Anxiety Overview

Definition

Anxiety is a feeling of apprehension or fear that lingers. The source for this uneasiness is not always known or recognized which adds to the distress: "Everything stresses me out." "I am always worried."

Alternative Names

Feeling uptight; Stress; Tension; Jitteriness; Apprehension

Considerations

Stress is not a disease and is a normal part of everyone's life. Stress in small quantities is good: it makes us more productive. For example, the fear of a bad grade can make the a student study more attentively.

However, too much stress is unhealthy and counterproductive. The same student, if he was recently mugged and or is getting over the sudden death of a friend will not be able to study as well.

Persistent and unrelenting stress is called anxiety.

Anxiety is an emotion often accompanied by various physical symptoms. These can include twitching or trembling, muscle tension, headaches, sweating, dry mouth, or difficulty swallowing. Some people also report dizziness, a rapid or irregular heart rate, increased rate of respiration, diarrhea, or frequent need to urinate when they are anxious. Fatigue, irritable mood, sleeping difficulties, decreased concentration, sexual problems, and nightmares are also common.

Sometimes a medical illness may masquerade as anxiety.

Some people are more sensitive to stress and are more likely to develop anxiety disorders. This can be caused either by genetic predispositions or by previous (particularly early childhood) exposure to certain stresses. Other times it is simply a question of how stressful the current environment is.

Common Causes

• actual danger: very often stress is an appropriate reaction
  
• emotional stress such as grief and depression often lead to anxiety
  
• physical stress such as a medical illness
  
• medication side effects
  
• drugs including caffeine, cold remedies (Cough/Cold Combinations - oral), sympathomimetics, decongestants (Antihistamines and Decongestants - oral), bronchodilators, tricyclic antidepressants, and thyroid supplements
  
• withdrawal from drugs (including caffeine and nicotine)
  
• substance abuse or withdrawal (including alcohol)
  
• poor diet (deficiency of Vitamin B12)
  
• hyperventilation syndrome
  
• thyroid problems (hyperthyroid disease mostly)
  
• low blood sugar