Anxiety in a Nutshell

Anxiety is pretty common these days and for no specific reason. Every individual has their own set of troubles and some handle them with optimism and peace but some opt the burdensome way, worrying about the outcome, loading so many alternatives on their plate, overthinking, etc. You know what that results in, clearly anxiety.

Research says that every 1 in 13 suffers from anxiety. It is highly common and there are several factors in our daily life contributing to anxiety. It can be genetics, life events, personality, unnecessary nervousness, etc.

What Is Anxiety?

Anxiety is a feeling of worry and nervousness about some stressful situations, which increases with uncertainty. It is also associated with physical changes like palpitations and increased heart rate. Anxiety is a universal human experience. It is a common symptom of every mental illness. When anxiety is severe and intense it disturbs the internal psychological equilibrium then anxiety is abnormal.

Anxiety Vs Anxiety Disorder:

Anxiety is different from anxiety disorders. When anxiety is your stage, then it is not that big a thing.

Anxiety comes out of specific trouble or problem whereas anxiety disorder does not require a particular reason to show up. It comes out of nowhere without any sign of a stressor and shakes you.
Anxiety is under control and manageable, whereas anxiety disorder is likely is get out of control and one can do terrible things to others or themselves.
When it is anxiety you are nervous and worried about some issue but in case of anxiety disorder, the emotional responses you will suffer are so distinct. They are extremely intense and one might think those responses are unnecessary for a problem like that.
Symptoms vary highly. Worry and nervousness are the things you encounter in the face of anxiety. But in anxiety disorder several symptoms accompany and they can be physical. Dizziness, sweating, shivering, light-headedness, pounding heart, shortness of breath, frequent urination, etc. You will not observe these symptoms in the instance of anxiety.
When you are worried about a particular situation and for a particular time it is anxiety. But if it lasts for a longer time than required and bothering you in a normal situation too then it is an anxiety disorder.
Anxiety seems realistic, but anxiety in the case of anxiety disorder seems unrealistic and foolish.

In this way, there is a vastly noticeable difference between anxiety and anxiety disorder. Everything seems intense and fierce in the instance of an anxiety disorder. It plans excessive anxiety and impairs your daily routine in every way it can. It disturbs your studies and your work life. You have chances to lose focus, skipping, and procrastinating your work in search of something, and you, unfortunately, do not know what you are searching for.

Anxiety disorders need assistance and one has to seek without delay. Proper care, medicine, and counseling are significant for a person with an anxiety disorder. Treatment depends upon the severity and type of anxiety disorder. But anxiety disorders can be treated. Research says that they respond well to therapy and show some changes. Do not assume that anxiety will walk away, it is going to stay with you, getting rid of it is difficult. But the severity decreases gradually.

Types of Anxiety Disorders:

Anxiety disorders are of different types. Anxiety disorders emerge when your fear and worry is crossing the line and no longer seem to be the occasional fear we have in time to time. Anxiety disorders evolve some symptoms that interfere with your daily life activities and impair your concentration.

The following are the types of anxiety disorders

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Panic Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Social Anxiety

Generalized Anxiety Disorder:

When you start to worry about everything uncontrollably that means Generalized Anxiety Disorder captured you. Anxiety is common but reacting uncontrollably about normal life events and occurrences is strange.

GAD continues for a specific period of time. It can be either six months or more. People with GAD always anticipate something devastating and disastrous is going to happen. They do not know what they are worried about but they worry constantly. They worry about every normal thing that is happening in their daily life.

They suffer difficulty in focusing and sleeping. They experience fatigue, exhaustion, irritability, rapid heartbeat, sweating, muscle tension, stomach ache, and diarrhea.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder can be treated with medication, psychotherapy, and cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Panic Disorder:

Panic attacks are sudden and intimidated. Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder that involves repeated and constant episodes of anxiety, fear, and worry. They are unanticipated and out of blue. They include physical symptoms like a rapid heartbeat, chest pain, palpitations, dizziness, and shortness of breath. Panic attacks do not continue for a long time. Their maximum time limit is one hour.

Pounding heart, nausea, chest pain, sweating, lightheadedness, extreme fear, numbness in feet and hands, etc. They are sudden and won’t last long but are very scary. It might feel like you are dying, your world is falling apart, etc. Panic disorder cannot be entirely cured. Panic disorders can be treated by relaxation techniques, psychotherapy, assertiveness training, etc.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder:

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a type of disorder when some recurrent and unnecessary thoughts rush and sit in your mind. Repetitive behaviors occupy more percent. You do things repeatedly, you check on things repeatedly, you clean constantly, etc. These ideas and sensations are unwanted and not harmful though.

Types of OCD:

Contamination and washing
Symmetry and orderliness
Doubt and harm
Unacceptable/taboo thoughts

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder:

PTSD is an anxiety disorder that is triggered by a life-threatening event. When you witness or experience a terrifying and extremely devastating event it will disturb you further causing nightmares, severe anxiety, flashbacks, etc. It pulls you back into the trauma evolving emotional and physical disturbance. This results in poor concentration, anger, irritability, increased reaction of time, recurring nightmares, etc.

If left untreated it can last for a very long time. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is believed to be the best for PTSD.

Social anxiety:

Social anxiety is a feeling of awkwardness even among familiar people. They feel like they are closely noticed and observed. They will have a fear of activities and social interactions. They will be intimidated by the presence of other people or activities that involve interaction with others.

Social anxiety involves fear of eating in public, performing in public, speaking, writing, and reading in front of crowds. These people need active behavioral therapy groups to come out of their fears. Research says that social anxiety is curable with some therapies and patience.

It is tough to deal with a person with anxiety there are certain things you should not say to them. A few things are

Calm down
Everything will be alright
It is not a big deal
You are overreacting
I can feel you
Why are you so anxious?

Anxiety needs therapy for sure, so seek help from a therapist as soon as you can. Especially when your daily life is crashed by these disorders you highly need counseling. Suicidal thoughts also need an emergency, you are not likely to get away with them. And if your anxiety is leading you into bad habits like consumption of alcohol and drug use, you need help.

Introspect yourself now and then, because anxiety is not a trouble-free phase.