Understanding anxiety and panic attacks in proper perscpective is the first step towards treatmen. Among the best coping mechanisms for anxiety is to understand the beast itself. Dr.Thevar, a India based doctor while speaking to Indian express newspaper argues that anxiety is not all that bad and there are certain fallacies around it. He cites a few reasons for it to be considered in a positive light.
Understanding anxiety and panic attacks better
Let’s delve into a better understanding of anxiety and panic attacks:
Anxiety:
Anxiety is a normal and adaptive response to stress or perceived threats. It’s a feeling of unease, worry, or fear about future events, and it can range from mild to severe. Anxiety becomes problematic when it’s persistent, overwhelming, and interferes with daily life. There are different types of anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder, specific phobias, and more.
Symptoms of Anxiety:
Anxiety can manifest with both emotional and physical symptoms. Emotional symptoms include excessive worry, restlessness, irritability, difficulty concentrating, and a sense of impending doom. Physical symptoms might include a racing heart, shortness of breath, muscle tension, trembling, sweating, gastrointestinal discomfort, and fatigue.
Panic Attacks:
Panic attacks are sudden and intense episodes of extreme fear and discomfort. They often come on suddenly and peak within minutes. Panic attacks can be accompanied by physical sensations that might feel life-threatening, such as a racing or pounding heart, chest pain, dizziness, nausea, and a feeling of being out of control. People who experience panic attacks might also have a fear of having more attacks, which can lead to avoidance behavior.
Panic Disorder:
Panic disorder is a specific type of anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent panic attacks. People with panic disorder often worry about when the next attack will occur and may change their behavior to avoid situations that they fear might trigger an attack. This avoidance can lead to limitations in their daily life and activities.
Causes:
Anxiety and panic disorders can have multiple causes, including genetics, brain chemistry, personality traits, life experiences, and environmental factors. Traumatic events, chronic stress, and a family history of anxiety can increase the risk of developing these conditions.
Treatment options:
Both anxiety and panic disorders are treatable. Treatment approaches include:
1. Therapy: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a common approach. It helps individuals identify and challenge distorted thought patterns and develop healthier coping strategies.
2. Medications: Antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications can be prescribed to manage symptoms. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are often used.
3. Lifestyle Changes: Engaging in regular physical activity, maintaining a balanced diet, practicing relaxation techniques (such as deep breathing or meditation), and getting sufficient sleep can all contribute to managing anxiety.
4. Exposure Therapy: For panic disorder, exposure therapy can help desensitize individuals to the physical sensations associated with panic attacks, reducing their fear response.
5. Support Network: Having a supportive network of friends, family, and possibly support groups can play a significant role in managing anxiety and panic disorders.
Remember that seeking professional help is crucial if anxiety or panic symptoms are impacting your quality of life. A mental health professional can provide an accurate diagnosis and develop a tailored treatment plan to address your specific needs.
The positive aspects of Anxiety and panic attacks – How you can make it work in your favour
ANXIETY is not all bad. The adrenaline rush it provides, keeps us alert and safe, and even focused in certain situations. “The starting point of understanding the constructive role anxiety plays is to stop falling for fallacies surrounding it; the most common one be-ing that anxiety is only destructive and detrimental to happiness,” says Bengaluru-based psychotherapist Dr Bhavyesh Thevar. Here are a few reasons why you should treat anxiety as your friend
KEEPS US ALERT The key role of anxiety is to shield us from danger, – which calls for fast action. Anxiety may help us react faster and more effectively than others in an emergency.
BETTER PREPAREDNESS Anxiety drives you to cover all the bases and consider worst-case scenarios, helping you – to be better prepared.
FOSTERS SOCIAL CONNECTIONS One of the hormones released when we are anxious is oxytocin or the love hormone. This promotes social
connectedness.
HELPS IN PROBLEM-SOLVING Because anxious people are always firefighting in their heads, they’re naturally more solution-oriented. Such people make for best researchers, investigators and analysers. Their critical think-_ing capacity helps them solve problems quickly.
HOMEOPATHY REMEDIES FOR ANXIETY & PANIC ATTACKS
