Anxiety

To function in the world some level of tension, alertness and arousal is necessary, to motivate us to accomplish task and to provide a sense of urgency when we need to be active. The ability to plan ahead and to attend to goals and tasks related to work and personal responsibilities is necessary to be able to function effectively in the world.

We also need those systems in our brain to activate and alert us should there be some threat in the environment or the immediate future that we need to be aware of. These are protective systems that are designed to ensure our survival.

For reasons related to genetics, environmental influences, temperament, events in childhood and other factors these systems that are adaptive become hypersensitive or hyper vigilant in a maladaptive way. Sometimes persons obsessively ruminate about “what ifs” or unknowns in the future. They may develop irrational fears about the things like navigating their environment, social situations or health problems. These symptoms can escalate to the point where they feel immobilized, distressed, and unable to function. Often avoidance is used to cope but only serves to perpetuate and sometimes reinforces the fear. To compound the symptoms whether they are excessive or irrational worries, feelings of panic or fear of certain situations, the person becomes preoccupied and fearful of the symptoms, a kind of anxiety about anxiety developing a feedback loop that can have a snowballing effect.

Fortunately treatment has been shown to be effective with cognitive behavioral therapy combined with mindfulness meditative practices and with the application of clinical hypnosis. One of the first goals would be to offset the anxiety about anxiety or the feedback loop. Cognitive behavioral therapy can be used to become aware of faulty beliefs and patterns of thinking that contribute to the way the person responds or reacts to their inner world and the external environment. Clients can learn meditative techniques and self -hypnosis to learn to manage the physical and emotional manifestation of the anxiety. Consequently a person can achieve a feeling of control and mastery over symptoms that before treatment seemed unmanageable and overwhelming.

FAQs

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is an emotional state that varies in intensity and is often accompanied by physical symptoms such as muscle tension, tremors, sweating, heart palpitations or increased pulse rate. Anxiety is a protective reaction modulated by a number of bodily systems triggered by awareness of some real or imagined threat.

What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder?

Generalized Anxiety Disorder is excessive, unrealistic worry and anxiety that lasts six months or more. The anxiety may be focused on everyday issues such as job, money, or health concerns, or the reason for the anxiety may be unclear. Symptoms are chronic and can impair all aspects of a person’s life.

What About Phobias?

Phobias are characterized by fear and anxiety around certain object or situations. The individual fear is exaggerated and is recognized as irrational. The avoidance of common everyday situations like driving and elevators can be especially impairing.

What is Social Phobia?

This condition is significant anxiety provoked by exposure to or the expectation of being in performance or social situations. The anxiety is to the degree that the individual avoids situations to the extent that their life is impaired.

What is Agoraphobia?

Agoraphobia is anxiety about being in places or situations from which escape might be difficult or embarrassing or in which help might not be available in the event of having an unexpected or situational predisposed Panic Attack.

What is a Panic Attack?

A panic attack is a period of intense fear or discomfort in the absence of real danger with symptoms that include palpitations, sweating, trembling or shaking, sensations of shortness of breath or smothering, chest pain and a number of other physical symptoms.

What causes Anxiety, Phobias and Panic Attacks?

Some researchers believe they may be related to a biochemical imbalance in the brain, or their may be a genetic component to some anxiety disorders. Symptoms may be related to learned or conditioned events in childhood or traumatic events from the past. Some phobias may be related to unconscious imprints that have been consciously forgotten. And anxiety may be related to medical difficulties such as thyroid conditions and cardiac arrhythmia. It is important to rule out medical causes or side effects from any substances or medications used. Many medications may cause anxiety and some persons are hypersensitive to substances such as alcohol and caffeine. And even food or environmental allergies may exacerbate existing anxiety. Anxiety may be also be related to other psychological conditions.

How is Anxiety Treated?

A therapist might use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, teaching an individual to identify self defeating thoughts and beliefs and helping to change them. Relaxation therapy might help a person to regulate the physiological symptoms of anxiety with breathing or visualization. Insight-oriented psychotherapy can help an individual become aware of the origin of the anxiety or psychological issues related to it. Clinical hypnosis can potentate or magnify a relaxation response and pair it with certain cues. It can help a person relax at a much deeper level and can also be used to resolve the unconscious conditioning behind symptoms. For phobias an individual might use systematic desensitization, pairing relaxation or hypnosis with the distressing object or situation. And a doctor or psychiatrist can prescribe medication to help manage symptoms.