What to know about anxiety？
Anxiety is a common and natural emotion, but it can also manifest physically as trembling and perspiration. Anxiety disorders can negatively impact daily life, but they are often treatable.
What is worry?
The American Psychological Association (APA) defines anxiety as "an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes like increased blood pressure."
The fight-or-flight response is triggered by the release of adrenaline, a hormone and chemical transmitter in the brain, in response to perceived or actual threat.
Sometimes, the duration or intensity of anxiety can be disproportionate to the original stimulus or stressor. In addition, physical symptoms such as elevated blood pressure and vertigo may develop. These responses exceed anxiety and constitute an anxiety disorder.
Symptoms
Symptoms of anxiety include restlessness, uncontrollable emotions of concern, increased irritability, difficulty concentrating, and sleep problems.
Types
Now included among anxiety disorders are the following:
GAD
This disorder is characterized by excessive, long-lasting anxiety and concerns about unspecific life events, objects, and circumstances. GAD is the most prevalent anxiety disorder, and sufferers are not always able to pinpoint the source of their anxiety.
Panic disorder
Panic disorder is characterized by brief or sudden bouts of intense fear and apprehension. These attacks can cause trembling, confusion, vertigo, nausea, and difficulty breathing. Rapid escalation is typical during panic attacks.
Specific dread
This is the avoidance and dread of a specific object or situation. Phobias differ from other anxiety disorders in that they have a specific root cause. A person with a phobia may recognize that their fear is irrational or excessive, but they are unable to control their anxiety in response to the stimulus.
Agoraphobia
This is a dread and avoidance of places, events, or situations from which it may be difficult to escape or from which emergency assistance may not be available. A person with agoraphobia may be afraid to leave their residence, use escalators, or take public transportation.
Selective silence
Some children experience this type of anxiety in which they are unable to communicate in certain locations or situations, despite having outstanding verbal communication skills with familiar people.
Disorder of social phobia
This is the dread of being judged negatively by others in social situations or being embarrassed in public. The symptoms of social anxiety disorder include stage fright, a dread of intimacy, and anxiety regarding humiliation and rejection.
Dissociative anxiety disorder
detachment anxiety disorder is characterized by elevated levels of anxiety after detachment from a person or location that provides feelings of security or protection. Although separation anxiety is most prevalent in young infants, it can affect individuals of all ages.
Summary
Anxiety is not a medical condition, but rather a natural emotion that is essential for survival in dangerous situations. When this reaction becomes exaggerated or out of proportion to the triggering stimulus, an anxiety disorder develops. A balanced diet and an active lifestyle can help keep apprehensive feelings within healthy limits.
資料來源：
Adam Felman (2023), “What to know about anxiety”. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323454