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Anxiety : Attack, Symptoms, Causes , Treatment, Diagnosis and Home Treatment of Anxiety / Stress

Stress is a normal part of human life. It is not a disease. But reactions to stress can be very enormously, and some of these reactions are undesirable. The most frequent undesirable reaction is anxiety. Feeling worried, anxious, and ner­vous is also a normal part of everyday life. Everyone frets or feels anxious from time to time. However, when anxiety becomes overwhelming and interferes with your daily life, it is not normal. The degree of anxiety is much more a function of the individual than the degree of stress. A person who reacts with excessive anxiety to everyday stress has a personal rather than a medical problem. The person who does not recognize anxiety as the problem will have difficulty in solving the problem

Many people, including children and teens, develop anxiety disorder in which many symptoms occur when there is no identifiable cause.

Phobias and panic disorder are two common anxiety-related disorders. Phobias are irrational, involuntary fears of common places, objects, or situations. Panic disorders occur when a person has periods of fear and anxiety when there is no clear cause or danger. Physical symptoms that may occur during a panic attack include chest pain, feeling of choking or suffocation, nausea, shaking, sweating, pounding heart, and dizziness or faintness

Self-care, often combined with pro­fessional treatment, can be effective in managing anxiety.

Symptoms of Anxiety / Stress

Anxiety can cause both physical and emotional symptoms. A specific sit­uation or fear can cause some or all of these symptoms for a short time. When the situation passes, the symptoms go away.

Physical Symptoms:

Trembling, twitching, or shaking

Lightheadedness or dizziness

Feeling of fullness in the throat or chest

Muscle tension, aches, or soreness

Restlessness

Fatigue

Insomnia

Breathlessness or rapid heartbeat

Sweating or cold, clammy hands

Emotional Symptoms:

Feeling keyed up and on edge

Excessive worrying

Fearing that something bad is going to happen

Poor concentration

Irritability or agitation

Constant sadness

Other symptoms are:

Diarrhea

Chest pain

Dry mouth

Sweating or hot flashes

Excessive sweating, sweaty palms

Abdominal pain and/or diarrhea

Under eating or overeating, loss of appetite

Irritability

Loss of sex drive

D iagnosis of Anxiety / Stress

The family doctor will attempt to identify the problem and determine if the help of a psychiatrist or psychiatrist social worker is required. Personal questions may be asked, and frank, honest answers must be given. Try to report the underlying problems and avoid emphasis on the effects, such as insomnia, muscle aches, headaches, or inability to concentrate.

Causes and Treatment of Anxiety / Stress

Anxiety disorders may be caused by a number of factors including: chemical imbalances or brain chemistry, environmental stress and even genetics. Treatments range from anti-anxiety medications and anti-depressants to psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, self-help and a variety of herbal treatments.

Psychotherapy can help patients to better deal with the disorder by talking through it and understanding it better, while cognitive-behavioral therapy teaches the person how to identify and adjust behaviors and thought patterns that lead to feelings of anxiety. Self-help includes: relaxation techniques, breathing exercises, exercise, and regular sleep patterns, healthy diet, laughter, brisk walks, etc. While there are obviously no side effects from self-help, psychotherapy or cognitive-behavioral therapy, many prescribed medications do have side effects. The number one side effect of anxiety and anti-depressant medications is addiction. Addiction to many anti-anxiety medications can occur in as little as two weeks due to the rapid onset and half-life in the bloodstream.

Anxiety disorders cannot be prevented, but taking the necessary steps to reduce the symptoms can control them. Limiting or eliminating alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, drugs and other stimulants, which can aggravate the condition, can help.

Home Treatment of Anxiety / Stress

The following home treatment tips can relieve simple anxiety and also help in combination with medical care.

An honest attempt to identify the cause of anxiety is a necessary first step in solving the problem.

Be kind to your body:

Relieve tension with vigorous exercise or massage.

Relaxation techniques are of great help in solving the problem of anxiety.

Get enough rest.

Avoid alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, and nicotine. They increase your anxiety

level.

Engage your mind:

Get out and do something you enjoy, such as going to a funny movie or taking a walk or a hike.

Plan your day. Having too much or too little to do can make you more anxious.

Keep a record of your symptoms. Discuss your fears with a good friend. Confiding with others sometimes relieves stress.

Get involved in social groups or volunteer to help others. Being alone sometimes makes things seem worse than they are.

Learn more about anxiety.

Include in the diet apricots, asparagus, avocados, bananas, broccoli, blackstrap molasses, brewer's yeast, brown rice,

dried,fruits,pulse, figs, fish (especially salmon), garlic, green leafy vegetables, legumes, raw nuts and seeds, soy products, whole grains, and yogurt. These foods supply valuable minerals such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium, which are depleted by stress.

Try eating small, frequent meals rather than the traditional three meals a day.

Magnesium supplements are useful, especially if you suffer from muscle spasms.

Limit your intake of animal protein. Concentrate on meals high in complex carbohydrates and vegetable protein.

Avoid foods containing refined sugar or other simple carbohydrates. For a nutritional treatment plan to have maximum benefits, avoid

simple sugars, carbonated soft drinks, tobacco, or alcohol.

Simplify your life by making your schedule less hectic.

CALL THE DOCTOR:

Call the doctor when you notice the symptoms mentioned below;

•  If you are seriously considering harming yourself or someone else

•  If anxiety interferes with your daily activities

•  If you have sudden, severe attacks of fear or anxiety with intense physical symptoms (shaking, sweating) when there is no appar­ent reason to be afraid.

•  If intense, irrational fears of common places, objects, or situa­tion interfere with your daily life.

•  If symptoms of anxiety are still severe after 1 week of home treatment

•  If you suffer from nightmares or flashbacks to traumatic events

•  If you are unable to feel certain about things (e.g., whether you unplugged the iron) no matter how many times you check, or if repeti­tive actions that you cannot control interfere with your daily activities.