Almost every one in the UK has suffered from some form of anxiety within their lives, of differing severities. For some, this may be when giving a speech, for others it could be simply talking to a friend. No matter the severity, anxiety is a severe mental health issue which when ignored and lead to health complications.
Anxiety is most commonly used to describe feelings of discomfort and uneasiness. It is induced by the bodies flight or fight response which is triggered in stressful situations, it releases cortisol. This excess of hormones and adrenaline leads to the uneasy and sickening feeling that accompanies anxiety as we are not making use of the hormone.
Anxiety disorder can affect mental health and is usually accompanied by:
- Feelings of panic, fear, and uneasiness.
- Panic attacks
- Problems sleeping.
- Cold or sweaty hands or feet.
- Shortness of breath.
- Heart palpitations.
- Not being able to be still and calm.
- Dry mouth.
- Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet.
Generalised anxiety disorder is most commonly observed, it is a long-term condition that causes you to feel anxious about a wide range of situations and issues, rather than one specific event.
There are number of different causes of anxiety, which include:
- Overactivity in certain areas of the brain.
- Imbalance in hormones.
- Genetic conditions.
- Having a history of traumatic experiences, especially in childhood.
- Having a history of drug, alcohol abuse.
Treatment is generally varied, but can include:
- Psychological therapy.
- Medication, e.g. antidepressants.
- Exercising regularly.
- Stopping smoking.
- Cutting down on the amount of alcohol and caffeine you drink.