Nervousness
Anxiety disorders are the most common of emotional disorders, annually affecting more
than 20 million Americans (approximately one in nine). Symptoms of anxiety disorders can
include:
Anxiety disorders differ from normal feelings of nervousness, as the symptoms often
occur for no apparent reason and do not go away. Rather than functioning as a call to
action, these alarming reactions can make everyday experiences sources of potential
terror. If left untreated, anxiety disorders can propel people to take extreme measures
(such as refusing to leave the house) to avoid situations that may trigger or worsen their
anxiety. Job performance and personal relationships inevitably suffer as a result.
The anxiety disorders are the most common, or frequently occurring, mental disorders.
They encompass a group of conditions that share extreme or pathological anxiety as the
principal disturbance of mood or emotional tone. Anxiety, which may be understood as the
pathological counterpart of normal fear, is manifest by disturbances of mood, as well as
of thinking, behavior, and physiological activity.
Scientists have learned a great deal more about the workings of the brain as a result
of their investigations into how psycho- therapeutic medications relieve disorders such as
psychosis, depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, and panic disorder.
Just as aspirin can reduce a fever without clearing up the infection that causes it,
psychotherapeutic medications act by controlling symptoms. Like most drugs used in
medicine, they correct or compensate for some malfunction in the body. Psychotherapeutic
medications do not cure mental illness, but they do lessen its burden. In many cases,
these medications can help a person get on with life despite some continuing mental pain
and difficulty coping with problems.
Anxiety is often manageable and mild. But sometimes it can present serious problems. A
high level or prolonged state of anxiety can be very incapacitating, making the activities
of daily life difficult or impossible. Besides generalized anxiety, other anxiety
disorders are panic, phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and posttraumatic stress
disorder.
The core symptom of panic disorder is the panic attack, an overwhelming fear of being
in danger, during which the individual may experience:
Because these attacks occur unexpectedly and seemingly without reason, people with
panic disorder often first believe that they are having a heart attack.
Phobias, which are persistent, irrational fears and are characterized by avoidance of
certain objects, places, and things, sometimes accompany anxiety. A panic attack is a
severe form of anxiety that may occur suddenly and is marked with symptoms of nervousness,
breathlessness, pounding heart, and sweating. Sometimes the fear that one may die is
present.
The secret to achieving true calm, without drugs, is with practice. Nervous people have
a tendency to take short shallows breaths, concentrate on breathing slowly and deeply.
Anxiety disorders are the most common of emotional disorders, annually affecting more
than 20 million Americans (approximately one in nine). Symptoms of anxiety disorders can
include:
- Overwhelming feelings of panic and fear
- Uncontrollable obsessive thoughts
- Painful, intrusive memories; recurring nightmares
- Nausea, sweating, muscle tension, and other uncomfortable physical reactions
Anxiety disorders differ from normal feelings of nervousness, as the symptoms often
occur for no apparent reason and do not go away. Rather than functioning as a call to
action, these alarming reactions can make everyday experiences sources of potential
terror. If left untreated, anxiety disorders can propel people to take extreme measures
(such as refusing to leave the house) to avoid situations that may trigger or worsen their
anxiety. Job performance and personal relationships inevitably suffer as a result.
The anxiety disorders are the most common, or frequently occurring, mental disorders.
They encompass a group of conditions that share extreme or pathological anxiety as the
principal disturbance of mood or emotional tone. Anxiety, which may be understood as the
pathological counterpart of normal fear, is manifest by disturbances of mood, as well as
of thinking, behavior, and physiological activity.
Scientists have learned a great deal more about the workings of the brain as a result
of their investigations into how psycho- therapeutic medications relieve disorders such as
psychosis, depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, and panic disorder.
Just as aspirin can reduce a fever without clearing up the infection that causes it,
psychotherapeutic medications act by controlling symptoms. Like most drugs used in
medicine, they correct or compensate for some malfunction in the body. Psychotherapeutic
medications do not cure mental illness, but they do lessen its burden. In many cases,
these medications can help a person get on with life despite some continuing mental pain
and difficulty coping with problems.
Anxiety is often manageable and mild. But sometimes it can present serious problems. A
high level or prolonged state of anxiety can be very incapacitating, making the activities
of daily life difficult or impossible. Besides generalized anxiety, other anxiety
disorders are panic, phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and posttraumatic stress
disorder.
The core symptom of panic disorder is the panic attack, an overwhelming fear of being
in danger, during which the individual may experience:
- Pounding heart or chest pain
- Sweating, trembling, or shaking
- Shortness of breath or sensation of choking
- Nausea or abdominal pain
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Feeling unreal or disconnected
- Fear of losing control, "going crazy," or dying
- Numbness
- Chills or hot flashes
Because these attacks occur unexpectedly and seemingly without reason, people with
panic disorder often first believe that they are having a heart attack.
Phobias, which are persistent, irrational fears and are characterized by avoidance of
certain objects, places, and things, sometimes accompany anxiety. A panic attack is a
severe form of anxiety that may occur suddenly and is marked with symptoms of nervousness,
breathlessness, pounding heart, and sweating. Sometimes the fear that one may die is
present.
The secret to achieving true calm, without drugs, is with practice. Nervous people have
a tendency to take short shallows breaths, concentrate on breathing slowly and deeply.
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