What's Your Stress Meter Today? Is it Anxiety or an Anxiety Disorder?

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By Maureen A. Rafa, BS, RN, PMHBC, Elder Care Coordinator 

What is Anxiety?

It is a condition of agitation and distress and a subjective state of apprehension and uneasiness. It is a response to a vague, distant or unrecognized danger (internal). Anxiety affects one’s whole being: physiological, behavioral, and psychological.

Bodily reactions may include rapid heartbeat, muscle tension, queasiness, dry mouth and/or sweating. Anxiety can sabotage one’s ability to act and interfere with one’s ability to deal with everyday situations.

Anxiety is an inevitable part of life in contemporary society and can be an appropriate response. Anxiety disorders are distinguished from normal anxiety in that they involve a more intense reaction and it lasts longer (months) instead of going away after a stressful incident and may lead to phobias that interfere with one’s life.

Causes of Anxiety

Causes of anxiety include heredity, childhood circumstances, changes in brain chemistry, medical conditions, or short-term triggers. Personality traits that cause or perpetuate it are perfectionism, excessive need for approval, or excessive need for control.

Numerous medical conditions can cause anxiety, including hyper or hypothyroidism, hypoglycemia, congestive heart failure, pulmonary embolism, COPD, inner ear disorders, vitamin B12 deficiency, mitral valve prolapse, and substance abuse.

Types of Anxiety

There are different types of anxiety: panic, agoraphobia, social phobia, generalized, obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other specific phobias. In order to be diagnosed one needs to see a doctor and provide their symptoms, including the length of time one has experienced them.

  • Panic attacks: Diagnosis requires at least 4 symptoms, such as shortness of breath, palpitations, sweating, fear of losing control, or fear of dying.

  • Phobias: The most prevalent phobia is agoraphobia or fear of open spaces. People fear an inability to escape if one has a panic attack. Social phobia involves a fear of embarrassment or humiliation when one is exposed to the scrutiny of others (public speaking).

  • Generalized anxiety disorder: This is a chronic disorder and persists for six months but is not accompanied by panic, phobias, or obsessions. One focuses on stressful life circumstances such as finances, relationships, or health.

  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Obsessions are recurring thoughts that seem senseless but continue to intrude one’s mind. Compulsions are behaviors or rituals that one performs to dispel anxiety such as washing one’s hands repeatedly or checking the stove repeatedly.

  • Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder: Disabling psychological symptoms develop following a traumatic event. Combat soldiers, rape victims, car accidents, or natural disaster survivors are examples of trauma. Symptoms are repetitive, distressing thoughts about the event — nightmares, intense flashbacks, or outbursts of anger. Symptoms must persist for more than a month.

  • Acute Stress: Involves anxiety after a traumatic event but disabling symptoms last less than a month.

Treatment is available. A combination of therapy (CBT Cognitive Behavior Therapy) and medications is effective. Coping strategies such as thought stopping, positive self-talk, physical activity, desensitization, and visualizing a calm scene are helpful and require practice.  In most cases treatment can be outpatient.

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