Panicked About Trivial Matters? You Might be Suffering from an Anxiety Disorder!
An anxiety disorder is characterized by a constant feeling of fear, worry or unease. While it is absolutely normal to feel anxious over certain matters like landing up a job interview or cracking the toughest exam, being anxious all the time for no rhyme or reason can be troublesome.
In certain psychiatric anomalies such as panic disorders, social anxiety disorder and various phobias, anxiety is one of the primary symptoms and causes. Anxiety disorder is usually a long term disorder that results in one feeling unnecessarily anxious about different events, no matter how trivial they are.
Causes behind it
The exact cause of anxiety disorder is not yet ascertained. There are several factors that can trigger anxiety disorder, some of them being:
1. Drug and alcohol abuse
2. Over-activity in certain areas of the brain that deal with behavior and emotions
3. Genetic defects
4. Chemical imbalance in the brain involving serotonin and noradrenaline which regulates mood
5. Chronic health conditions such as arthritis.
Signs you should look for
The symptoms of anxiety disorder are classified into physical and psychological symptoms. The psychological symptoms involve irritability, a feeling of restlessness and a constant feeling of being on the edge. Social withdrawal symptoms are also commonly observed.
The physical symptoms of anxiety disorder comprise of breathing difficulties, muscle pain, dizziness and fatigue.
How it can be treated
Some treatments for anxiety disorder are:
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Medications: Medications such as antidepressants are prescribed to get rid of anxiety disorder
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Therapy: Cognitive behavioral therapy, that is based on the belief that a person’s thoughts guide his actions, is another way to deal with anxiety disorder.
In addition to the treatments, you can also take steps to mitigate the symptoms of anxiety disorder, such as
1. Avoid smoking
2. Get regular exercise
3. Opt for self-help courses