Anxiety – Signs and Treatments
Anxiety is an emotional turmoil accompanied by nervousness, uneasiness or uncertain of an event or an outcome.
Anxiety is mainly caused by stress in life, brain chemistry, medical and environmental factors and also substance or drug abuse. A lot of anxious or worriedness, bad and negative thoughts are provoked in the mind of a person suffering from anxiety. These factors or negative feelings can lead to an unhealthy physical and mental being of a person.
Anxiety has also known to lead to depression and later leaving out the life ahead.
There are a number of signs that can be seen in a person suffering from anxiety and are to be taken easily. In this article, we will briefly discuss the reasons, types, and treatments for the anxiety disorder.
Causes of Anxiety
- Anxiety is caused by a number of reasons. Anxiety can be caused by both internal and external factors.
Stress
Stress, one of the main factors that are known to cause anxiety.
Stress from workplace
Change or inconvenience in environmental and living conditions
Emotional shock or trauma after the death or loss of loved ones
Physical or physiological abuse
Problems in relationships
When these aspects happen, the person can be the victim of anxiety.
Personality
Few people are known to be perfectionists, confused, not confident, reserved or frightened. When these factors grow strong, they are molded into anxiety in the future. Children are supposed to be taught and are to be informative about controlling these factors. So, even if they have any of these traits, they can become aware and act when these signs emerge in them.
Physical
A person suffering from some psychical injury is commonly known to be sensitive to that injury. In some cases, the person is over concerned and becomes oversensitive to these injuries. When this happens, the person will become nervous and introspective. These factors of over concern can also lead to anxiety. Diabetes, Asthma, and heart diseases are few of the common health issues that might cause anxiety.
Substance Abuse
A number of studies and researchers has proven that substance abuse and anxiety co-occur. Prolonged substance abuse or overuse of alcohol rises to anxiety. People abuse or drink more often to stop their anxiety, which is a false impression. After a period of time, the person gets addicted and when these things are not around, the person either becomes nervous to cope up with the environment or loses interests in life. When this thing takes effect, the person becomes less confident, worried and grows negative physiologically. This often leads to anxiety and depression.
Physiological Conditions
We often see people around who become very much conscious and nervous in the social environment. This is common, but having the same issue in every social condition is a sign of anxiety.
If a person has not been accustomed to being social from childhood or some factors that have caused a person to become socially inactive. These overgrow in the mind and the person slowly becomes anti-social. In some cases, this social awkwardness might also be heredity.
A person suffering from anxiety in a family is also known to influence other family members. Mostly in children, when a child spent a lot of childhood with a person suffering from anxiety, the child is also known to inherit the anxiety factor.
Types of Anxiety
Anxiety is not a simple issue and it has effects on both physical and physiological levels. Below are the types of Anxiety:
Social Anxiety
People are often introverted and shy in social situations. When the things around are not in the comfort zone or not what they have imagined they seem to back out or stay calm.
When this fear takes over life, it has some serious effects. This rises to a feeling of being uncomfortable in social situations, talking or putting forth ideas. This is because the person has indulged the fear of being judged, remarked or ignored if they do something. Later, the person completely stops or avoids the social situations and prefers being to himself. This aspect of being judged or being remarked leads to feelings nervousness, fear and negative about oneself.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Generalized anxiety disorder has known to affect millions around the globe. It is one of the most widely known disorders. Every person has a fear of something in the back of the mind. When this fear takes over and affects the daily life, it can lead to GAD.
This can lead to irritations, situations seeming out of control, physical pains, and trouble in concentrating, being uncomfortable in daily activities and excessive negative thinking.
Panic Disorder
A person with Panic Disorder often has panic attacks or being scared of having panic attacks. They often feel helpless, no longer by themselves and also the severe feeling of death.
A person suffering from panic anxiety has severe physiological fears which leading to physical stress.
A person having panic attacks shows the following symptoms: Chest in pain or Stomach, digestive problems, tingling limbs, hyperventilation, dizziness or lightness in head and depersonalization. In some cases, the person may also feel pressure in the head region. These physical effects take place before or after having the panic attacks.
Anxiety from Phobia
Phobia means a fear of an organism, place or an object. When people encounter the fears, their mind gives all the negative things that could happen.
Mostly everyone has the fear of something. The person is feared of something when they see something bad happening to themselves or others in the situation or being feared with a particular thing from childhood.
Not all suffer or are affected with phobia as they do not encounter the fears in everyday life. In some cases, the phobia is always around, interrupting the daily routine. For example, if a person living in a city has a fear of snakes it is okay as we do not encounter snakes in the cities. However, the person with the fear of getting hit by a car in a city is greatly affected.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
People often suffer from some traumas or injuries. Most of them come over the incidents and lead a happy life. There are situations where the intensity of the past injury or illness takes over the lifestyle of a person.
PTSD affects both physical and physiological wellbeing of a person. There have also been reports where the person has become a victim of PTSD after witnessing some traumatic events.
When a person is relieved or witnessed a trauma it is quite common to have the flashes of the event. When these flashes of traumatic events grow severe, the person is prone to anxiety and depression. This can also affect the person from having a normal daily life leading to severe anxiety.
Obsessive Compulsion Disorder (OSD)
OCD is one of the less understood anxiety disorder. But this anxiety has known to be destructive both for the person suffering from OCD and those around.
From the name itself, we could understand that the anxiety is either obsession or compulsion that a person has.
A person with obsession has some strict thoughts in mind that are either negative or fearful thoughts on particular acts. They often try to avoid or do them in the manner that they think could avoid the damage or affect it on their personality. These thoughts take over and become severe in mind and also become difficult for the person to avoid them. The thoughts can be of Gods, sexual or being worried about someone could get hurt with those thoughts.
Compulsions come into place when a person wants things to be done in a particular way no matter what. It is good and common for people to maintain cleanliness or doing things in a particular way. But sometimes, the person takes these thoughts or ideas to heights where they are difficult to perform.
A person suffering from anxiety disorders can lead to a very unhealthy life. People from anxiety disorders are prone to the following effects: Depression, leaving relationships, overall weakness, headaches, digestive problems, staying alone and also having suicidal tendencies.
Imbalance of Vata leads to fear, insecurity, mental confusion and nerve disorder.
Pitta imbalance may lead to irritability, impatience malcontent, dissatisfaction and tendency towards perfectionism.
Imbalance of Kapha causes depression, over sentimental, lethargy and over possessiveness.
When these imbalances grow high, they can also lead to anxiety disorders. From the above-mentioned factors that rise of imbalance of Vata, Pitta and Kapha can be easily related to the anxiety disorders.
Not to worry about these disorders. There are a number of treatments and precautions available that could save one from the anxiety disorders and have a happy life.
Treatments and Preventive measures for Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety has, fortunately, many treatments which can be performed both physically and physiologically. Not only the anxiety can be treated, but it can also be prevented by taking some measures. Below are the preventive measures and treatments for anxiety disorders.
Yoga, Pranayama, and Meditation
Yoga, pranayama, and meditation are the simple exercises for mind and body. These exercises have known to be one of the best preventive measures and treatments for anxiety disorders. Practicing regular yoga and meditation connects both body and mind.
Practicing yoga everyday releases toxins and stress from our body. And also has known to energize the body when done in the morning for all day activeness. Yoga also helps us in maintaining a healthy blood and nervous systems. Yoga is mainly known to reduce the Anxiety Stress disorder.
Pranayama regulates the blood flow and breath in the head, therefore calming the mind and increasing the focus and concentration on our daily lives. Pranayama also cut downs irritation and uneasiness from our mind. It is also known to help us in relieving from all the anxiety disorders.
Meditation is a simple way of connecting our body and soul. There are a number of meditations which can be practiced at home without any special guidance. Just closing our eyes and concentrating on our breath can relax and energize our minds to a great extent. A number of guided meditations are also available online, which can be practiced to slowly cut down all the anxiety disorders.
Practicing yoga, pranayama, and meditation every day also boosts our confidence in both social and personal life. These help us in achieving overall physical and physiological wellbeing, by strengthening
our body and mind.
Let’s all give a shot to yoga, pranayama, and meditation and enhance our daily lives.
Balancing Vata, Pitta, and Kapha
Balancing Vata, Pitta, and Kapha are not only keeps one healthy but also active all the time. Have a balance of these factors has also known to be the responsible longevity of life.
Balancing Vata
Regular yoga or exercise.
Having treated by sweet, heavy and warm aromas.
Eating proper food by taking into consideration of the amount of oil and fats.
Wearing warm clothes.
Natural grains.
Organic foods and vegetables.
Low-fat dairy products.
Properly cooked vegetables.
Balancing Vata has proven to boost confidence and concentration which could help us in preventing and curing anxiety disorder.
Balancing Pitta
Foods that are bitter, sweet and astringent.
Eating in a peaceful environment.
Drinking milk or dairy products an hour before or after the meal.
Having beans.
Foods, herbs, and spices that cool the body. (Coriander, cardamom, cilantro and fennel)
Routine meal timings.
Moderate amount of olive oil, sunflower oil, coconut oil and ghee.
Balancing pitta can cut down the irritability, uneasiness and keep our mind peace and calm.
Balancing Kapha
Whole, freshly cooked light and warm foods.
Heating spices.
Honey.
Room temperature or warm drinks.
Most beans.
Lots of veggies.
Corn, Canola, Sesame, Sunflower oil and ghee in daily meals.
Balancing Kapha can help us fight depression, become active and control our emotions.
Taking a serious note on balancing the Vata, Pitta and Kapha can be of great help in fighting the anxiety disorders.
Medications
A number of Ayurvedic, naturopathy, homeopathic medications are available to treat anxiety disorders. There are a number of centers which help us both physically and physiologically in curing anxiety disorders.
Ayurveda for Anxiety
Ashwagandha cuts down the stress by a great extent.
Brahmi or Bacopa has high anti-anxiety agents that calm and soothe the mind.
Cardamom’s aroma can be of great helping in controlling emotions and fighting the fear and depressions in the mind.
Rose petals in warm water elevate the mind and spirit.
Jatamanshi removes the negative thoughts.
Homeopathy medicines for Anxiety
Aconite is the best remedy for Panic anxiety disorder.
Lycopodium Clavatum can help us with stage and social fear.
Calcarea Carbonica is of great help for phobias.
Arsenicum album is of great help for those who suffer from fear of actions or future happenings. This can treat the ones that are suffering from OSD.
Naturopathy for Anxiety
Massage therapy eliminates body stress and elevates the mind.
Having proper diet with water, juices and seasonal fruits.
Anti- anxiety diet.
Green tea.
Acupuncture cuts down the excessive worrying.
Acupressure is of great help in calming down.
Treating Anxiety Disorders by taking care of our daily routine
Daily exercise.
Cutting down the amount of spice.
Slowly cutting down alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco.
Avoiding junk and acidic foods.
Avoiding over cooked or fried foods.
Having a proper diet.
Not stressing or being too much worried over work.
Drinking water.
Maintaining a daily routine for food and exercise.
Conclusion
We all have people around who go through some kind of stress every day. We go through the stress and sometimes the stress takes our daily lives and can lead to the anxiety that we have discussed above.
But we have also discussed a number of ways to prevent and treat the disorders. So, it’s okay to have some anxiety. Let us all follow the preventive measures mentioned above and have a carefree and healthy life and a happy society.
