Feeling anxious occasionally is a normal response to stressful situations.
However, chronic, intense and debilitating worry or fear during ordinary situations which interfere with your daily activities and are beyond your control may be a sign of a disorder for which treatments for anxiety should be considered.
Symptoms While signs of anxiety vary among individuals, uncontrollable and chronic worry or fear that is disproportionate to the situation is a common symptom of most anxiety disorders.
Other common symptoms include: • Fatigue • Excessive urination • Twitching • Upset stomach • Muscle tension • Sweating profusely • Insomnia • Palpitations Types of anxiety disorder A professional may conduct a thorough evaluation to identify your specific type of anxiety disorder before determining the right combination of treatments for anxiety.
Depending on the symptoms, your condition may be one of several types of anxiety disorders: general anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety disorder, post traumatic stress disorder or phobia.
Treatments for anxiety Cognitive behavioural therapy Cognitive behavioural therapy is based on the idea that negative thoughts about a situation produce feelings of anxiety, and not the situation itself.
While you may not be able to do much about the situation, you can change your attitude towards it in order to elicit a positive feeling or state of calm.
A therapist will teach you how to substitute negative thoughts or unrealistic perceptions with positive and rational ideas.
Cognitive behavioural therapy has a limited treatment period yet highly effective for the control and management of anxiety disorders.
Exposure therapy If you suffer from a phobia or irrational fear, your psychotherapy treatment may include exposure therapy as well.
In exposure therapy, you will learn how to face your fears in a safe way and under controlled circumstances.
Exposure therapy works by gradually instilling a sense of security as you confront the subject of your fears.
Medication Anti-depressants or beta-blockers may be prescribed to alleviate symptoms such as depression, feelings of doom, and insomnia.
Medication, however, can produce unpleasant side effects including slurred speech, drowsiness, memory loss, dizziness, nausea, hostility, and hallucinations.
Long term use of anti-depressants can also be habit-forming and harmful and should be resorted to when self help strategies and psychotherapy are ineffective.
Self help methods Relaxation techniques Inasmuch as stress may trigger anxiety, relaxation techniques like mindful meditation and breathing, yoga, and visualisation may treat or prevent symptoms of anxiety as well.
Dietary changes Eating carbohydrate-rich foods such as whole grains, pasta and bread can raise serotonin levels which have a calming effect.
Milk, bananas, oats, and nuts which are good sources of a soothing brain chemical called tryptophan also help.
Limit your intake of alcohol and caffeine while drinking plenty of water to fight dehydration which can affect your mood.
The best treatments for anxiety should consist of self help methods, moderate exercise and behavioural therapy.
However, chronic, intense and debilitating worry or fear during ordinary situations which interfere with your daily activities and are beyond your control may be a sign of a disorder for which treatments for anxiety should be considered.
Symptoms While signs of anxiety vary among individuals, uncontrollable and chronic worry or fear that is disproportionate to the situation is a common symptom of most anxiety disorders.
Other common symptoms include: • Fatigue • Excessive urination • Twitching • Upset stomach • Muscle tension • Sweating profusely • Insomnia • Palpitations Types of anxiety disorder A professional may conduct a thorough evaluation to identify your specific type of anxiety disorder before determining the right combination of treatments for anxiety.
Depending on the symptoms, your condition may be one of several types of anxiety disorders: general anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety disorder, post traumatic stress disorder or phobia.
Treatments for anxiety Cognitive behavioural therapy Cognitive behavioural therapy is based on the idea that negative thoughts about a situation produce feelings of anxiety, and not the situation itself.
While you may not be able to do much about the situation, you can change your attitude towards it in order to elicit a positive feeling or state of calm.
A therapist will teach you how to substitute negative thoughts or unrealistic perceptions with positive and rational ideas.
Cognitive behavioural therapy has a limited treatment period yet highly effective for the control and management of anxiety disorders.
Exposure therapy If you suffer from a phobia or irrational fear, your psychotherapy treatment may include exposure therapy as well.
In exposure therapy, you will learn how to face your fears in a safe way and under controlled circumstances.
Exposure therapy works by gradually instilling a sense of security as you confront the subject of your fears.
Medication Anti-depressants or beta-blockers may be prescribed to alleviate symptoms such as depression, feelings of doom, and insomnia.
Medication, however, can produce unpleasant side effects including slurred speech, drowsiness, memory loss, dizziness, nausea, hostility, and hallucinations.
Long term use of anti-depressants can also be habit-forming and harmful and should be resorted to when self help strategies and psychotherapy are ineffective.
Self help methods Relaxation techniques Inasmuch as stress may trigger anxiety, relaxation techniques like mindful meditation and breathing, yoga, and visualisation may treat or prevent symptoms of anxiety as well.
Dietary changes Eating carbohydrate-rich foods such as whole grains, pasta and bread can raise serotonin levels which have a calming effect.
Milk, bananas, oats, and nuts which are good sources of a soothing brain chemical called tryptophan also help.
Limit your intake of alcohol and caffeine while drinking plenty of water to fight dehydration which can affect your mood.
The best treatments for anxiety should consist of self help methods, moderate exercise and behavioural therapy.