What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a normal part of life. It can even be useful when it alerts us to danger. But for some people, anxiety is a persistent problem that interferes with daily activities such as work, school or sleep. This type of anxiety can disrupt relationships and enjoyment of life, and over time it can lead to health concerns and other problems.

In some cases, anxiety is a diagnosable mental health condition that requires treatment. Generalized anxiety disorder, for example, is characterized by persistent worry about major or minor concerns. Other anxiety disorders -- such as panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) -- have more specific triggers and symptoms. In some cases, anxiety is caused by a medical condition that needs treatment. Whatever form of anxiety you have, medications, counseling or lifestyle changes can generally help.

Symptoms

1)Feeling apprehensive
2)Feeling powerless
3)Having a sense of impending danger, panic or doom
4)Having an increased heart rate
5)Breathing rapidly (hyperventilation)
6)Sweating
7)Trembling
8)Feeling weak or fatigued

Specific anxiety disorders are broken down into several diagnosable mental health conditions:

1)Panic
2)Agoraphobia
3)Specific phobias
4)Social phobias
5)Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
6)Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
7)Generalized anxiety disorder
8)Anxiety disorder due to a medical condition
9)Substance-induced anxiety disorder
10)Separation anxiety disorder
11)Anxiety disorder not otherwise specified

Causes

As with many mental health conditions, the exact cause of anxiety disorders is not fully understood. It is thought that anxiety disorders may involve an imbalance of naturally occurring brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) such as serotonin, dopamine or norepinephrine. Life experiences such as traumatic events appear to trigger anxiety disorders in people who are already prone to becoming anxious. Inherited traits also are a factor.

Medical causes

For a significant number of people, anxiety is linked to an underlying health issue. In some cases, anxiety signs and symptoms are the first indicators that you have a medical illness. If your doctor suspects your anxiety may have a medical cause, he or she may order blood or urine tests or other tests to look for signs of a problem.

Physical problems that can be linked to anxiety include:

1)Heart disease
2)Diabetes
3)Thyroid problems (such as hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism)
4)Asthma
5)Drug abuse
6)Alcohol withdrawal
7) Withdrawal from anti-anxiety medications (benzodiazepines)
8)Rare tumors that produce certain fight-or-flight hormones
9)Muscle cramps or spasms
10)Tingling, burning or prickling sensations that may have no apparent cause

It is more likely that your anxiety may be due to an underlying medical condition if:

1)Your anxiety symptoms started after age 35
2)You do not have any blood relatives (such as a parent or sibling) with an anxiety disorder
3)You did not have an anxiety disorder as a child
4)You do not avoid certain things or situations because of anxiety
5)No events have occurred in your life that were triggered by significant anxiety
6)Medications used to treat feelings of panic (such as benzodiazepines) do not ease your anxiety symptoms

Western Medicine Treatment

The two main treatments for anxiety disorders are medications and psychological counseling (psychotherapy). You may benefit most from a combination of the two. It may take some trial and error to discover exactly what treatments work best for you.

Medications

Several different types of medications are used to treat anxiety disorders. These include:

1)Antidepressants.
2)Buspirone (BuSpar)
3)Benzodiazepines.

Psychotherapy

Also known as talk therapy and psychological counseling, psychotherapy involves working out underlying life stresses and concerns and making behavior changes. It can be an effective treatment for anxiety.Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the most common types of psychotherapy for anxiety disorders. Generally a short-term treatment, cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on teaching you specific skills to identify negative thoughts and behaviors and replace them with positive ones. Even if an undesirable situation does not change, you can reduce stress and gain more control over your life by changing the way you respond.

Adopted from Wei Laboratories, Inc.