Apprehension, nervousness and self-doubt all characterize anxiety and it may or may not be due to real life stressors. Some levels of anxiety are experienced by every individual periodically, but when your feelings of worry and dread are overwhelming, unfocused, recurring and not directly associated with a stressful situation, it is regarded as a disorder and can leave you severely impaired. It can slowly start interfering with daily activities and function and you require assistance from a qualified mental health specialist.

Signs of anxiety

The symptoms of anxiety include worried, obsessive and intrusive thoughts, irritability, difficulty concentrating and confusion, despair, frustration and restlessness andpacing. If you are suffering from anxiety, you will feel tensed and may also experience uncomfortable physical sensations such as a racing heartbeat, sweating, nausea, trembling and even difficulty breathing. The sudden and severe onset of these signs often indicates a panic attack. Anxiety can lead to other health issues like insomnia, lightheadedness, digestive problems and headaches. It also causes numerous mental health conditions such as depression, PTSD, compulsions and obsessions and phobias like agoraphobia.

How does it develop?

The environment and the biology of an individual plays an important role in their predisposition to anxiety. In simple terms, it means that anxious behavior can be learned or inherited and sometimes it is both. Unresolved trauma can also give rise to anxiety in some people because you are left in a state of heightened physiological arousal. This means that certain events or experiences can reactivate your old trauma.

Therapy for Anxiety

Anxiety is known to interfere with your sleeping patterns, relationships, work, eating habits and other routine activities, which means you need to get help immediately. It is one of the most common reasons why people go for therapy. Effective therapy can be quite beneficial as it will significantly eliminate or reduce the symptoms associated with anxiety in a relatively short amount of time. This way, you will be able to regain a sense of control and get back to your regular activities. Attending therapy sessions is also a great way for you to pinpoint the source of your anxiety and you can then work on it.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is the most effective in treatment of anxiety because it doesn’t just address the symptoms, but it also identifies and addresses the root cause and is a self-reflective process. It teaches self-soothing techniques that can be used if you suffer from anxiety again.

Medication for Anxiety

Psychotropic medications are specifically designed for treating the symptoms commonly associated with anxiety and they can help you in feeling and functioning better. Anti-depressants such as Lexapro, Zoloft, Prozac and Celexa are commonly used for anxiety treatment. You can also use anti-anxiety medications such as Xanax, Ativan and Klonopin. Apart from these, Etizolam is another effective anti-anxiety medicine that can calm your mind and also help in countering sleeping problems such as insomnia.

As long as you combine the medicines with therapy, you will be able to find a long-term solution for your anxiety and live a healthy life.