Common Anxiety

Anxiety is intense feelings of fear, worry and hopelessness. Anxiety can disrupt a person’s total being; from the physical to the emotional to the spiritual. Anxiety can become so intense and painful that it can cause emotional and physical paralysis. When this happens it is often referred to as a panic attack. This acute phase of anxiety typically lasts for a few moments or up to twenty or thirty minutes. At the core of anxiety is fear. Each person fears different things. Thus, anxiety triggers are unique to each person. For example: One person is fearful of flying; another of being in a group of people; and another speaking up to assert oneself. The list of potential fears is endless. Even though anxiety can often be traced to a specific cause such as failure at work, fear of death or illness, or relationship breakdown, for many people a cause cannot be determined. As well, after suffering from anxiety for a few weeks, the original “cause” may no longer be the current source for the anxiety. Rather, the memory of past painful experiences of anxiety and panic may now become the feared object.

Panic Attack

When the anxiety is acute it is referred to as a “panic attack.” Panic attacks are the experience of intense anxiety that lead to feelings of losing control of oneself, appearing odd to others or even dying (when there is really no actual danger of doing so). Panic attacks typically occur during periods of chronic anxiety. Panic attacks may be compared to a person that has a cold and suddenly experiences the need to cough repeatedly. Severe coughing can be very debilitating leaving the sufferer out-of-breath, weak and overwhelmed. So too, panic attacks. They can leave the sufferer completely exhausted and feeling terrorized by an unknown source that strikes without warning. Often the fear of a panic attack becomes greater than the fear—known or unknown—that initially caused the anxiety. For some, the burdensome and uncomfortable feelings of anxiety can lead to a feeling of “giving-up.” This feeling of giving-up; may then trigger the emotional state of depression. Often anxiety and depression coexist together.

Anxiety is experienced in many different ways. Here are the four main ones. Typically, most anxiety sufferers experience a combination of all four:

1. Physical Anxiety

• Stomach upset or dizziness
• Frequent urination or diarrhea
• Tremors and twitches
• Muscle tension
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Insomnia

2. Emotional Anxiety

• Feelings of dread
• Difficulty concentrating
• Not trusting oneself
• Wanting to be rescued from the discomfort
• Feeling jumpy
• Anticipating the worst
• Confusion
• Restlessness

3. Spiritual Anxiety

• Giving up hope that it will ever get better
• Anticipating that bad or worse things will happen in the future
• Not trying to resist or find a solution to the anxiety
• Abandoning past strategies that have been used to successfully managed stress (i.e. exercise, prayer, socializing, reading)

4. Panic Anxiety

• Feeling a loss of control
• Fear of going crazy
• Intense terror
• Fear of something major being wrong (when there is actually nothing)
• Feeling shame for being ”out of control”
• Loss of appetite
• Heart palpitations
• Fear of fainting
• Difficult and labored breathing
• Hyperventilation
• Hot flashes

Anxiety Disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S. with 19.1 million (13.3%) of the adult U.S. population (ages 18-54) affected. According to “The Economic Burden of Anxiety Disorders,” a study commissioned by the ADAA and based on data gathered by the association and published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, anxiety disorders cost the U.S. more than $42 billion a year, almost one third of the $148 billion total mental health bill for the U.S. More than $22.84 billion of those costs are associated with the repeated use of health care services, as those with anxiety disorders seek relief for symptoms that mimic physical illnesses. People with an anxiety disorder are 3-5 times more likely to go to the doctor and 6 times more likely to be hospitalized for psychiatric disorders than non-sufferers. [Stats taken from: www.HealthyPlace.com]

Work Anxiety

Tom, together with his father, built up a successful flower importing business. Over time, Tom took more and more responsibility for the day to day operations of his growing business. One day Tom didn’t feel right. He started to focus on himself. He second guessed every business decision he made, he would obsessively over-analyze his interactions with employees and customers and he believed that everyone was aware of his stress. When he returned home at night, Tom remained withdrawn reminiscing about his day at work, worried his family (and they told him so) and found sleeping difficult. After one week of this he was feeling very anxious and dreaded work. After about two weeks he started to experience severe panic attacks. He wondered if he was dying. Fortunately, he had a very good secretary who covered for him when he was completely incapacitated by his anxiety. He began to worry his business would fail and his wife would divorce him.

Father Anxiety

Greg was delighted when his wife told him she was pregnant. Nine months later, his wife gave birth to a healthy boy. After his initial joy of becoming a father, Greg was gripped with intense fear. At first he was baffled as to why he was so nervous and losing sleep. His doctor put him on antidepressant medication. With help, he came to understand that becoming a father to his son, elicited powerful memories of his own difficult childhood with his own father. He wondered if he could be a better father to his son, than his father had been to him. This fear was the source of his anxiety and panic.

Relationship Anxiety

Karen had three children with Eric. Eric was a good provider and responsible. However, over the past few months Eric had been coming home later and later. There were times when he was not available by phone and when Karen asked why, his answer seemed to be just a “cover-up.” Sometimes when home, Eric would get a call and immediately hang-up. With mounting evidence, Karen began to fear Eric was seeing another woman. However, she was afraid to confront him. She couldn’t face the possibility of his answering, “Yes.” Privately, she worried and cried. She was gripped with fear! Eventually, these fears took over and she became functionally paralyzed. She stayed in bed; neglected her young children; cut-off from friends; began smoking; and overate.

Treated

When treated, anxiety can be managed and for some, completely eliminated. The treatment of anxiety is often difficult, since anxiety by definition is an illness of the mind. Since the mind itself needs to learn new coping skills and thought patterns, it may be filled with fear and unable to absorb the desperately required new information needed to reduce the anxiety and reestablish calmness. Medication for some may be needed to create artificial moments of calm so new cognitive skills can be learned. With effective treatment, perseverance and patience; anxiety sufferers can learn effective coping skills and return to a calm state of mind and a life of productivity.

Untreated

When anxiety is not treated it is likely to get worse. Poor coping skills and irrational thoughts, often fully or partially responsible for the anxiety, are reinforced over time when they go unchallenged and allowed free expression. As well, untreated anxiety can also cause depression, which, in and of itself, is difficult to cure.

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