Overview of Anxiety
Anxiety is a feeling of nervousness, apprehension, fear or worry. Anxiety disorders are disorders of the nervous system causing unreasonable worry, which is not based on the fact. Anxiety can occur with or without cause. This disorder is accompanied by a variety of physical symptoms related to heart, lung, nervous and gastrointestinal systems. Along withanxiety disorder, there may be other underlying medical and physical illnesses including alcohol and substance abuse, which makes the anxiety symptoms worse. Hence, care should be taken to identify these illnesses before treating.
Anxiety disorders can be categorized into the following types.1
- Anxiety due to a general medical condition
- Substance-induced anxiety disorder
- Generalized anxiety
- Panic disorder
- Acute stress disorder
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Adjustment disorder with anxious features
- Social phobia
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Specific phobias
Epidemiology (Occurence of Anxiety in Different Groups)
Studies have provided information about the occurrence of these disorders. Clinical studies provide the prevalence rates and comorbidity figures from population-based surveys. These studies use different instruments, sampling procedures, case definitions, and time frames for diagnoses and different severity ratings for diagnostic decisions.2
Studies suggest that the elderly are more prone to this disorder. Data on this disorder suggest that different kinds of anxiety disorders affect people who are above the age of 65 years. Studies conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health, indicated that the prevalence of panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and phobias was between 5.7 and 33% in the elderly. Among the psychiatric disorders, phobias are common among elderly men and women.3
Various factors, such as loss of friends and love affairs, failing health, rational decline, feelings of helplessness and worthlessness and loss of control over their surroundings make the elderly people vulnerable to anxiety disorder.
Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety
Signs and symptoms depend on the specific type of anxiety disorder. In general, primary symptoms of anxiety disorder are fear and worry. Signs and symptoms of anxiety disorder can also be based on emotional and physical
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Causes of Anxiety
An interaction between biophysical factors and traumatic situations may cause anxiety disorders. Neurotransmitters of the central nervous system like norepinephrine and serotonin, peptides like corticotropin-releasing factor are the major mediators for the cause of anxiety disorder.
Treatment for Anxiety
Anxiety disorders respond very well to treatment. Most anxiety disorders are treated with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), medication, or a combination of these two.7,8
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Prevention for Anxiety
Living with the Anxiety
To a person with anxiety disorder, everyday is a challenge. During and after the treatment, some of the following may help to minimize the negative feelings.
- Approaching a family member or a friend might be very helpful. If required, a doctor Confidential counseling if required can provide confidential counseling.
- Self-help strategy may contribute to control the symptoms and allow an active participant in the recovery process.
- Reading stories about other people who are living with anxiety disorder will help them to feel less isolated
Written by: Healthplus24 team
Date last updated : July 2, 2011