I’s common to develop anxiety at some point in life. But too much anxiety can be a problem that can disrupts daily functioning. Find out here what causes it and what you can do to feel better.
Anxiety is a persistent feeling of fear or panic. Most people worry about something at some points in life like – money, job interview or exams - but once the difficult situation is over, they feel better and calm down.
If the problem has gone but the feeling of fear or panic stays or gets stronger, that’s when anxiety becomes a problem.
Celebrity vlogger Zoe Sugg, aka Zoella, revealed that she often suffers from anxiety but has added that with professional help she’s learned a lot of techniques that make the condition totally manageable.
Anxiety disorders can have an onset at any age
In the general population-about 3-4% people are affected
Anxiety disorders can be of different types. Of people with Phobias or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders, about 60% are female
The symptoms of anxiety start out the same as just feeling generally anxious but get worse or last longer than they should.
These include:
• Feeling frightened, nervous or panicky all the time
• Difficulty sleeping
• Low appetite
• Lack of concentration
• Tired and irritable
• Palpitations - when your heart feels like its racing
• Dry mouth
• Trembling
• Feeling faint
• Stomach cramps and/or diarrhoea
Having one, some of the above symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean you have anxiety. It’s important to talk a psychiatrist or a general physician to get a full diagnosis.
•Substance abuse
•Suicide
Take the first step – if you think you are affected by anxiety, talk to someone you think can guide you, a psychiatrist or a general physician.
There are two main ways of treating anxiety and they are medication and counseling.
The doctor may prescribe you anti-anxiety medications that reduces worriness.
Medications usually take two to four weeks to start to work so don’t worry if you’re not feeling better straight away.
Anxiety can also be helped with a course of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). It’s a talking therapy where you work with a therapist to help you understand your thoughts and feelings and work through ways to change the way they affect you. You’ll also learn techniques to help you relax.
MATERS Trust envision a Bangladesh where every individual has opportunity to gain optimum mental health and where every individual with a mental health disorder has access to necessary facilities for early identification, treatment and management.
