Anxiety

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"Being" Well

“I worry excessively about everything.” “I have a constant sense of impending doom.” “I am easily irritated, tensed, or distracted.” “I have chronic aches and pains.” “I have sudden spells of dizziness or shortness of breath.” The preceding statements are commonly heard from people suffering from anxiety disorders. The recent acts of violence of the U.S. Both nationally and locally have triggered a rise in the number of people experiencing symptoms of anxiety.

For people who have experienced or witnessed trauma, these symptoms are a normal response and will usually subside over time. However, if symptoms persist, worsen, or take control of a person's normal functioning, there are interventions that should be taken.

There are four basic types of anxiety disorders: generalized anxiety, panic depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and obsessive-compulsive stress disorder. Generalized anxiety is characterized by constant, worrisome thoughts, and tension about everyday routine life events and activities. Almost always anticipating the worst even though trembling, muscle tension, headache, or nausea. Panic depression is characterized by repeated episodes of intense fear that strike often and without warning. Physical symptoms include chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, abdominal distress, feelings of unreality, and fear of dying. Post-traumatic stress disorder is characterized by persistent that occur after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event such as a criminal assault, war, child abuse, automobile accidents, and natural or human caused disasters. Nightmares, flashbacks, numbering of emotions, depression, and feeling angry, irritable or distracted and being easily startled are common. Obsessive-com pulse disorder is characterized by repeated, unwanted thoughts or compulsive behaviors that seem impossible to stop or control.

Two clinically-proven effective forms of psychotherapy used to treat anxiety are behavior therapy and cognitive-behavior. Behavior therapy focuses on changing specific therapy actions and uses several techniques to sop unwanted behaviors. Cognitive-behavior therapy teaches patients to understand and change their thinking patterns so that they can react differently to the situations that cause them anxiety. In addition, treatments often combine medication and psychotherapy.