An anxiety disorder is a serious form of mental illness. Unfortunately mental health/illness is an area of medicine that is somewhat generally downplayed and not given sufficient attention especially in this part of the world. However mental health issues are quite common even here and are not “oyibo people’s sickness” like many of us might be wont to believe. Due to this reason many people with mental health issues try to ignore/ suppress their symptoms or minimise their experiences and this only causes danger in the long run. People with anxiety disorders are likely to suffer from depression, and they also may abuse alcohol and other drugs in an effort to gain relief from their symptoms. Job performance, school work, and personal relationships are usually also affected.
I’ve chosen to start this discussion more as an enlightenment piece to help anyone reading this to at least be able to identify possible symptoms in yourself or someone around you and seek help when needed.
Anxiety is a normal human emotion that everyone experiences from time to time. It is normal to feel anxious, or nervous, when faced certain situations e.g a problem at work, financial troubles, before taking an exam, or even Lagos traffic! (tell me i’m not the only one) It is only considered a disorder when these fears become overwhelming and interfere with normal activities of daily living.
There are several types of anxiety disorders including panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, specific phobias, and generalized anxiety disorder.
Anxiety may start in the mind, but it often manifests itself in the body through physical symptoms.
Symptoms vary depending on the type of anxiety disorder, but general symptoms include:
- Feelings of panic, fear, and uneasiness
- Problems sleeping
- Cold or sweaty hands and/or feet
- Shortness of breath
- Heart palpitations
- An inability to be still and calm
- Dry mouth
- Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
- Nausea
- Muscle tension
- Dizziness
Causes of Anxiety Disorders?
Like most other mental illnesses, the cause of anxiety disorder is not well understood but what is certain is that it is not a result of personal weakness, character flaws, poor upbringing or lack of faith. Studies suggest that many of these disorders are caused by a combination of factors which may include changes in the brain and environmental stress. There is evidence that they may be an inheritance component therefore offspring of parents with such disorders have a higher chance of developing same. Also certain environmental factors — such as a trauma or significant event — may trigger an anxiety disorder in people who have an inherited susceptibility to developing the disorder.
Diagnosing anxiety disorder
There are no lab tests to specifically diagnose anxiety disorders, but if any of the symptoms listed above are persistent, the doctor may use various tests to first rule out physical illness as the cause of the symptoms.
After this the patient may be referred to a psychiatrist or psychologist, or another mental health professional who is specially trained to diagnose and treat mental illnesses. Psychiatrists and psychologists use specially designed interview and assessment tools to evaluate a person for an anxiety disorder.
The diagnosis is made based on the patient’s report of the intensity and duration of symptoms — including any problems with daily functioning caused by the symptoms — and the doctor’s observation of the patient’s attitude and behavior. The doctor then determines if the patient’s symptoms and degree of dysfunction indicate a specific anxiety disorder.
Treatment options for anxiety disorders
Anxiety disorders respond very well to treatment—and often in a relatively short amount of time. The specific treatment approach depends on the type of anxiety disorder and its severity. But in general, most anxiety disorders are treated with behavioral therapy, medication, or some combination of the two.
Some behavioural therapy methods include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy: This is a particular type of psychotherapy which focuses on thoughts and behaviours. It helps the person to recognize and change negative thought patterns and irrational beliefs that lead to feelings of anxiety.
- Exposure therapy: This is therapy that encourages the patient to confront their fears in a safe, controlled environment. The concept is that through repeated exposures to the feared object or situation, either in your imagination or in reality, you gain a greater sense of control and as you face your fear without being harmed, your anxiety gradually diminishes.
- Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy (a type of counseling) addresses the emotional response to mental illness. It is a process in which trained mental health professionals help people by talking through strategies for understanding and dealing with their disorder.
