Anxiety: A Very Real Threat to a Happy Life

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Anxiety is the most frequently occurring mental health disorder in the United States, according to the US Surgeon General. There are millions of people who are diagnosed with it every year. A small amount of anxiety helps to get us going, but when it becomes more severe, it can be overwhelming. If you start feeling like it's more than it should be, you may want to visit a doctor for a clinical diagnosis. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has estimated that 19 million Americans aged 18 to 54 suffer from anxiety disorder every year.

Fear is generally the basis for anxiety disorders. All of us have felt its tingle before we do something that makes us nervous, such as making a public speech or going out on a first date. When that feeling becomes more constant and starts to invade our daily lives, then it has become a disorder and it's time to get some help.

One of the most familiar and studied forms of anxiety disorder is the panic attack. The patient usually feels his or her heart race and also pain or pressure in the chest. Generalized anxiety disorder is another of the more commonly diagnosed forms. It manifests as constant worry that is beyond normal bounds. Other symptoms include a lengthy event lasting six months or longer, muscle tension, difficulty staying focused on a subject, trouble sleeping, and feeling continuously irritated. Panic attacks don't usually result from general anxiety disorder, but it can still make life difficult. That type of worry is exhausting, takes away interest in one's life, and can cause mood swings. Some other anxiety disorders include social anxiety, obsessive compulsive behavior, various phobias, and post- traumatic stress syndrome.

Diagnosing these disorders is not easy as they incorporate brain functions and there is still a lot to be learned about them. No one in the medical profession has yet learned why a particular person's fear response is amplified so much more than another's. Researchers do know that five neurotransmitters become disturbed in these disorders and medications have been developed to treat them. They include anti-depressants and anti- anxiety drugs.

Thankfully there are a number of options for treating and even curing anxiety disorders. Western medicine relies on medications and psychotherapy. Some people see two practitioners: a psychologist to counsel with, and a psychiatrist for prescription medication. This combination of treatments can be quite effective. Tranquilizers from the class called "benzodiazepines" are often prescribed and often work quite well. Some of these brand names are Xanax, Valium, and Ativan and they help those suffering from panic and anxiety. Most of these aren't to be used for the long-term. Anti-depressants have proven more effective for those with acute anxiety disorders. The best ones seem to be the selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI) s. Some of these are Celexa, Zoloft, Prozac, and Paxil.

There are a number of alternative medicines being practiced today and some people prefer not to take pharmaceuticals. If you are in this category it may take trial and error as well as time and patience to find relief. Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is an approach that zeroes in on the thought processes that cause us to worry. Its goal is to help separate realistic thoughts from those that are overblown. Some other things to try are relaxation training, desensitization, breathing, meditating, acupuncture, homeopathy, and biofeedback. Massage therapy, chiropractics, and just walking can also be of help.

Nansia Ressi is the editor of Pharmacy Lane,
LLP - a guide to pharmaceutical resources on the internet. To read more of Nansia's work, please visit: http://www.pharmacylane.com