Anxiety is an unpleasant feeling and fear and anxiety of unknown origin, which affects a person and includes uncertainty, helplessness, and physiological arousal. The recurrence of situations that have previously been stressful or in which the person has been harmed causes anxiety in individuals. All people experience anxiety in their lifetime, but chronic and severe anxiety is abnormal and problematic. Research shows that anxiety is more common in the low-income class and middle-aged and older people than in others.
What is Anxiety disorder?
Anxiety disorder is one of the mental disorders that severely affects a person’s life. A person suffering from anxiety disorder can hardly get through their day and every moment of their daily life is associated with this disorder. Symptoms such as nervousness, panic attacks, fear, sweating, and high heart rate are signs of this disorder. Anxiety disorder affects a person’s mental and physical health and causes physical illness in the long run, so it should be treated as soon as possible. Anxiety disorder can be treated but requires a skilled and experienced psychologist.
Physical symptoms of anxiety
- Dry mouth
- Blush
- Vertigo
- increase of heart rate
- Shake the hands
- Sweating palms
- Paleness
- Feeling of pain in the chest
- Bruxism (teeth grinding)
Anxiety disorder occurs when:
Anxiety affects our performance in daily activities.
Excessive reaction to something that affects our emotions
Inability to control feelings of stress، depression and anxiety
Causes of Anxiety
There are many reasons for this disorder, but it can be said that the genetic structure along with the social conditions of a person’s life leads to this disorder.
People with the following characteristics are more likely to develop anxiety:
People who have shy personalities & avoid new situations and people.
During their childhood or even adulthood, they experienced a great and stressful event. Have a family history of anxiety disorder or other mental illness.
They have certain physical conditions, such as thyroid or heart disease.
Anxiety disorder is more common in women. Research is ongoing to find the cause, but it is thought to be due to differences in hormones and their menstrual cycle. Of course, it is also possible that women are less likely than men to treat their anxiety.
Recognize the different types of anxiety for treatment
There are several types of anxiety disorder, including:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
There are times when a person feels overly anxious, even when there is no reason to feel anxious.
Panic attacks
Panic attacks occur when you feel anxious. This type of anxiety disorder is stronger and more sensitive than others. Feelings of anxiety, fear, and panic can come to you suddenly and unexpectedly, or they can occur when your life is in danger. In panic attacks, you may sweat profusely and your heart rate rises so high that you can feel it, experience chest pain and a feeling of suffocation.
Phobias or severe fears
Phobias or severe fears are cases in which a person is terrified of certain situations or devices and is unable to control his or her sense of fear.
Separation anxiety
Separation anxiety can occur in different relationships such as mother-child, separation from spouse, separation from friends, and so on.
Effects of Anxiety Disorder
Anxiety disorder affects a person’s mental and physical health. A person with this disorder may experience multiple nightmares, experience panic attacks, become obsessed, and regularly recall unpleasant memories of their past. They cannot stay calm, suffer from sleep disorders and obsessively want to wash and clean themselves.
Treatment of anxiety disorder
The first step in treatment is to diagnose the disorder. For a definite and correct diagnosis, you should see a good psychologist with experience in the field of obsession and anxiety so that he can provide the necessary and correct treatment based on your situation. You need to keep in mind that anxiety disorder is not something that can be ignored; You need specialized treatment. With the diagnosis of a specialist psychologist, you may need medication, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and neurofeedback exercises.
You should know that the treatment that your psychologist chooses is only to improve your disease and by trying and doing exercises continuously and regularly, you will see the necessary and desired result and your disorder will be treated to a very high degree.
Medical treatments for patients
Research shows that psychological therapy is the best treatment option for anxiety disorders, but some medical treatments may be helpful if you need treatment for a severe problem.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy means that a person familiar with the sciences of psychology and psychiatry can hear about your thoughts and behaviors through speech and interviews and provide corrective opinions. This method is based on talking and changing attitudes and views.
CBT or behavioral therapy is an important method of psychotherapy in which the patient tries to learn to shift negative thoughts and behaviors to positive behaviors and thoughts.