Anxiety
Anxiety is a feeling of uncertainty, uneasiness, apprehension or fear. Everyone experiences anxiety periodically, but some people experience more than their share and suffer anxiety to such an extent that it disrupts their lives. We all worry about things from time to time, but people with anxiety disorders have symptoms almost every day that cause them to have difficulty with daily activities and relationships. For example, many people don't like snakes or elevators, get nervous before taking a test, feel uncomfortable giving a speech, or don't like being in a group of strangers. But for others, experiences like these provoke such extreme levels of anxiety that it interferes with their ability to function. An Anxiety Disorder occurs when excessive feelings of anxiety impair your physical and psychological functioning. Imagine feeling so anxious you're not able to take the tests necessary to complete your coursework, or feeling so uncomfortable around strangers you can't go to the mall or a movie theatre without feeling dizzy or nauseated.
Panic Attacks are one common type of Anxiety Disorder. They are intense episodes of fear which are so powerful you think you're about to faint, or dying, or going crazy, or losing control of yourself. They often seem to come out of the blue, but more often than not, occur in response to certain cues we may or may not be aware of, such as entering a crowded room, a traffic jam, or being the center of attention. The most common symptoms of a Panic Attack are:
- racing heart (also skipped heartbeats and "loud heart")
- chest pain, tightness, or heaviness
- dizziness or lightheadedness
- numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
- labored breathing, feeling short of breath, or hyperventilation
- stomach or intestinal distress
- racing thoughts or confusion
- fear of some catastrophic breakdown, like death or insanity
- a strong impulse to flee
The intense feelings experienced during a panic attack are more than uncomfortable - they can be downright frightening. And if you don't get some good information about panic disorder shortly after the first attack, you may start developing ongoing fears of having more attacks.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is another common type of anxiety disorder. It has gained a sort of notoriety as a result of the television program Monk. OCD, as this disorder is commonly referred to, is characterized by repeated actions - or compulsions. Repeating these actions serves a purpose, believe it or not; they are an attempt to try to relieve the excessive anxiety. OCD may also be manifested by thoughts - or obsessions. Obsessive thinking is not simply worrying too much about real life problems - it is recurrent and persistent thoughts that are intrusive and inappropriate, and cause the person with this disorder excessive anxiety and distress. With OCD, these two behaviors - compulsions and obsessions - often occur at the same time.
A related condition that seems to have symptoms in common with OCD is sometimes referred to as "Compulsive Hoarding" or "Hoarder's Disorder." Hoarding behavior is best described by the acquisition of, and failure to use or discard, such a large number of seemingly useless possessions that it causes clutter to the point that it interferes with basic living activities such as cooking, cleaning, showering, sleeping, or mobility within the home. In other words, hoarding behavior occurs when things - like newspapers, magazines, empty milk containers, frozen vegetables, or gum wrappers - are acquired and never discarded ... and these things start to pile up ... and up ... and eventually living in the home involves moving around these piles of stored items. This behavior is different from being a "collector" or having too much "stuff." The difference between collecting, clutter and hoarding is one of degrees. When the accumulation of "stuff" reaches the point that it causes distress, embarrassment, and possible health hazards, this "hoarding" behavior has more likely become a compulsive attempt to try to calm the hoarder's anxiety, and a problem that goes beyond just needing to "clean house" or "get organized."
Two other types of anxiety disorders we hear more about these days are Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Acute Stress Disorder. Symptoms for both disorders may develop in the aftermath of an extremely traumatic event - like the horrors of war ... being the victim or witness of a crime ... or losing everything you own due to an act of nature.
One final type of anxiety disorder that merits discussion is generalized anxiety disorder ("GAD"). People with GAD can't seem to stop worrying about everyday life issues, like health, money, family, work or school and tend to always expect disaster. With GAD, the worry is often unrealistic or out of proportion for the situation, and daily life becomes a constant state of worry, fear and dread. Without treatment, eventually the anxiety so dominates the person's thinking that it interferes with daily functioning, including work, school, social activities and relationships.
Stress versus Anxiety
You may be wondering what the difference is between feeling stressed out and having an anxiety disorder. Stress can come from any situation or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, nervous or even anxious. Anxiety, on the other hand, is a feeling of apprehension or fear. Since these two states are intertwined and can feel similar, you may want to be able to identify the subtle differences between them. In a nutshell, stress just seems to sit there and wear you down - its heavy. Anxiety, on the other hand, builds to a crescendo, and scares you along the way - it makes you think there is something medically wrong with you.
Excessive anxiety is no laughing matter. It affects you physically, as well as psychologically. Since anxiety is something we all experience from time to time, it cannot be cured, but there are things you can do to manage your anxiety better, including:
- Stop or reduce your consumption of products that contain caffeine, such as coffee, tea, cola and chocolate.
- Exercise daily and eat a healthy, balanced diet.
- Learn to listen to your internal negative self-talk and implement strategies to defeat it.
- Talk to a mental health professional.