Anxiety

Anxiety is characterized by symptoms as pervasive nervousness, panic or uneasiness sometimes manifesting as physical symptoms like sweating and a rapid heartbeat.

It is natural to feel anxious especially after witnessing a difficult event as an accident or before an examination or a job interview. Anxiety as a natural response to stress often helps one focus but when that feeling of anxiety is prolonged, extending for over six months and interfering with one’s life, it could signal an anxiety disorder.

When anxiety hinders the ability to function in day-to-day life it signals an anxiety disorder. Anxiety could be a part of several disorders, including panic disorder, phobias, social anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, separation anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.

What can help with anxiety?

Getting enough sleep, meditating, exercising, and avoiding caffeine can help lessen the symptoms of anxiety or help prevent the onset of anxiety. One can use strategies such as stress management, meditation and joining support groups to help one cope with anxiety. However, if the anxiety is persistent and interfering with daily functioning counselling or psychotherapy can help. The therapist or counsellor will generally help you identify and deal with the trigger using certain psychological techniques.

If the symptoms of anxiety are all-pervasive, affecting one’s work, studies and everyday life, causing increased distress or leading to suicidal thoughts, a combination of medication and psychotherapy might be required.