Isn't Stress Just Part of Life?
Some degree of anxiety is perfectly normal. We all experience
situations where we may feel fear and apprehension. However, there
are some people who feel anxious even when there is no discernible
cause. In these cases, the anxiety usually becomes overwhelming and
may interfere with the normal functioning of one's life.
People who suffer from a debilitating level of anxiety are
suffering from an anxiety disorder. Negative emotional patterns,
anger, fear, stress and anxiety all contribute to degenerative
illness such as cancer, heart disease etc..
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a normal physical reaction to an internal or external
demand that is placed on your system. The human body reacts
to most stressful situations with the "fight or flight" response
where it is flooded with stress hormones. These hormones make the
heart pump faster, the breathing rate increase, and the muscles
tense up. This is the body's way of gearing up for imminent
physical activity. However, a person who suffers from an anxiety
disorder may experience chronic and recurrent episodes of anxiety
that have no discernible cause. These episodes can last for days,
weeks, or even months. Sometimes, an anxiety disorder may stem from
a definite trigger such as childhood abuse or witnessing the event
of war. But in other situations, hormonal or chemical changes in
the brain or environmental factors cause an anxiety disorder to
develop.
What Causes Anxiety?
There are several parts of the brain that are involved in the
development of anxiety. Scientists have performed research using
brain imaging technologies and neurochemical techniques to discover
the network of interacting events that are responsible for anxiety.
Most of the activity appears to be centered around the amygdala, an
almond-shaped structure deep within the brain. Many researchers
feel that the amygdala acts as a sort of central "hub" that
processes and interprets different signals to and within the brain.
The amygdala controls the storage of emotional memories, therefore,
it may play a central role in the development of anxiety disorders
such as phobias, and post traumatic stress disorder.
The hiccocampus is another area of the brain that is likely to
be involved in anxiety disorders. This part of the brain is
responsible for processing threatening or traumatic stimuli. It
helps to encode information into memories. People who have
undergone severe stress, such as military combat or childhood
abuse, have a smaller hiccocampus than people who have not
experienced such a traumatic event. The smaller size may explain
the fragmented memory, flashbacks, and memory deficits of those who
develop post traumatic stress disorder.
Scientists are using this information to understand more about
anxiety disorders and how they develop. In studies of twins and
family members, researchers have determined that genetics does play
some role in the development of an anxiety disorder. But life
experience is also certainly a factor. Researchers are hoping to
discover how genetics and experience interact in each of the
anxiety disorders. They can then use this information to develop
appropriate methods of prevention and treatment.
The Costs of Anxiety
According to a recent study by the Anxiety Disorder Association
of America, anxiety disorders cost the U.S. more than $42 billion a
year. And more than $22.84 billion is associated with the repeated
use of healthcare services, as those with anxiety disorders seek
relief for symptoms that mimic physical illnesses.
Do I Have An Anxiety Disorder?
The Anxiety Self-Test
1. Do you experience unexpected panic attacks, during which you are
overcome with fear for no apparent reason?
2. Are you preoccupied with thoughts or images that you can't get
out of your mind (such as burning down the house, or being
contaminated by germs)?
3. Do you become terrified in public settings and social settings
involving unfamiliar people?
4. Do you experience shortness of breath or heart palpitations for
no apparent physical reason?
5. Do you spend an excessive amount of time each day doing things
over and over again (for example, hand washing, checking things, or
counting)?
6. Are you terrified at an inappropriate level of a particular
object or situation (such as spiders, heights, water, or
dogs)?
7. Do you feel restless, easily distracted, tense, irritable, and
exhausted?
8. Does your level of anxiety interfere with your daily life?
9. Are you plagued by the memory of a traumatic event such as a car
accident, childhood abuse, or a natural disaster?
10. Have you experienced changes in sleeping or eating
habits?
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