Know about Anxiety Disorder along with its Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Feeling of uneasiness and worry is simply called anxiety. Some of the causes, symptoms and diagnosis measures should be considered for an effective treatment measure.

Anxiety is simply the feeling of unease, worry or fear, that can be mild or severe. Everyone has feelings of anxiety at some point in their life.

For some people, the feeling of insecurity becomes so frequent, or so forceful, that it begins to take over their lives.

Experts warn that excessive use of cell phone is one of the leading cause of anxiety and stress.

What is Anxiety Disorder?

Anxiety can be understood in simple terms as the feeling of insecurity and nervousness about some event or situation that most probably yield an unfavorable outcome. 

The situations can just be a job interview or examination. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorder affects around 40 million adults in the United States.

See its types:

• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
• Panic disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Phobias
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Recent Study Regarding the Prime Cause of Anxiety These Days

A recent study has proven that engaging oneself on phone may be one of the leading cause of stress and anxiety. Dr. Nancy Cheever at California State University Dominguez Hills told ABC News,

"The more people use their phone, the more anxious they are about using their phone."

Her research suggested that phones keep us in a persistent state of anxiety inducing a long-term effect on our overall health status.

She demonstrated the reaction on ABC News' T.J. Holmes and two teenage girls measuring the amount of stress they felt when they have kept away from their cell phones for a longer time. 

She strapped measuring equipment to them and tracked changes in their heart beat rate and even recorded their perspiration levels. 

The two girls, Keke and Gabby along with Holmes responded on the symptoms of stress and anxiety.

Nancy Colier, a psychotherapist focused on the fact that the long-term risk of anxiety is still a mystery; a largely unknown fact.

Causes

Researchers and scientist are still in dilemma what brings on anxiety disorders. Like many other forms of mental illnesses, it is basically involved in some changes in the brain, environmental fluctuations, and even your genes.

Some causes are:

1. Drugs

Anxiety and depression have a direct relation with alcohol and drug abuse. Prolonged use of alcohol has a persistence effect of anxiety in some individual.

Use of caffeine, alcohol, and benzodiazepine can worsen or cause anxiety and panic attacks.

2. Medical conditions

The anxiety disorder may be a side-effect of an underlying endocrine disease in a rare case. It causes nervous system hyperactivity, such as pheochromocytoma or hyperthyroidism.

3. Stress

Anxiety arises as a response to several life disasters such as financial crisis, prolonged illness or chronic physical illness.

It is most prevalent among the adolescents and young adults due to stresses of social interaction, evaluation, and body image. It is also common among older people who have dementia.

4. Genetics

Sometimes, anxiety disorders are involved with some genetic factors. People with such disorders have highly sensitive; hence' they show over reactions in some minor events.

Hence the environment around the victim should be aware of these causes and keep them under supervision and care.

Symptoms

All anxiety disorders share these general symptoms mentioned below:

• Panic, fear, and uneasiness
• Sleep problems
• Not being able to stay calm and still; for even a short time duration
• Heart palpitations
• Dry mouth
• Nausea
• Tense muscles
• Dizziness
• Shortness of breath
• Cold, sweaty, numb or tingling hands or feet

Diagnosis

No lab test can specifically diagnose the cause hence the above-mentioned symptoms play a key role in diagnosis.

The doctor will examine you and will ask some questions on your medical history. If no medical reason for the cause is detected, the doctor may send you to a psychiatrist, psychologist, or some other mental health specialist.

They will ask some questions and use some equipment to test the disorder.

Treatments

• Medication: Several antidepressants can work for anxiety disorders. They include escitalopram (Lexapro) and fluoxetine (Prozac). Anxiolytics like alprazolam (Xanax) and clonazepam (Klonopin) also helps in lowering anxiety.
• Psychotherapy: This is a method to address the mental status in association with the emotional response. The mental health specialist helps you in dealing with your anxiety and ways to cope up with it.

For more updates and health related articles visit our official page.