According to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA), more than 40 million adults suffer from anxiety disorders. Anxiety can help us prepare for significant events and protect us from dangers, but when anxiety becomes persistent and overwhelming it can become debilitating, reports the ADAA. Anxiety can range from being a random hiccup in your day to a overwhelming sense that impacts your daily life negatively.
Adult Anxiety
In "Synopsis of Psychiatry," written by Dr. Benjamin Sadock and Dr. Virginia Sadock, anxiety is defined as an apprehension caused by the worry of some internal or external danger. According to the ADAA, anxiety tends to run in families because it is based in your biology, but it can also develop as a result of life events and trauma. Anxiety can manifest in symptoms of fatigue, restlessness, irritability, tension in your muscles, insomnia, sweating and difficulty concentrating, suggests the Mayo Clinic.
Older Adults
Generally, anxiety and the disorders associated with it begin in early to middle adulthood. At times, however, you can become symptomatic after the age of 60, as reported by the Sadocks. They say that phobias are the most common form of anxiety-related disorders in the elderly population and that, at this age, symptoms tend to be masked, but the consequences are just as significant. Another commonly occurring anxiety disorder among the elderly is obsessive compulsive disorder; minor symptoms of which tend to occur prior to your older years, but they increase in display as you age. These symptoms include orderliness, perfectionism, ritualized and inflexible behaviors, say the Sadocks.
Treatment
Treatment for anxiety can include psychotherapy and drug interventions, according to the Sadocks. Cognitive behavior therapy, focused on teaching you specific skills and identifying negative thoughts to replace them with positive ones, is one of the most relied-upon psychotherapies in the treatment of anxiety, reports the Mayo Clinic. Treatment for anxiety as an older adult will be similar to that of treatments offered to other adult groups, but it should take into consideration your current physical health. Generally, medication is a step in the treatment process, but it is important that your medication be tailored to your aging body because--as you age--your body begins to absorb medications differently than it did when you were middle-aged, reports the ADAA. If you feel treatment is a path you want to explore, talk to your doctor about your concerns and options.
Consequences
Anxiety can lead to other problems, such as depression, substance abuse, insomnia, digestive problems, headaches and teeth grinding, reports the Mayo Clinic. Also, adults with feelings of anxiety may begin to feel isolated and alone in their worry and, in turn, cut off beneficial social connections.
Tips
According to the ADAA, you can use strategies to help you cope with feelings of anxiety. These include taking care of your body by eating a balanced diet, getting regular exercise, limiting alcohol and caffeine, making sleep a priority, using humor, accepting your lack of control over everything, staying involved, talking to those you trust, learning what triggers your anxiety, using deep breathing or counting exercises when you feel bouts of anxiety coming on.
References
- Anxiety Disorders Association of America: Tips to Manage Anxiety and Stress
- Anxiety Disorders Association of America: Treatment
- Anxiety Disorders Association of America: Understanding Anxiety
- Mayo Clinic: Generalized Anxiety Disorder Coping and Support
- "Synopsis of Psychiatry;" Benjamin J. Sadock and Virginia A Sadock;" 2003
