What is Anxiety?
It’s a word that we’ve all come to hear about, and it has more than likely affected someone you know at some point, even yourself. We’re all very guilty at one time or another of doing too much, and beating up ourselves, if we feel we are not doing enough. It strikes even those of us who are anxious about even starting something. So, what is Anxiety exactly? Anxiety is a vital part of several different disorders. These include:
• Panic disorder. This means you experience recurring panic feelings at seemingly unexpected times.
• Phobia. This is an excessive fear of a specific object, situation, or activity.
• Social anxiety. Is an extreme fear of being judged by others in social situations or not wanting to be out in public places where there is a lot of people.
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder. This means you have persistent recurring irrational thoughts that lead you to perform specific, repeated behaviours.
• Separation anxiety. This means you have a overwhelming fear from being away from home or your loved ones.
• Illness anxiety. This is anxiety about you health, where you obsess about it unnecessarily. This used to be called hypochondria.
And if that’s not enough to concern us, there are several mental health and medical conditions may feature anxiety as a symptom such as: –
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This usually occurs following a traumatic event.
• Major depressive disorders. This is where a strong relationship exists between its close friend depression and anxiety.
• Chronic disease. When conditions such as diabetes or COPD, Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has been diagnosed, this may result in anxiety symptoms about the individuals long term health and wellbeing.
• Inflammatory conditions. With extended anxiety issues, this can lead to chronic inflammation and diseases such as arthritis.
• Substance use disorders: many people with anxiety may try to self-medicate to help manage their symptoms.
• Chronic pain. Anxiety is often linked to those people experiencing chronic pain disorders.
So that can often lead to a Panic attack. So what is a panic attack?
A panic attack is a feeling of intense fear that comes on suddenly and peaks within 10 to 20 minutes. The initial trigger of the fear can be known or in a lot of cases, quite unknown.
The physical symptoms can mimic a heart attack. So, once someone is having a panic attack, the symptoms could easily get worse if you believe you may be having a heart attack or even experiencing having a mental health emergency.
Another common fear that could exacerbate the panic attack is the fear or embarrassment that you might be judged negatively if you’re having an attack in public.
Panic attacks vary greatly, and symptoms differ among individuals. Additionally, the many symptoms of anxiety don’t happen to everyone, and they certainly change over time.
Common symptoms of a panic attack might include:
• heart racing chest pain • feeling as if you are being choked • intense fear of losing control • feeling of impending doom • sweating, chills, and hot flashes • uncontrollable shaking • irritating sense of numbness and tingling of hands, feet, or face • unpleasant nausea or upset stomach • gasping or shortness of breath • fear of dying
When you experience repeated panic or anxiety attacks, you may could easily then safely presume you have a panic disorder.
So what does all this mean, what actually causes anxiety?
The experts in the field of mental health have debated for years now, and still aren’t quite sure of the exact cause of anxiety.
Though it’s likely that a combination of factors play a big role. The causes of anxiety may include:
• ongoing stress • other debilitating medical issues such as depression or diabetes • history of family anxiety with generalized anxiety disorder • severe environmental concerns, such as child abuse • excessive substance use • medical situations such as surgery or work-related occupational hazards
It is believed that it stems from the areas of the brain responsible for controlling fear and the storing and retrieval of emotional and fear-related memories.
Who is at risk of anxiety disorders?
There are different risk factors which contribute to who might be a risk, such as:
• Personality traits. It can include severe shyness and nervousness in childhood.
• Life history. This includes being exposed to negative or stressful live events where there has been ongoing life situations and no care has been taken to reduce the effects.
• Genetics.
• Other health conditions. Health related issues can make you prone to anxiety.
• Stimulants. Consuming excessive specific substances, and medications can exacerbate the symptoms.
Who can diagnose us, and how do we know we have anxiety?
There is no one single test that can diagnose anxiety. Instead, it often requires a long, drawn-out process of physical examinations, including mental health tests, and even psychological questionnaires.
Some healthcare professionals may conduct a physical exam, including blood or urine tests to rule out unforeseen medical issue that could to the experiences being felt.
So, what can we do about this. What are treatments for anxiety?
One thing that is fast becoming a popular, non-invasive treatment, is hypnosis. This has proven time and time again, to help with anxiety for people of all ages, from young children to teens, and adults.
Hypnotherapy performed by a trusted practitioner is of great value. Beverley de la Harpe is a member of the Australian Hypnotherapy Association and Hypnotherapy Council of Australia.
Other forms of treatment are:-
• Psychotherapy. Therapy can include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and also exposure response prevention.
• Complementary health modalities. Such as mindfulness and yoga, then there are also self-management strategies such as stress management. Hypnotherapy falls in this category. And if you have a health fund and have elected for alternative or complimentary medicine, you may be eligible to claim.
• Medication. Doctors prescribe antianxiety and antidepressant drugs. Meeting with a hypnotherapist or psychologist can assist you in learning tools and strategies to cope with stress and anxiety.
Did you know Hypnosis can help?
To save you going down the medication route or endless sessions of psychotherapy, consider hypnosis and contact Perth Hypnotherapy Solutions today, and Beverley de la Harpe will get back to you to offer solutions to see how hypnosis can assist you or your family in a non-invasive way and get your lives back on track and develop workable anxiety solutions.