Anxiety is one of the most common ailments one encounters in his or her day-to-day life. Although, most of the anxiety events are mild in character, and need no further treatment once the ailment passes by. However, one should think to consult a health practitioner, if these anxiety events occur frequently and without any associated reasoning.
When to seek medical care:
- When the symptoms are severe
- When the symptoms are interfering with daily life activities
- When the symptoms are occurring often, and without any trifling ailment
- May be associated with depression, or suicidal tendency
Symptoms of anxiety:
- Palpitations
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Sweating
- Suicidal tendency
- Depression
- Low self esteem
- Dizziness
- Pharmacotherapy
- Psychotherapy
Pharmacotherapy:
The drugs such as benzodiazepines, anxiolytics are commonly used for the treatment of anxiety. Beta blockers are also used to reduce the physical symptoms associated with anxiety.
A constant use of anxiolytics for the treatment of anxiety should generally be avoided, as they can cause addiction. Benzodiazepines which are used to treat include Diazepam, Alprazolam, Lorazepam etc.
Other class of drugs called SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) include sertraline, paroxetine, fluoxetine, venlafaxine etc. are also used for the drug treatment of anxiety.
Psychotherapy/Non-drug therapeutic options include:
It is also very useful to identify those trifling events that causes anxiety or other mood symptoms.
- Relaxation techniques: people who experience anxiety symptoms too often, must practice to learn muscle relaxation exercises which include progressive muscle relaxation, meditation, yoga, and isometric relaxation techniques.
- Correct breathing techniques: Anxiety may lead to breathing symptoms due to hyperventilation. So, it is important to learn to develop diaphragmatic breathing than chest breathing to ease the effects of hyperventilation.
- Cognitive therapy: It involves identification of those trifling ailments, fears, and beliefs which cause anxiety symptoms and thereby promoting the necessary changes associated which activate the anxiety symptoms.
- Dietary adjustments: Magnesium helps our muscles to relax, so, its deficiency can cause anxiety, depressive symptoms. Deficiency of vitamin B, and calcium can also lead to anxiety related symptoms. It is therefore important to eat cereals, green vegetables, processed food, low fat products etc., and intake of caffeine should be reduced to minimum.
- Exercise: Physical activity helps to keep anxiety away by reducing the adrenaline level in the blood, and thus inducing relaxation.
- Learning to develop self-confidence
- Building self-esteem: People with anxiety often have low self-esteem, which make them feel depressive, or suicidal. It is therefore important to reduce isolation, feelings of shame and guilt, mood depression to be able to cope with difficulties at personal or social affairs.
Always remember to seek the advice of a doctor before making any decisons.
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