Anxiety and depression are the most common mental illnesses affecting millions of lives globally. According to a survey of WHO, nearly 264 million adults are suffering from anxiety. Women are two times more prone to anxiety disorder as compared to men. People often seek treatment for anxiety disorder because of the associated physical and psychological symptoms. We all feel anxious from time to time but having anxiety disorder requires special attention.
Anxiety versus anxiety disorder
Everyone experiences anxiety when they try to step out of their comfort box. You may have experienced high heartbeat, sweating, and fear before an important job interview. It is simply an anxious state. However, anxiety disorder is a full-blown mental illness. People with anxiety disorder have a shallow quality of life. They fear and avoid the social interaction and activities that make them uncomfortable. Anxiety disorder is treatable but requires a professional approach.
Symptoms of anxiety disorder:
Anxiety disorder involves various symptoms that affect a person’s physical, mental, and behavioural wellbeing. It is hard to diagnose a person based on a single sign. Anxiety counselling in Calgary involves questioning your physical and mental health to establish a proper diagnosis of anxiety disorder. That is why symptoms of anxiety are divided into physical, mental, and behavioural ones:
Physical symptoms:
People with anxiety disorder often complain about physical symptoms that have no solid medical origin. These physical symptoms are triggered because of the restless state of mind and body. Anxiety disorder triggers a sympathetic nervous response in patients that lead to fight and flight reactions from the body. The physical symptoms of anxiety disorder are:
- Dryness of mouth
- Excessive sweating
- Plapations and racing heartbeat
- Feeling of nausea
- Unusual numbness in feet and hand
- Increased muscle tension
- Blurry vision
- Disoriented walking
- Difficulty in breathing
- Shivering and tremors
In severe cases, a person with anxiety disorder can experience a sudden collapse and jaw locking.
Mental symptoms:
Along with physical symptoms, people with an anxiety disorder also show mental symptoms. They feel very uncomfortable in situations that trigger anxiety in them. These patients have a poor quality of life, and the main reason behind it is the disturbed mental state. Following are the common mental/psychological symptoms in patients suffering from anxiety disorder:
- Feeling of fear
- Panic responses
- Uneasiness in a given situation
- Disturbed sleep patterns
- Vivid dreams
- Flashbacks of traumatized events
- Obsessive behaviour
- Mood agitation and anger
- Fear of getting socialized
- Phobias
In severe cases, patients with anxiety disorder suffer from suicidal thoughts. They can attempt suicide if things are not controlled.
Behavioural symptoms:
Anxiety disorder harms the overall behaviour of a person. Their stress coping mechanisms are severely disturbed. People often seek anxiety counselling in Calgary because of their behavioural issues associated with anxiety disorder. Following are the behavioural symptoms of anxiety disorder:
- Timid personality
- Avoidance of limelight and attention
- Disoriented behaviour
- Difficulty in making or keeping friends
- Avoidance of public or official meetings
- Obsessive and restless personality
Treatment of anxiety disorder:
The treatment of anxiety disorder depends upon the severity and associated illnesses. Following are the most common treatment options for an anxiety disorder:
1. Psychological counselling:
The first-line treatment of anxiety disorder is psychological counselling. It is a mental disorder, and that is why you must seek anxiety counselling in Calgary before trying medication. The success rate of psychological counselling in managing anxiety disorders is reasonably high.
2. Cognitive behavioural therapy:
This therapy is a part of psychological counselling. The specialized approach of CBT is to change the behavioural pattern of the patients towards the situations that trigger anxiety in them. Counselling in Calgary for anxiety disorder especially incorporates CBT for successful treatment outcomes.
3. Medications:
In severe cases, medications are prescribed to reduce mental hyperactivity in patients. Medicines incorporate antidepressants, drugs for heart and blood pressure, and specific anti-anxiety drugs.
We often experience anxiety in uncomfortable situations. Anxiety disorder is a proper mental illness that triggers mental, physical, and behavioural symptoms in patients. Anxiety disorder treatment involves psychotherapy, CBT, and medication. You must seek anxiety counselling in Calgary before you try medications because, in most cases, counselling alone can effectively control the symptoms.