Understanding anxiety disorders
Written in association with:Anxiety is one of the most common mental health issues. Whilst an emotion that everyone experiences at times, it can be a condition that is a heavy burden for those who experience it as a disorder. In this article, consultant psychiatrist Dr Ramya Mohan helps us to better understand anxiety, how it can manifest as physical symptoms and how it can mitigated.
What is anxiety?
Anxiety is the feeling of worry, distress, and apprehension that is typical of approaching new challenges or situations. Sometimes, it can be helpful to make individuals more aware of certain situations that bring discomfort (and avoid that which they are not ready to confront), but it becomes an issue when the feeling is pervasive and constant or becomes detrimental to daily functioning – this is when anxiety can no longer be considered an occasional emotion and they may be need to be assessed for a psychiatric disorder.
In fact, there are several kinds of anxiety disorders, such as:
- Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), which is when the anxious feeling is persistent and triggered by many different things and aspects in your life
- Panic disorder, which means that you have frequent and unexpected panic attacks
- Social anxiety disorder, which means that you are fearful of being watched and judged by others and makes socialising in different contexts very difficult
- Phobia-related disorders
Anxiety disorders can be caused by traumatic events, unaddressed issues from childhood, lifestyle, genetics and family history, and differences in the way the brain is structured.
What does anxiety look like?
Fearful thoughts and behaviour are not the only symptoms of anxiety disorders. People with anxiety could suffer from attacks of panic which happen suddenly, or of anxiety which build up and are triggered by stressors. Attacks can last around 5-20 minutes. A person undergoing a panic or anxiety attack will have some or all of the following physiological manifestations:
- Chest pain and heart palpitations
- Difficulty breathing, such as shortness of breath or hyperventilation
- Nausea
- Crying
- Chills or hot flashes
- Sweating
- Tingling or numbness in the extremities
- Hypersensitivity to the environment around them
During a panic attack, the person’s thoughts about their fears or worst possible outcomes are intense and exaggerated. They may feel a dire terror or trepidation, and perhaps even a sense that they are going to die.
At its most extreme, anxiety can lead to weight loss, bad sleep, hair turning grey/falling out and vomiting. Unmanaged anxiety can lead to depression as the quality of life is so greatly affected, this is further exacerbated by difficulties with making or maintaining friends, struggling to take considered risks at work or school where required and fears around trying new things. This perpetuates a cycle of stress and unease that can become all-consuming if unmanaged.
How is anxiety managed?
To manage anxiety, therapy, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, is highly recommended as this will give patients a safe place to express their worried — they can be equipped with tools and skills to cope with their feelings and learn to dismantle any negative associations they have with anxiety triggers. Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EDMR) therapy can help if there are associated traumas contributing to anxiety.
In some cases, anxiety may be treated with medication such as antidepressants (SSRIs) or mood stabilisers, but this is only considered case-by-case and can be prescribed by a psychiatrist.
The immediate thing one can do to manage anxiety and diffuse a panic or anxiety attack is the 333 rule:
- Name 3 things you can see
- Name 3 things you can hear
- And name 3 things you can touch
This is a grounding technique that helps draw attention away from negative feelings, resituate oneself in the present and environment, and regain control over your thoughts. Breathing into a paper bag can help too.
If you are struggling with anxiety, you can consult with Dr Moahn via her Top Doctors profile.
