"Stepping Stones gives a lot of interaction and helps you get insight into things you may not understand. The program is excellent."
Client of Stepping Stones, outpatient dept of Jennings Senior Care Hospital
What is anxiety?
Anxiety is a feeling of uneasiness, apprehension, or tension you feel in response to a real or perceived threat. Situations that cause distress can create a feeling of anxiety. Some people feel more anxiety than others.
How is it diagnosed and treated?
Anxiety is diagnosed during an interview. Your doctor or therapist will try to identify symptoms associated with anxiety. He or she will ask you about life events, daily activities, and your view of how things are going.
In addition, the doctor will examine you. Lab tests may be done to rule out the possibility of a physical problem as the underlying reason for your anxiety. Possible tests include a complete blood count, blood analysis, thyroid function tests, and urine analysis.
You and your doctor will discuss your symptoms. Then he or she will try to suggest ways to help you deal with anxiety. The doctor will also try to identify circumstances that trigger anxiety. The doctor may refer you to a psychotherapist, a specialist who can help you learn how to deal with anxiety.
If your anxiety is severe or causing panic, your doctor may prescribe a medication to help you cope with the symptoms initially.
To decrease anxiety, it is important to identify and use methods that relieve the symptoms.
How does it occur?
Anxiety can either be mild or so intense that you may feel panic. Normally anxiety is temporary, but when it lasts a long time or occurs in the absence of stress or a threat, it is considered an illness.
Anxiety can be brought on by certain drugs, including alcohol, cocaine, caffeine, certain sedatives, amphetamines, and other drugs that affect the nervous system.
What are the symptoms?
Apprehension/irritability/panic
Impatience/restlessness
Feelings of imminent danger
Inability to relax
Difficulty concentrating
Trouble sleeping
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation
Dry mouth, skin flushing
Lightheadedness, faintness
Muscle tension
Frequent urination
Hyperactivity
Rapid or irregular heartbeat
Sweating, especially in the palms
Shortness of breath
Choking sensation
What can I do to prevent anxiety?
Anxiety may occur when life's demands are greater than your ability to cope with them. Therefore, prevention means improving your coping skills or modifying the demands and expectations in your life.
Mild anxiety can be useful. In the face of danger or a challenging situation anxiety can be helpful. It can help you become more alert. However, anxiety can be harmful because it puts your body and mind in a constant state of excitement, which changes some body functions such as heart rate. Allowing anxiety to continue or to become your main focus doesn't resolve the events in life that cause the anxiety.
Knowing how to lessen anxiety can build emotional strength to cope with life events that cause anxiety. To minimize negative stress that can cause anxiety:
Exercise for 20 minutes, at least three times a week
Change your drinking, eating, and sleeping habits
Find improved ways to cope with stress
Change or eliminate what causes stress
Develop methods of relaxation, like talking with positive-minded people, listening to music, sewing, playing cards, walking, or enjoying hobbies
Learn to use stress management techniques like muscle relaxation exercises, mental imagery, and diaphragmatic breathing
Use positive thoughts to overcome negative ones, such as telling yourself, " I am doing a good job."
Develop and maintain an attitude that things will work out
Seek professional help for dealing with life events that produce stress, and for developing positive ways of coping
Who do I contact for help?
If you would like more information or to schedule a confidential screening, please contact one of our facilities in your area.
