Anxiety is manifested by worry, stress, or fear. It is a natural response to
stress or danger – one that helps you cope with tense situations and manage
many challenges in your day-to-day life. About 20% of American adults report having
experienced an anxiety problem in the previous year, and 30% of Americans will
experience an anxiety disorder in their lifetime, according to the National
Institute of Mental Health. The trend for the prevalence of anxiety is similar in
India also. These conditions include social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD), agoraphobia, particular phobia, generalized anxiety disorder, and separation
anxiety disorder. Even though it’s common to feel anxious occasionally,
especially before major occasions, an anxiety disorder is something very different.
People who struggle with anxiety disorders may experience overwhelming
anxiety for no apparent reason most of the time or only when certain situations
arise. For instance, while it’s normal to be anxious before a job interview if
you panic and have difficulty breathing, you may be experiencing an anxiety attack.
Health
Your health might be impacted by anxiety disorders in a variety of ways. In
essence, anxiety is a state of constant worry that makes you feel as though you
are in danger. Numerous issues may result from this.
Digestive Problems
Digestion issues, such as nausea, cramping in the stomach,
and diarrhea, are some of the first symptoms of an anxiety condition. Losing
weight could result from losing your appetite. Irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s
disease could get worse if you have an anxiety issue. Previously believed to be
brought on by stress-induced overproduction of stomach acid, ulcers are now
known to be brought on by bacteria. However, persistent anxiety might weaken
your immune system, increasing your risk of developing ulcers.
Neurological Problems
Your sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is overactive when
you have an anxiety problem. Threats cause your sympathetic nervous system,
also known as the “fight or flight” system, to become active. It is
designed to act momentarily and get you out of danger, but when it operates
continuously, it harms your health. The SNS is in charge of some biological
processes, whereas the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), is in charge of
the opposing system. You have more problems resting and recovering from
diseases and injuries when the SNS is underactive. Additionally, you can
experience a lot more muscle tension, which can cause headaches, back
discomfort, and joint pain.
Cardiovascular
Problems
Most people are now aware of the detrimental effects of
stress on the cardiovascular system. Your heart rate and blood pressure rise
when you’re stressed—and when you’re nervous, you’re generally stressed. Your
blood arteries will eventually stiffen, increasing your risk of heart attack
and stroke.
Other Illnesses
As was said before, anxiety causes your SNS to become
active, which has an odd impact on immunity. Your immune system is momentarily
strengthened in order to get ready to battle any infections that could arise
from an injury. On the other hand, it weakens your immune system over time. It
takes a lot of energy to fight infections and repair wounds, and your body
won’t put that energy into those processes unless you have a chance to rest and
recover. However, if you experience persistent anxiety, that moment never
arrives and the maintenance is postponed permanently. You consequently end up
getting sick more frequently.
Quality of Life
Most likely, the biggest impact an anxiety illness can
have on you is on your quality of life. Living in fear, frequently of nothing
in particular, is the essence of having an anxiety disorder. That in and of
itself is unpleasant, but it can also constrain you in other ways. When you are
worried, it is harder to take risks in your personal or professional life, or
in some situations, even to leave your house. Many anxiety sufferers feel
imprisoned. They see things in life they want to do, but their worry prevents
them from really doing them. This could lead to lost income and unrealized
potential.
Since humans are social beings, happiness depends on
having healthy relationships. Unfortunately, relationships are severely harmed by anxiety disorders. Anxiety restricts what you’re
willing to try with your friends because it makes you less willing to try new
things. It might even reduce your desire to make new acquaintances and network.
Ironically, social anxiety is also fueled by the value we place on social
acceptability. Some people simply believe that the risks of rejection are too
great. Instead, they become increasingly worried and socially alienated. Relationships can also be impacted by anxiety disorders in other ways. For instance,
if you have PTSD, you can develop a short fuse and be too
possessive of the individuals you care about. You might become alienated by
this or perhaps get into legal problems.
People with anxiety problems and those with substance use
disorders frequently co-occur. For instance, approximately 20% of those with
social anxiety disorder, approximately 25% of those with OCD, and more than 50% of those with PTSD experience substance use problems. People
who suffer from anxiety disorders frequently seek symptom relief. Many people
discover that drinking provides short-term relief. For anxiety, doctors
frequently use benzodiazepines. Unfortunately, they are very addictive, and
frequent usage for just two weeks can cause dependence. Then, despite
everything, your uneasiness returns. Although an anxiety condition can harm
your health, relationships, and quality of life, it is typically treatable.
Anxiety on a more personal and daily basis can
affect:
1. Your ability to focus
2. Your memory, the ability to remember small things
3. Impacts on your self-esteem4.
4. You can experience night terrors or
nightmares
5. You get more sick than usual, which affects your
immune system
6. It can manifest physically in the form of
body pains, aches, skin breakouts, etc.
7. Changes your speech pattern
8. Unable to stay still, feel restless
Seek medication from Best psychiatrist in India for SSRIs and other
medications like benzodiazepine etc., and seek online consultation with the Best psychologist near me for cognitive
behavioral therapy, or CBT is frequently used in treatment. Most people can
regulate their anxiety and lead much better lives with the correct assistance.
Learn
more about Anxiety and strategies to overcome it, seeking consultation for
emotional challenges with the Best Clinical Psychologists will help
you to understand your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors and enable you to
better understand your emotional trauma, depression, anxiety, stress, and
healthy behavioral skills. You can also meet in the clinic with the best clinical psychologists & parenting coaches at Psychowellness Center, a multi-location clinic at Janakpuri, Dwarka,
Vasant Vihar, Gurgaon, NOIDA, Faridabad, and Delhi NCR.
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Contributed By:- DR (Prof) R K Suri Clinical Psychologist, & Life Coach & Ms Aditi
Bhardwaj, Psychologist