Anxiety is a feeling of unease. It can range from mild to severe and can include feelings of worry and fear. There are several conditions that can cause severe anxiety including
- Phobias – an extreme or irrational fear of an object, place, situation, feeling or animal
- Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) – a long-term condition that causes excessive anxiety and worry relating to a variety of situations
- Post-traumatic stress disorder – a condition with psychological and physical symptoms caused by distressing or frightening events
Panic Attack
A panic attack occurs when your body experiences a rush of intense psychological (mental) and physical symptoms.
You may experience an overwhelming sense of fear, apprehension and anxiety. As well as these feelings, you may also have physical symptoms such as:
- nausea
- sweating
- trembling
- a sensation that your heart is beating irregularly
The number of panic attacks you have will depend on how severe your condition is. Some people may have one or two attacks each month, while others may have several attacks a week.
Mind body medicine interventions help an individual to cope and manage and live a fully functional and able life . They reduce the dependence on drugs and in some cases people can get off the medication fully.
Generalised anxiety disorder
GAD is a long-term condition. It causes you to feel anxious about a wide range of issues, rather than 1 specific event.
People with GAD feel anxious most days. They often struggle to remember the last time they felt relaxed.
As soon as one anxious thought is resolved, another may appear about a different issue.
Symptoms of generalised anxiety disorder
GAD can cause a change in your behaviour and the way you think and feel about things. It can also cause physical changes. This results in symptoms like:
- restlessness
- a sense of dread
- feeling constantly “on edge”
- difficulty concentrating
- irritability
- dizziness
- tiredness
- a noticeably strong, fast or irregular heartbeat
- muscle aches and tension
- trembling or shaking
- dry mouth
- excessive sweating
- Shortness of breath
- stomach ache
- headache
- pins and needles
- difficulty falling or staying asleep
If you recognise some or most of these symptoms, it is important to seek professional help to prevent further complications.