What Causes Anxiety and When Do You Need Help?

Stressful situations, like moving or taking an important test, may leave us feeling anxious; but if your anxiety begins to negatively impact daily activities and interferes with daily life, professional assistance could be required.

Treatment is the key to relieving symptoms. A mental health professional can assess your anxiety and provide therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure response prevention to help address it.

Symptoms
Anxiety can be an acceptable part of life and even serve as motivation to reach goals, but when they become excessive they can be harmful. If you frequently experience fear, worry and panic it would be wise to consult your physician in order to rule out physical health conditions which could contribute to or worsen anxiety as well as find effective treatments.

Anxiety disorders range from generalized anxiety disorder to specific phobias, with physical manifestations such as trembling or rapid heartbeat being one of the symptoms. Others include difficulty concentrating, difficulty sleeping and chronic apprehension being among others. Anxiety disorders can be extremely debilitating and lead to people missing work, family and social activities due to fear-driven anxiety attacks.

Treatment for anxiety disorders typically includes both psychotherapy (also known as talk therapy) and medication. Psychotherapy helps you learn healthier ways of thinking, reacting, and acting so you feel less anxious; cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most popular type of psychotherapy used for anxiety disorders; CBT helps identify patterns of thinking which lead to anxious feelings and then provides skills on how to change them. Medication can control physical symptoms like rapid heartbeat or trembling - alone or combined with psychotherapy or dietary changes for effective results.

Stress management and exercise can also help manage anxiety. Meditation, yoga, Tai Chi and other relaxation exercises such as Tai Chi may provide relief by helping focus your attention on the present moment while decreasing threat perception and muscle tension. A well-balanced diet and sufficient sleep also can assist in controlling anxiety levels.

Social support is key in managing anxiety effectively, so reaching out to a friend or joining a self-help or support group is often enough to reduce it and boost mood. Loneliness can worsen anxiety; so try spending more time with loved ones or attending social events or joining hobbies you find enjoyable.

Diagnosis
Anxiety often stems from fear about an event or situation. People can learn how to control their thoughts, emotions and behaviors and through psychotherapy or medication to manage normal reactions of stress and fear. At NYU Langone Medical Center we offer expert diagnosis and treatment of anxiety disorders of various kinds.

Doctors typically conduct physical exams and interview you about symptoms, while mental health professionals conduct psychological assessments - comparing your symptoms against those described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5 published by the American Psychiatric Association in order to diagnose your condition.

Generalized anxiety disorder, or GAD, involves persistent and excessive worry that is out of proportion to actual circumstances - even when all is secure. People living with this condition worry about everyday tasks like driving and attending school; have difficulty relaxing; may sleep poorly or experience rapid heartbeat.

Panic disorder is characterized by sudden episodes of intense anxiety and fear that strike without warning and reach their peak within minutes, often with physical manifestations including chest pain, racing heartbeats, shortness of breath and the feeling that something bad may be imminent. People experiencing panic attacks typically avoid situations they suspect will trigger them while seeking comfort from family and friends as well as seeking solutions to ward off future symptoms like taking over-the-counter medication or visiting the emergency room to manage symptoms before they occur.

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is the fear of being judged or acting in ways which might embarrass or upset other people, which can lead to close friendships being lost as well as difficulties at work or school. People suffering from this condition are often uncomfortable in public spaces and find difficulty expressing themselves freely.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), one form of psychotherapy commonly prescribed to those suffering from anxiety disorders, often provides beneficial results. CBT encompasses techniques like exposure response prevention and mindfulness; acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), less well known than CBT but research indicating its efficacy; certain patients also respond well to medications like antianxiety drugs click here or beta blockers prescribed for heart conditions.

Treatment
Anxiety, fear and stress are natural responses. But when these feelings of anxiety, fear or stress become excessive in comparison with how they should be experienced or interfere with sleep, daily functioning or relationships it's time to seek professional assistance. A person experiencing severe anxiety should visit a psychiatrist or mental health specialist; their primary care provider can also check for any underlying medical conditions which might need treating before seeing a mental health specialist.

An individual suffering from severe anxiety may benefit from both psychotherapy and medication to address their symptoms. Psychotherapy includes cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy, which provide people with new ways of thinking, behaving and coping - including how to face situations that trigger their anxiety - as well as medications like anti-anxiety medications or beta blockers used for heart conditions that help control physical symptoms associated with anxiety.

Most people with anxiety disorders do not recover on their own. Psychotherapy and medications may help those experiencing severe anxiety; other ways that a person can help themselves include regular exercise, making sure to get sufficient rest, limiting caffeine and alcohol consumption which could worsen symptoms, etc.

Sometimes a person's anxiety stems from an underlying medical condition. This could include any number of endocrine conditions like hypothyroidism and thyroiditis; cardiovascular problems like arrhythmias; respiratory ailments like asthma and pneumonia; or neurological illnesses like neuropathic pain and migraines that a doctor can treat to help alleviate their anxiety symptoms. When this is the case, they will treat both medical issues accordingly and simultaneously alleviate your anxiety symptoms.

Many people find relief from anxiety and symptoms of panic by making lifestyle adjustments such as eliminating stimulants such as caffeine, eating healthily, exercising regularly and getting enough restful sleep. Other benefits may include managing their everyday stressors through meditation or yoga practices as well as practicing relaxation techniques such as stress reduction. For those experiencing severe or persistent anxiety disorders, joining a support group and documenting feelings to share with a mental health provider could also prove useful.

Prevention
Anxiety can result from numerous sources, with symptoms that vary according to its cause and manifestations. Some of the most prevalent examples include:

Psychologists may use various treatments to address anxiety, such as cognitive therapy, behavior therapy and medication. These can provide both immediate relief as well as long-term management of symptoms. A therapist may also help identify unhelpful patterns of thinking that trigger anxiety and provide techniques for replacing them with realistic ones.

Some individuals are more predisposed to anxiety than others. Certain mental health conditions, like depression, can increase one's risk for anxiety disorders; childhood sexual abuse, substance misuse and major life events all increase that risk further. Personality factors also play a part; individuals who tend to focus more on negative or uncertain aspects are at greater risk than more confident or optimistic people.

Anxiety can be caused by anything from specific objects or situations to generalized fears and worries; regardless of its source or form, however, overcoming anxiety on one's own can be very challenging if its cause remains undetected.

Outside of seeing a psychologist, there are certain steps you can do at home to manage anxiety symptoms. Exercise can help relieve stress and boost mood; experts suggest engaging in at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise on most days throughout the week. Also avoid caffeine or nicotine-containing products which could worsen anxiety symptoms.

Reducing feelings of isolation by regularly talking about your concerns with a trusted friend or joining a support group can also help. Sharing anxious thoughts is also beneficial, while meditation, deep breathing or other relaxation techniques that help calm the body's "flight-or-fight" response are effective at relieving anxiety. Ensuring adequate restful sleep each night is also crucial; aim for eight hours each evening and try going to sleep around the same time each evening.