What
is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a physiological response to stress. Under
stressful conditions the natural response is fight or
flight response. This response is conditioned in our
body to protect us from dangerous situations. Anxiety is
the transformed form of fight response whereas
depression is the transformed form of fear response.
That is why anxiety is considered a normal response. It
is abnormal or pathological and is labeled as disorder
when it is out of proportion or it is irrational or
without any obvious reason and starts to interfere with
day to day living or alters one’s behaviors or affects
ones performance.
How Many People Suffer
From Anxiety?
All persons experience anxiety in one or another phase
of their lives. Generalized anxiety disorder is a common
chronic disorder that affects twice as many women as men
and can lead to considerable impairment (Brawman-Mintzer
& Lydiard, 1996, 1997).
Symptoms Of Anxiety:
Anxiety manifests on various levels – cognitive,
emotional, behavioral and somatic levels. The feelings
are of fear, worry and apprehension.
Some physical sensations accompany anxiety such as chest
pain or tightness, headache, nausea, palpitation,
shortness of breath and pain in stomach area.
Expectations of a diffuse and certain danger are part of
cognitive change. This dread and panic is a
characteristic of anxiety.
Body prepares itself to meet the threat by emergency
reactions – rise in blood pressure and heart rate,
sweating, diversion of blood flow to muscles, inhibition
of immune system and digestive system. Other noticeable
changes are paleness of skin, trembling or shaking,
sweating and dilation of pupils in eye.
Many times both voluntary and involuntary behavioral
might be there. These behaviors are directed at avoiding
the source of anxiety or at escaping from the stressful
situation.
Types Of Anxiety:
Medically several different types of anxiety disorders
are well recognized. Some of the more important and
widespread ones are discussed here.
GAD or Generalized
Anxiety Disorder:
GAD is the most common form of chronic anxiety. Anxiety
is sufficient to cause impairment of work. Here the long
lasting anxiety is not related with any particular
object or situation. So people are anxious but they
could not speak out clearly about their fear.
Panic Disorder:
Panic disorder is brief but intense attack of anxiety.
It appears like impending doom. Intense fear,
apprehension, shaking and trembling, gasping, confusion
and dizziness are quite embarrassing. According to
American Psychiatric Association, it arises abruptly and
peaks in 10 minutes or less and lasts for a few minutes
to several hours.
Phobias:
Here the person feels intense and irrational fear in
relation with a specific thing or situation or place and
tries to avoid it. The specific nature of the cause of
phobias differ from GAD and panic disorder. The sufferer
knows that this fear is irrational but feels anxiety.
Social Anxiety
Disorder:
People who experience intense fear of being negatively
evaluated see potential of public humiliation, scrutiny
and embarrassment on social occasions and public
performances. It could be the extreme form of stage
fright. Stage fright is a common feeling even in regular
stage performers. But this social phobia makes the
normal social life pervasive and impossible.
Obsessive Compulsive
Disorder:
OCD is a type of anxiety with obsession of thoughts and
compulsion of behavior. Distressing, intrusive and
repetitive thoughts or images are obsessions, even
though they are realized senseless.
Repetitive behaviors that one feels compelled to do are
compulsions and they are done to relieve anxiety.
Post-traumatic Stress
Disorder:
PTSD develops from post-traumatic stress such as rape,
kidnap, murder, hostage and war. The victim or observer
undergoes severe anxiety under situations that remind
the original incidence.
Separation Anxiety:
Separation anxiety is normal in babies and children but
it is also seen in adolescents and adults. It is
inappropriate and overt anxiety over separation from an
attachment figure or person or place.
Modern Medical
Management Of Anxiety:
-
Cognitive behavioral
therapy
-
Lifestyle changes
-
Anxiolytic drugs
-
Antidepressant drugs
Ayurvedic Point Of
View About Anxiety Disorders:
Three subtypes of doshas – Prana vata, Sadhaka pitta and
Tarpaka kapha are responsible for mental and emotional
health primarily.
Their imbalance
predisposes an individual to various types of mental and
emotional disorders.
Bliss Ayurveda Health
Supplements Supporting Anxiety:
Peaceful Mind Tablets:
Peaceful Mind is
a herbo-mineral brain tonic which eases the anxiety and
puts your nerves and mind to rest. The nerves and brain
are nourished so that they are less and less susceptible
to anxiety causing stressful situations. It brings the
co- ordination between are mind, body and consciousness
and increases Satva quality (purity) at the level of
thoughts and emotions.
Other Related Health
Supplements:
Vital Sleep: It is better to take at bed time
when there is problem getting to sleep.
Cardiocare: When palpitation and fearfulness are
there, it is a good
addition with Peaceful mind tablet.
Memohance Syrup: Memohance syrup is a brain and
nervine tonic for children and adults.
Menstrucare Tablet: Menstrucare is good in
anxiety related to menstrual cycle and PMS.
Golden Lady: Golden Lady is a good addition when
anxiety is during menopausal years.
