Anxiety: Causes, Types, Symptoms and Treatment
March 12, 2010

Dealing with anxiety and stress requires anxiety coping skill education. If you need help coping with anxiety read here.

Everyone has a little anxiety in their life. Whether you're experiencing a specific phobia like glossophobia or agoraphobia, or just having issues with the general stress of everyday life, there are as many ways of coping with anxiety as there are kinds of anxiety. With the proper support structure and with the proper course of treatment, anyone can start coping with anxiety, and can eventually find themselves free from the majority of their issues.

Causes and types of Anxiety

There are two main types of anxiety. The kind that you can deal with, and the kind that has worsened to the point that it actually has an effect on you, and on your quality of life. The first can be dealt with through support groups that can help you deal with the specific things that are causing you anxiety, or can be dealt with on your own. The second requires a little more work to help you when you're coping with Anxiety. The first thing to do, though, is to establish which of these two types it is, and then to decide what the cause is.

There are lots of external causes for anxiety, and the something you should do to help you while you start coping with anxiety is finding out if an external cause caused yours. Sometimes it can be a single traumatic event in you past, sometimes it can be a vague sensation that something is going to go wrong, but if there is an external cause to your anxiety then you should attempt to deal with that. Sometimes, though, there is no obvious external cause for anxiety reactions to life.

Scientists are still studying what causes anxiety in people with no identifiable past trauma to point to as cause. Some preliminary research indicates that some of the patients with deep-seated, cause-less anxiety may have chemical imbalances in their brain due to synapses not registering neuro-chemicals properly, but there is as yet no concrete evidence. In 2005, a study produced evidence that it may be possible to do a simple blood test to determine the level of certain chemicals in the blood that are thought to contribute to anxiety, however, this study is still relatively new and is the only one of its kind.

Symptoms of Anxiety

Most of the symptoms of anxiety are well-known, if only because everyone has experienced them in some form at some time or another due to anxiety. Common symptoms, for those who don't know, include profuse sweating, 'lump in the throat', palpitations, twitching, dry mouth, chest pain and shortness of breath. It can exist on its own for a patient, or may be part of other medical issues, including other psychological disorders. When linked to a phobia, as opposed to being 'general' anxiety disorder, the symptoms generally only occur in response to specific stimuli.

Treatment of Anxiety

There are groups, such as Toastmasters International, that can help you with specific anxieties that have not yet reached a debilitating stage. But when you realize that you need help Coping with Anxiety, it may be time to consult with a qualified mental health professional.

A qualified mental health professional can assess your anxiety, diagnose your psychological issues, and devise a course of treatment that suits you best. When your anxiety reaches a level where you need professional help, get it as soon as possible so there is a chances of getting a full recovery. Having a strong support network also increases your chances of full recovery. Family and friends who understand and are willing to help you as you begin Coping with Anxiety can help your course of treatment immeasurably, making your recovery quicker and more complete.

Treatment may include journaling, therapy, group sessions, or medication. The most common kind of therapy is cognitive-behavioral therapy, where the mental health professional assists the patient in shagging the ways of thinking that were causing the anxiety to begin in the first place, and slowly reintroduce the patient to the situation in a controlled environment to lessen anxiety. Common types of medication include anxiolytics such as Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), as well as tricyclic anti-depressants, though these days those are prescribed less often. With treatment the vast majority (over 90%) of patients end up with a full recovery.

Hope this article helps you in coping with anxiety.

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