To have feelings of uneasiness or nervousness is quite normal for people who have to keep up with the fast pace of the 21st Century lifestyle. Almost everyone feels anxious from time to time. Mild to moderate moments of anxiety may help certain individuals focus their attention, energy, and motivation. However, severe cases of anxiety may lead to feelings of helplessness, confusion, and distress. Too much anxiety, however, is not normal and may interfere with one's daily activities. Anxiety can cause physical and mental problems. In some cases, some situations or fears may trigger a variety of symptoms for a short time.
Physical symptoms of anxiety may include the following:
Trembling, twitching, or shaking. Feeling of fullness in the throat or chest. Breathing difficulties or fast heartbeat. Dizziness Sweating or cold, clammy hands. Feeling jumpy. Muscle tension, aches, or soreness (myalgias). Extreme fatigue. Sleep problems, such as the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep, early waking, or restlessness (not feeling rested when you wake up).
In addition to its physical effects, anxiety also affects a part of the brain that aids in communication. This condition may lead to the difficulties in expressing creativity or effective function in relationships.
Some of the symptoms that show anxiety's effect on one's mental faculties include:
Restlessness, irritability, or feeling on edge. Excessive worrying. Fearing that something bad is going to happen; feeling doomed. Inability to concentrate; feeling like your mind goes blank. The presence of both physical and mental symptoms of anxiety may lead to a condition called anxiety disorder. It may hamper a persons ability to deal with other persons and ruin daily activities. In addition to this, medical studies suggest that women are twice as likely to have anxiety disorders than women. This occurs because of a variety of biological, psychological, and cultural factors. Although the cause of this phenomenon is still unknown, medical researchers suggest that fluctuations in the levels of female reproductive hormones and cycles may contribute to the heightened risk for anxiety disorders. This condition may occur at any age, gender, and race. Because of its ill-effects, individuals with anxiety disorders are in a hurry to treat this illness and turn to anti-anxiety drugs for treatment. These drugs are designed to calm and relax individuals with excessive anxiety, nervousness, on a short-term basis. It is also used to treat mild and temporary attacks of anxiety as well as clinically declared cases of social phobias and other forms of phobias. However, the use of these forms of medication may bring side effects that include sedation, sleepiness, depression, lethargy, dizziness, and many more. Other reactions may include changes in heart rate, blood pressure, bowel changes, and severe skin rash.
Due to the side effects of certain anti-anxiety medication, many patients sought alternative medication for their condition. Many herbs became famous among individuals who want to treat anxiety with less side effects. St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) is an herb native to Europe and has been used for many years to treat anxiety, insomnia, and depression. It is said that this herb works by slowing down the breakdown of brain chemicals called serotonin. Low levels of serotonin are associated with depression. In many studies, only 20 percent of patients who took St. John's Wort complained of side effects, lower compared to those who took antidepressants (53 percent). However, despite its health benefits, individuals who want to take this alternative medicine should seek the approval of medical professionals to clarify side effects and drug interactions that may take place while under medication.
The behavior side effects of anxiety can be described as an act of avoidance. Individuals with anxiety disorders tend to avoid the things that make them worried or nervous. It may work as a short-term method to make a person feel better but, in the long run, this method may heighten anxiety to worst levels. Effective anxiety treatments may require adjustments in one's lifestyle and professional help.
Number 1: Face your fears. The most common mistake that people make in coping with their anxiety is to avoid whatever situation triggers their anxiety. Although you may feel immediate, intense relief whenever you avoid an anxiety-provoking situation, the long-term effect is actually to worsen your anxiety. Avoidance makes it extremely unlikely that your anxiety will ever decrease as long as you continue to avoid the situation.
Number 2: Be in tune with your level of anxiety. Try to catch your anxiety as soon as it starts. You will have a much easier path to feeling better when you intervene at the earliest possible point. For example, at the moment that you find yourself feeling a little bit tense or anxious, see Numbers 3 through 5 below.
Number 3: Know what helps you to relax. Make a list of enjoyable and relaxing activities. The list should be what YOU enjoy and find relaxing. There are endless options - take a walk, listen to music, take a warm shower, sit with your pet, imagine yourself on a warm beach...
Number 4: Regularly practice something on your list. Even if you are not feeling intensely anxious at a particular moment, you can help reduce your overall anxiety level by regularly engaging in enjoyable activities (not a bad assignment for homework, right?). Plus, the more comfortable you are with taking time to relax, the more likely you are to actually use your relaxing activities at a time when you feel anxious.
Number 5: Consider learning relaxation techniques. There are many options for relaxation techniques. The key is to do a little research online or at the bookstore. Find a technique that appeals to you. Some types of relaxation include, diaphragmatic breathing (or deep-breathing), meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, and body scanning. Diaphragmatic breathing is one of the simplest techniques that can be used whenever you feel anxious. Remember, like #4 above, you need to practice to make this effective!
Common mistakes:
? Avoiding everything that makes you anxious. For example, think of when you learned to ride a bike. You were probably afraid the first time, but your fear gradually decreased until you mastered it! If you never tried to ride a bike, then you would still be afraid to ride it today and probably more afraid than you were initially. The same strategy applies with anxiety. With each time you face something that makes you anxious - even just a little bit anxious - your overall anxiety will decrease.
? Waiting until you're anxious before you try to relax. Rather, you should practice relaxing while you are relaxed. Relaxing needs to be a skill that you master before you apply it to your anxiety (would you learn to ride a bike on a narrow, bumpy sidewalk?).
If you do not know what is making you feel anxious or cannot imagine facing anything that makes you anxious, then your best option is to consider seeing a mental health professional who will help you work through your anxiety.
Both Emmanuel Chavez & Tamas Gloetzer are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Emmanuel Chavez has sinced written about articles on various topics from Fitness, Health and Arthritis Signs. Emmanuel Chavez is a sports writer and holds a graduate degree in Sports Nutrition. He is active in promoting weight loss programs and healthy lifestyle among inner city youth. Stressed? Want your muscles to relax? This might help. Emmanuel Chavez's top article generates over 22200 views. to your Favourites.
Tamas Gloetzer has sinced written about articles on various topics from Fitness, self improvement and motivation and Cure Anxiety. To learn more about anxiety's major contributor - fear, you can sign up for a free report on overcoming fear at this website: