Anxiety is a common emotion also known as the body's natural "fight or flight" response to stressful experiences. Anxiety can be a positive thing that helps you deal with common tense situations, such as preparing for an important presentation, reacting to unexpected danger or tackling a challenging assignment at school or work. Sometimes, feelings of anxiety can become disproportionate to the situation you're facing, and that's when it may be time to seek professional help.
Excessive Anxiety
The Anxiety Disorders Association of America presents a clear line of demarcation between normal anxiety and excessive anxiety. Normal anxiety may involve being nervous before an important test or public speech, worrying about being financially stable and paying the bills, feeling sad after a breakup and being embarrassed in an awkward situation. Excessive anxiety may include chronic worrying about the future, a feeling of doom or a sense that something bad is going to happen, constant avoiding of social situations for fear of being ridiculed, unreasonable fear of a person or place that poses no real threat and engaging in repetitive tasks such as "cleaning, checking, touching and rearranging."
Anxiety Disorders
The National Institute of Mental Health identifies five types of anxiety disorders: generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder and social anxiety disorder. GAD is a chronic condition characterized by excessive worrying, which is usually unwarranted. OCD is characterized by obsessive, recurring thoughts and "repetitive behaviors." PTSD usually arises after an extremely frightening or life-threatening experience. Panic disorder is characterized by feelings of "intense fear" that manifest physical symptoms, particularly chest pains, rapid heartbeat and difficulty breathing. Social anxiety disorder, or social phobia, is characterized by fear arising when a person is around other people.
Causes
Research suggests that anxiety disorders may be genetic and "have a biological basis" similar to other diseases, such as diabetes. Some disorders may also be triggered by traumatic events such as the death of a loved one, combat in a war zone and an abusive childhood. The Anxiety Disorders Association of America lists other risk factors such as brain chemistry, life experiences and genetic makeup.
Treatment
Several treatments are available for people suffering from anxiety disorders. Therapy and medication are among the most popular treatments, but alternative treatments are also available. The most common type of therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, works by altering negative thinking and unhealthy behaviors associated with anxiety. Medications such as benzodiazepines and tricyclic antidepressants work by changing brain chemistry to reduce symptoms. Complementary treatments include learning relaxing breathing techniques and doing yoga. Treatment is most effective when properly customized to fit a person's particular needs.
Considerations
A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine by Dr. Kurt Kroenke shows that approximately 20 percent of people visiting their doctors "have at least one anxiety disorder" and that despite such a high prevalence of the disorder, many sufferers never receive proper treatment. If you feel that your anxiety is excessive and does not fall into the category of "normal," you should consider seeking medical attention. If left untreated, anxiety can worsen and become extremely paralyzing, keeping you from doing normal, everyday activities and enjoying life in general.
