TR
RU
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes 55 seconds
What is Anxiety?
It is normal for all of us to experience some stress in our daily lives, at school or at work. However, when this stress becomes persistent and starts to have a negative impact on one’s daily activities, it can be considered as a disease that may require medical support.
Anxiety, which is characterized by both physical and mental symptoms, is often characterized by intense feelings of worry, fear and tension and can negatively affect a person’s daily life as well as their social and professional life. After this introduction to anxiety, let’s take a closer look at the types of anxiety and what the symptoms are in order to better understand this disorder.
What are the Types of Anxiety (Anxiety Disorders)?
Anxiety disorder is a multidimensional health problem with different types and specific symptoms. Understanding these types can help us deepen our understanding of anxiety. We can list the main types of anxiety disorders as follows:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): This is a type of anxiety that can be described as a person constantly feeling excessive anxiety about many things and not being able to control this anxiety.
- Panic Disorder: This type of anxiety is characterized by panic attacks that occur suddenly and are characterized by a feeling of severe fear and uneasiness.
- Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia): This type of anxiety occurs in social situations and is triggered by the fear of being judged by others or public humiliation.
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): This type of anxiety is characterized by difficulty coping with repetitive thoughts and behaviors.
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Characterized by intense anxiety and stress reactions following a traumatic event.
- Specific Phobias: Excessive fear and avoidance behaviors that are triggered by a specific object, situation or event and occur after these encounters.
Each type of anxiety can have its own symptoms and triggers. Correct identification and treatment of these types is very important to improve one’s quality of life.
What are the Symptoms of Anxiety?
Anxiety symptoms can occur on a mental or physical level. Although these symptoms may vary from person to person, it is still possible to list some common symptoms.
Mental symptoms occur when a person feels as if something bad is going to happen at any moment, has difficulty focusing and struggles with thoughts that they cannot control. People in this situation also have problems in maintaining their daily life in the normal flow due to this feeling of anxiety.
Physical symptoms, on the other hand, include the reflections of anxiety on the body that arise through mental processes. Common physical symptoms include heart palpitations, shortness of breath, muscle tension and tremors, nausea or digestive problems and sleep problems.
What is the difference between anxiety and panic attacks?
You may have come across the terms anxiety and panic attacks being used interchangeably, but despite their similarities, these two problems are actually quite different. Simply put, we use the term anxiety to describe a longer-lasting and recurring state of anxiety. The term panic attack, on the other hand, is suitable for describing situations that occur suddenly and involve intense fear.
Recognizing these two problems and understanding the differences between them is very important for a correct diagnosis and subsequent treatment. For example, we have already mentioned that one of the characteristics of a panic attack is that it occurs suddenly and involves a great deal of fear. In addition, panic attacks are accompanied by physical symptoms such as severe palpitations, shortness of breath and dizziness. A sudden panic attack peaks in a very short period of time and then gradually subsides.
Unlike panic attacks, anxiety lasts for long periods of time and therefore has a negative impact on a person’s daily life. There is no direct two-way causal relationship between these two disorders. For example, a person who has panic attacks may also have anxiety. However, not everyone with anxiety disorder necessarily has panic attack disorder.
What is Good for Anxiety Attacks?
An anxiety attack is a momentary situation in which a person experiences an intense feeling of anxiety and fear and is left alone with the feeling of losing control. During these crises, the following methods can help the person to relax:
- Practicing Breathing Exercises: Deep and slow breathing can help calm the person having an anxiety attack. Breathing deeply through the nose and slowly exhaling through the mouth regulates the heartbeat and gives the person a sense of control again.
- Focusing on the Senses: Trying sensory awareness methods can help a person in crisis to distract themselves from the crisis. For example, exercises such as choosing a few objects around the person, identifying these objects, physically touching them, or smelling a deep odor and concentrating on that smell can help to calm the anxiety crisis by diverting attention.
- Self-Suggestion: During a crisis, it is important to remind oneself that the situation is temporary or to mentally calm oneself with thoughts such as “I am safe right now”. Positive thought suggestions help to overcome the crisis more easily.
- Muscle Relaxation Techniques: This technique, which is applied by tightening and slowly relaxing the muscles, reduces the tension accumulated in the body and provides relaxation.
However, of course, these methods listed above are temporary solutions and are insufficient to solve the problem permanently. In cases where anxiety attacks are frequent and severe, it is best to seek a long-term solution by consulting a specialist.
What are Anxiety Treatment Methods?
Different methods can be used in the treatment of anxiety and the treatment to be preferred is shaped according to the needs of the person. Approaches such as psychotherapy, medication and lifestyle changes are frequently preferred methods in the treatment of anxiety. The aim of these treatments is to alleviate the symptoms of anxiety, to give the person the ability to cope with crises and to support him/her to live a more comfortable life by being less affected by anxiety in his/her daily life.
The main methods used in the treatment of anxiety can be listed as follows:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Medication Therapy
- Mindfulness and Meditation Techniques
- Physical Activity and Healthy Nutrition
Active participation in the treatment process and positive changes in lifestyle can increase the success of the treatment.
Can Anxiety Be Treated Without Medication?
In the treatment of anxiety, if the person’s anxiety continues with very severe anxiety attacks, then medication may be necessary. However, mild and moderate anxiety attacks do not necessarily require medication. In such cases, psychotherapy, lifestyle changes and natural relaxation methods such as meditation, yoga, breathing exercises and muscle relaxation techniques may be preferred.
In addition to these methods, healthy eating habits, reducing caffeine consumption, regular and adequate sleep and regular exercise play an important role in reducing anxiety symptoms. It is possible to control non-severe forms of anxiety with such lifestyle changes and stress management techniques.
How to Support Someone with Anxiety Disorder?
In helping people with anxiety disorders to cope, the support they receive from their environment is just as important as the treatment methods mentioned above. This kind of support from their relatives can make a significant difference in the way people with anxiety disorder manage this disorder. When communicating with people with anxiety disorders, it is very important to empathize with them, to show patience, not to judge them, not to belittle their feelings, and not to humiliate them in public.
It is possible to support someone with an anxiety disorder. When supporting these people, you may want to consider the following issues:
- Listen to them and try to understand them
- Advise them to seek professional support
- Empathize and support his/her daily life
- Stay calm in times of crisis, avoid behaviors that will cause further panic
Remember, a supportive environment is a great source of strength for people with anxiety disorders. Understanding, supporting and guiding them in the right way can have a positive impact on the recovery process of people with anxiety disorders.