Anxiety

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is an unpleasant emotional state ranging from mild unease to intense fear. A certain amount of anxiety, is normal and serves to improve performance. Anxiety has three major components. Firstly there is a ‘psycho-physiological’ (physical) component, which features symptoms such as palpitations (racing heart) and sweating. Secondly, there is a psychological component characterised by irritability, lack of concentration and feelings of fear. Finally, there may be an interpersonal component featuring an inclination to cling to other people for reassurance.

What causes anxiety and who is at risk?

Everyone experiences anxiety at various stages in their lives. Anxiety may be a condition in itself (primary anxiety), or it may be caused by an underlying psychiatric or physical illness. Thus, it may occur as part of a variety of psychiatric syndromes, including schizophrenia, depression, alcoholism and withdrawal from long-term treatment with drugs such as valium. Generally, anxiety that is caused by an underlying physical illness, certain hormonal conditions for example, improves with treatment of the underlying condition. It is unclear what factors contribute to primary anxiety. Genetic factors may play a role, as may past experiences and current stresses.

What are the common symptoms and complications of anxiety?

Physical manifestations of anxiety may include:

• Racing heart
• Tightness or pain in chest
• Shortness of breath
• Headache
• Tingling in finger tips
• Muscle pains
• Muscle weakness
• Dizziness
• Difficulty in swallowing
• Abdominal discomfort
• Diarrhoea
• Frequent urination

Psychological symptoms include:

• Irritability
• Anger
• Inability to remember
• Inability to concentrate
• Fear of madness
• Fear of impending death
• Feelings of being outside yourself (depersonalisation)
• Feelings of being cut off from reality

Some people experience anxiety symptoms without a clear stimulus or obvious focus: so-called ‘free-floating’ anxiety, which may be intermittent (i.e., coming and going) or persistent. Others have situational anxiety in which the symptoms are clearly related to a particular situation. For example:

• Specific phobias of spiders, snakes or heights
• Agoraphobia — when someone is frightened to leave home unaccompanied and avoids public places
• Social phobia — an extreme form of normal shyness
• Hypochondriasis — a fear of illness

Some people may have panic attacks with feelings of terror, impending doom, breathlessness and chest pain. Tingling in the lips and fingers, and cramps in the hands may occur. Panic attacks may be part of a specific syndrome (eg agoraphobia) or may occur on their own.

How do you recognise anxiety?

There is no specific diagnostic test for anxiety. However, you will want to exclude any underlying physical or psychiatric illness by talking to a professional about your symptoms.

Details on (some) Anxiety Disorders

To learn more about how we can help you become less anxious, contact us