the chest.

7. Persistent sweating.

8. Tingling sensation or feeling of numbness in the hands and feet.

9. Heart palpitations.

10. Nauseous feeling.

11. Dry mouth.

12. Feeling like you are in a dream-like state or separated from reality.

13. Turning pale.

14. Cold and hot flushed.

15. Tightness in the stomach.

Anxiety disorder can easily be self-diagnosed when two or more of these symptoms are repeatedly experienced. In addition to this, going for mental health examination with a mental health specialist, psychiatrist or psychologist can also help rule out other forms of medical conditions.

How Is Anxiety Disorder Treated?

This disorder can be treated with either or both of the therapy listed below:

Use of Medications:

There are various medications that can be used in the treatment of anxiety disorder including, antidepressants, anxiolytics and anticonvulsant. Most of these medications are prescribed for the treatment of panic attacks as well as social or generalized anxiety disorder.

Psychotherapy:

The use of psychotherapy in the treatment of this mental health disorder aims at helping you speak up about the problems and symptoms you encounter. While you explain to your mental health specialist about the symptoms you experience and what causes you to be anxious, the specialist helps you to understand ways to handle or deal with your form of anxiety disorder. One major form of psychotherapy is known as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. The use of this therapy helps you to understand and change the behaviors that always seem to trigger your panic and anxiety. 

Other natural ways to handle and reduce the menace of this mental health disorder include:

1. Be aware of the causes of your anxiety attacks by engaging in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy with a therapist.
2. Reduce any form of stress in your daily activity.
3. Partake in activities that help your body relax.
4. Learn to speak to yourself and calm yourself.
5. Breath slowly from your diaphragm as this naturally helps to calm you.
6. Practice ways to distract your mind from the factors that cause your anxiety attacks.
7. Understand that all forms of anxiety attacks are not beyond your control.

In Conclusion,

Anxiety is the body’s way of responding if it senses stress and danger. However, with the use of medication, therapy and regular mental health examination you can treat and manage this mental disorder. With more people having a broader knowledge of what this mental health disorder entails will greatly help in curbing the issues associated with all forms of anxiety disorder as well as in reducing its prevalence globally.