(When Anxiety Gets Out of Control by Dr. Irakli Mania first appeared in the Public Opinion newspaper. Read it online here.) More than 25 million Americans suffer from anxiety disorders. Dr. Irakli Mania, psychiatrist at Keystone Behavioral Health, explains the difference between anxiety and anxiety disorders and when to seek help.
Normal Anxiety
Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress and can be beneficial in some situations. It can alert us to dangers and help us prepare and pay attention. Everyone experiences anxiety; however, when anxiety gets to the point beyond our control, this is anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health disorders in any age category and affect more than 25 million Americans.
Anxiety Disorder
Anxiety disorders differ from normal feelings of nervousness or anxiousness and involve excessive anxiety or fear. When anxiety hits, the body goes into fight or flight mode. Adrenaline causes our pupils to dilate and tenses our muscles. These reactions short term may serve the purpose of avoiding harm but long term can cause damage to our body. Cortisol is another chemical released during times of stress that when excessive can lead to hypertension, obesity, and memory problems.
Self Treatment Options
For mild or moderate anxiety, several things may help. Limit caffeine and alcohol, take a time-out (listen to music, meditate, get a massage), eat well-balanced meals, get enough sleep, exercise daily, and learn relaxation techniques to cope. There are a number of effective treatments available for anxiety disorders which can help most people lead a normal and productive life.
Seek Help
Many people turn to self-medicating with alcohol and drugs which will worsen the problem. If anxiety becomes what we call generalized anxiety disorder it can affect daily life in many ways. These persons get easily fatigued, concentration is very difficult, and restful sleep is almost impossible. It can get to a point where the person is not able to function normally at home or at work. At this point, consultation with a physician is important.
Specialized Treatment
Many people with generalized anxiety disorder know that it is bad, but they are not sure that there is good way to treat it and often choose to live with the anxious feelings or manage by themselves. Everyone is different and thorough evaluation by a mental health practitioner is needed to understand causes and other factors in an individual suffering from anxiety. Sometimes anxiety is accompanied by other issues such as depression. It’s important to talk to your health care provider and seek treatment for these concerns.
For more information about Keystone Behavioral Health, click here.
