Definition of Anxiety
Anxiety is regarded as a type of mental health disorder that leads people towards fear, worry, apprehension and an extreme amount of nervousness.
Anxiety greatly affects the behaviour of people. The behaviour affects people to such an extent that it gives birth to nervousness, panic attacks, phobia and similar things as such. Studies have stated that anxiety can be categorized under a common group of mental disorders. It is one of the growing disorders witnessed among a considerable number of people across the globe. Anxiety is also described as a natural response of the body towards stress. Feeling of anxiousness during the first day of school, before a job interview is common but, if the same feeling continues for half a year or so, then anxiety can turn into a disorder that is capable of interfering with life.
What is Meant by Anxiety?
Anxiety is a common response of the body when it is under an extreme amount of stress. Almost every person on the globe has experienced the feeling of anxiousness at one point of time in their lives. Feeling anxious occasionally is common; however, a prolonged period of anxiousness is harmful to health and often creates mental problems. Anxiety can be caused due to various reasons and are also of different type depending on individuals, their background, lifestyle and emotional capability to handle a certain form of situation.
What are the Various Kinds of Anxiety?
Anxiety can be categorised into the following types:
Generalised Anxiety Disorder
In this form of anxiety, an individual might feel excessive anxious and can start worrying unrealistically. Further, they can also feel tense with little or no reason. This form of anxiety is very general and is also felt in the initial stage of anxiety disorders.
Panic Disorder
When an individual suddenly starts feeling intense fear it tends to bring a panic attack. It is also one of the common forms of anxiety. During a panic attack people often start feeling sweaty, and also develop chest pain. Further, their heart starts pounding which is also regarded as palpitation. This form of attack often leads to people at a point where they start feeling that they are choking and are about to have a heart attack.
Social Anxiety Disorder
This form of the disorder is also known as social phobia. In this phobia, people start feeling overwhelming worries and self-consciousness about an everyday social situation. This fear leads people to overthink things especially in regards to the way others think about them or judging them. They start feeling embarrassed and ridiculed. It is the kind of anxiety that revolves around an individual's social life.
Mediation-Induced Anxiety Disorder
This is another form of anxiety disorder that is caused due to the consumption of illegal drugs or certain kinds of medications. These illegal drugs or medications have an immense effect on the emotions of an individual often leading to people feeling anxious which is also considered as withdrawal symptoms of these drugs.
Selective Mutism
One of the common forms of anxiety that is witnessed mostly among children is selective mutism. In this type of social anxiety children who behave and speak normally with their parents do not speak in public. This can be children not talking in school, in social gatherings and similar places as such where they have developed a dorm of social anxiety regarded as selective mutism.
Separation Anxiety
As the name suggests, this form of anxiety takes place when a close or a loved one leaves. This kind of anxiety disorder can take place with anyone. For instance, an individual starts feeling anxious when a close person leaves their sight. There is an extreme amount of fear that cannot be comprehended and leads the person towards a separation anxiety disorder. Further, people suffering from this form of disorder also worry excessively that something bad might happen to their loved one if they leave or are out of their sight.
Specific Phobias
This kind of phobia is related to feeling anxious about a particular thing or situation. For instance, there are significant numbers of people around the world who have an intense fear of flying or have a fear of heights. This fear cannot be categorised under general fear rather it goes to an extent where the fear becomes inappropriate and does not allow an individual to participate even in an ordinary situation.
Agoraphobia
This form of phobia makes people feel claustrophobic. This means that people suffering from agoraphobia feel extremely fearful and anxious about places where it seems hard to escape. They even start fearing that if they need help in an emergency they would not be getting any. For instance, a lot of people feel anxious when they are on an aeroplane or in some form public transportation or for that matter even standing in a line with a crowd.
What are the Symptoms of an Anxiety Disorder?
The most common symptoms of anxiety disorder are fear and worry. This is a kind of disorder that a lot of people suffer from which gets worsened with time if not treated with proper medication. Anxiety disorder can make an individual's life difficult. It can make it hard for people to breathe or sleep or stay quiet or still and most importantly it does not allow a person to concentrate. Here is the list of some common symptoms of anxiety disorder that an individual might go through.
Sleep disorders or problems
Feeling dizzy
Incapability to concentrate
Muscle becomes tensed
Feeling of nausea
Shortness of breath
Uneasiness, panic and fear
Rumination or thinking constantly about a problem over and over again and being incapable of controlling that thought process.
The mouth starts feeling dry
Breathing pattern becomes faster and increases abnormally. This is also known as hyperventilation.
Palpitations in the heart
Unable to remain calm and still
Obsessively and intensely trying to avoid a certain place or object that creates fear.
Hands and feet become cold and sweaty. At times they become numb and there might be an increase in the feeling of tingling in hands or feet.
What are the Causes of Anxiety Disorders?
There are lots of reasons that can lead to anxiety disorders. Certain complex elements determine who would get an anxiety disorder and who would not. Some of the common causes of anxiety disorder are as follows:
Chemistry of the brain- Faculty circuit in the brain can cause fear and emotions
Genetics- it can come from a family
Medical conditions- Heart, lung and thyroid conditions can create anxiety disorders
Drug misuse or withdrawal- Substance use and alcohol can create anxiety
Stress from the environment- Stressful event leading to anxiety.
FAQs on Anxiety Symptoms
1. What are the common physical and psychological symptoms of anxiety?
Anxiety symptoms can be categorised into psychological and physical manifestations. It is important to recognise both to understand the condition fully.
- Psychological symptoms include constant worry, feelings of fear or panic, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and a sense of being on edge or restless.
- Physical symptoms often include a racing heart (palpitations), shortness of breath, hyperventilation, sweating, trembling, dizziness, muscle tension, nausea, and dry mouth.
2. What is the difference between general anxiety and an anxiety attack?
General anxiety refers to a prolonged state of excessive worry and fear about various aspects of life, which can be persistent and hard to control. In contrast, an anxiety attack, or panic attack, is a sudden and intense episode of overwhelming fear that peaks within minutes. An attack is characterised by severe physical symptoms like chest pain, choking sensations, and a fear of losing control, whereas general anxiety is a more constant, lower-level state of apprehension.
3. From a biological perspective, what are the primary causes of anxiety disorders?
Anxiety disorders arise from a complex interplay of factors. From a biological standpoint, key causes include:
- Brain Chemistry: Imbalances in neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) can disrupt the brain circuits that regulate fear and other emotions.
- Genetics: A family history of anxiety disorders can increase an individual's predisposition to developing one, suggesting a genetic link.
- Medical Conditions: Certain underlying health issues, particularly those affecting the heart, lungs, or thyroid gland, can produce anxiety-like symptoms or trigger an anxiety disorder.
4. How can one differentiate between the symptoms of anxiety and depression?
While anxiety and depression can co-occur and share symptoms like sleep disturbances and difficulty concentrating, their core features differ. Anxiety is primarily characterised by excessive fear and worry about the future, leading to avoidance and high-arousal symptoms like a racing heart. In contrast, depression is mainly characterised by a persistent low mood, a loss of interest or pleasure (anhedonia), and feelings of worthlessness, often related to past events. Anxiety drives you to escape, while depression often drains motivation entirely.
5. Why does anxiety manifest as physical symptoms like a racing heart or shortness of breath?
These physical symptoms are a direct result of the body's 'fight-or-flight' response, which is activated by the sympathetic nervous system when you perceive a threat. When you feel anxious, your brain signals the release of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones prepare your body for immediate action by increasing your heart rate to pump more blood to your muscles, quickening your breathing to boost oxygen intake, and causing sweating to cool you down. This biological reaction is designed for survival but can be triggered inappropriately by anxious thoughts.
6. What are some less common or unusual physical symptoms of anxiety?
Beyond the well-known symptoms, anxiety can cause some less obvious physical reactions. These can include a persistent dry mouth, a tingling or numb sensation in the hands and feet (paresthesia), chills or hot flashes, and a feeling of a lump in the throat. Some individuals may also experience derealisation or depersonalisation, where they feel detached from their surroundings or themselves, which can be a particularly unsettling symptom.
7. Do anxiety symptoms vary based on the specific type of anxiety disorder?
Yes, while the core feeling of anxiety is common, the triggers and specific symptom clusters vary significantly. For instance, in Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD), the anxiety is persistent and attached to a wide range of everyday concerns. In contrast, Panic Disorder is defined by recurring, unexpected panic attacks. Social Anxiety Disorder involves an intense fear of social situations and scrutiny, while specific phobias are tied to a particular object or situation, like heights or flying.
