Common but Deadly: Living With Mild to Extreme Anxiety

Rebecca keeps experiencing situations where she feels like she is out of control. Whether it is at the grocery store, or driving to school, she will suddenly be overtaken by intense feelings and physiological reactions. Rebecca’s heart will start beating rapidly, and her palms become sweaty. Her lungs feel as if their constricting. The urge to escape becomes almost desperate as she thinks to herself, “I need out. Now!” These instances cause Rebecca to become more fearful. She is afraid of the repercussions these instances will have. Will her overwhelming emotions cause future problems for her health or for family? What are these intense moments that are affecting her quality of life? They are known as panic attacks. Panic attacks are a form of anxiety, a common emotion. Anxiety occurs in all of us, and mild amounts, it is healthy. For some, however, anxiety can take the ugly form of anxiety disorders. Because anxiety is so widespread, and potentially dangerous, it is important to understand what it is, how it affects us, and what we can do to cope with it. Anxiety can take many different levels of severity and emerge from many different emotions or attitudes. It can emerge from a fear of a future event, whether that event is real or perceived. Others may feel general uneasiness all the time. No matter what the trigger for anxiety, one detail is key. Anxiety is illogical. Yet, despite this fact, one of anxiety’s most severe effects is common. 1/3 of all 15-35 year olds have at least one panic attack in their lifetime (Hales, Hales 119). What exactly is a panic attack though? A panic attack is when an individual is overcome with a sudden and intense fear. It does not need a specific reason for appearing, and it triggers a severe physical reaction. Panic attacks are no joke, even if at one time people once believed they were just a negative reaction to stress. Researchers have found a greater problem than just “nerves.” Panic attacks may be a sign of a more serious problem than just a person unable to cope with their own stress. They are a sign of an anxiety disorder. For example, patients with social phobia will experience panic attacks and much more severe symptoms. “Recent nationwide surveys that [Epidemiologist Ronald Kessler] has directed, show that people with social phobia are at greater risk of developing severe depression, panic attacks and substance abuse problems. They are also more likely to commit suicide.”(Largest…) It is possible that a misfiring of the brain’s alarm centers causes these attacks (Hales, Hales 119). Social phobia is only one of several types of anxiety disorders. Some of these are Generalized Anxiety disorder, agoraphobia and all other phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, and Post-Traumatic Stress disorder. These disorders are one of the most common mental illnesses. The National Comorbidity survey reports that as many as 25% of Americans may experience an anxiety disorder in their lifetime (Hales, Hales 117). Severity of these disorders can vary. Three factors determine the nature and severity of a disorder. They are biological, psychological (including stress), and behavioral factors. By examining these factors, patterns of symptoms are distinguishable and these symptoms are not limited to the mind. The effects of anxiety do not just affect a person psychologically. Often times, there are serious effects on the physical well-being. Insomnia and somatic concerns are most frequently reported symptoms (Pary, Ray et al.). However, other physiologic symptoms include dizziness, urinary frequency, nausea, muscle tension, indigestion, neck and back pain, fatigue, and headaches. There are other more serious effects such as ulcers, colitis, high blood pressure, heart circulation problems, and severe back problems. (Pary, Ray et al. and Maloney, Kranz 26) These symptoms may vary but anyone with extreme anxiety is at a higher risk for gastrointestinal disease and migraines in a recent study done between 40 million American adults (Barker, Nannan 32). Still, despite the obvious evidence for anxiety in physical symptoms, people still refuse to believe that anxiety is the case. “Because anxiety disorders so frequently involve physical symptoms, victims often believe that this time they really are having a heart attack, a brain tumor, or a stroke. ‘People with panic disorder come in and say, Doc, I feel this or that,’ says psychiatrist Barbara Milrod of Weill Medical College. So the doctor gives them a complete physical and perhaps even says that anxiety is the cause. But they don't believe it…” (Szegedy-Maszak) The risk for disease and other physiological issues are still only half of the problem, and the sufferer often ignores it. The emotional side effects of anxiety may be much more devastating and often times more apparent to the patient. The emotional side to anxiety can cause greater effects than physical ones. Severe anxiety patients are at a significantly higher risk for suicide, suicidal ideation and homicidal ideation (Pary, Ray et al). Because of these higher risks for suicide, and suicidal thoughts, it’s no wonder that depression is often another symptom of anxiety. They often go hand in hand, and many patients will have symptoms of depression and anxiety disorders. Crying, irritability, hostility, and uncooperativeness are both symptoms of both anxiety and depression. There are specific differences between the two however. Mood, age of onset, sleep patterns, slowing down, family history, response to exercise, and other symptoms can mark a difference between diagnosis’s (Hales, Hales 149-150). Some people believe that anxiety is cognitive. Therefore, there are specific cognitive symptoms to anxiety that are often observed. Individuals may experience confusion, perceptual distortion, difficulty concentrating, and an inability to make decisions (Pary, Ray et al). Behavioral psychologists have also put a stake into anxiety by citing symptoms that are specific to their studies. Anxiety patients may experience restlessness, agitation, change in speech patterns, and hyper-vigilance (Pary, Ray et al). Because there is such a vast range of symptoms that any one patients may experience, it is important to seek help for extreme anxiety. For severe anxiety, it is important to seek help in order to cope with the intense feelings. If severe anxiety is not handled correctly or promptly, the risk for suicide increases greatly. Medication has become increasingly popular in recent years. Recently, an experiment on child mediation has been shown to help children reduce their stress, anxiety, and the effects of Attention Deficit Disorder. Mediation has also helped young kids develop a better sense of how to handle stressful situations. “Students who've learned to meditate in school say they've learned to control their emotions before tests and big sporting events, even during fights with parents and siblings, by simply pausing and slowing their breathing. Fourth-grader Vanessa Macademia says the technique relaxes and refreshes her, ‘especially when I'm sad or really mad or just want to destroy some other person.’”(Conis) However, medication is still a popular and effective way to handle anxiety when extreme cases cannot be fixed by techniques such as mediation alone. The most common prescriptions are benzodiapines, tranquilizers, and anti-depressants. Benzodiapines and tranquilizers such as Xanax and Valium are highly addictive. Therefore, neither are used nearly as frequently as anti-depressants. There are two kinds of anti-depressants that are usually prescribed. One is a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, but those medications have strong side effects of fainting spells, heart palpitations, and blurred visions. Individuals taking mono oxidase inhibitors are required to follow a strict diet. The most popularly used medication, are anti-depressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. They have fewer side effects. Popular brands of these are Paxil, Luvox, Effexor, and Serzone (Schrof, Schultz 135-136) Although there are all of these new medications, there are other natural and safe ways to treat the effects of anxiety, severe or mild. Anyone experiencing anxiety can always avoid medication and enter therapy instead. Cognitive-Behavioral therapy can help especially if negative thoughts have become automatic and are a cause of the anxiety (Domar 122). Psychotherapy is also a suggested therapy style. For those with milder anxiety, relaxation techniques are key. Exercises such as progressive muscle relaxation, use of imagery, yoga, meditation, tai chi, and deep breathing are all excellent ways to relieve stress and reduce anxiety. Any activity that can break the train of everyday though is an effective way to escape those “nerves.” Anxiety is a powerful feeling that can affect both our body and mind. It occurs in all of us, and the human body was not made to carry around such stress. Though it is illogical, anxiety must be taken seriously. Therefore, it is vital that one learns proper ways of coping. Hopefully, more people will learn to conquer their harsher emotions and decrease the destructive qualities that anxiety can cause.

Works Cited
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