Anxiety
by Peter Antonenko - Psychologist
What is anxiety?
It’s the body’s response to prepare it to meet certain dangers or situations that they are faced with. Back in time when there was so much danger around, it was either the quick or the dead. How quickly the body adjusted to the threat depended on whether you lived or died.
Basically, anxiety is the way the body is activated to either fight or flee from a confrontation. Therefore the heart beat is raised, the muscles tense and the stomach juices respond to what’s in your stomach along with a number of bodily reactions. Some anxiety is advantageous when we wish to enhance our performance, such as when we are competing, as there are times when we want the body and mind to be at peak level.
Nowadays, we are not constantly under physical threat, however, the same mechanisms remain in the human body and respond when we are faced with an unpleasant situation or perceived situation. Thus, those mechanisms which served to save us from a threatening situation can now work against us. Now it is not suggested that we should not be concerned about certain events but rather how much anxiety we experience compared to the event. If the anxiety is starting to control your life and reduce your quality of life then there is a need to take some preventative measures. At times we become anxious about being anxious and it becomes a spiral, getting progressively worse and debilitating with no answers in sight.
What are the symptoms of Anxiety?
Symptoms may include but are not limited to:
Dry mouth
Dizziness/fainting
Sweating/hot or cold flushes
Tremors
Increased heart rate
Upset stomach
Chest pain
Loose bowel/urge to urinate
Breathing difficulties (choking sensation)
What are some types of Anxiety?
Panic Attacks and Avoidance Behaviour - An intense fear or discomfort lasting several minutes. This type of anxiety is quite common with around 30% of adults experiencing at least one episode in their lifetime.
Social Anxiety - Fears about appearing silly, inappropriate or idiotic around or observed by others. This may manifest when performing in front of others, eating in public, and it can lead to avoidance at work or social situations. It is essentially the act of worrying about our appearance and thinking that others may be judging us.
Situational Anxiety - This arises during exposure to specific stimuli, for example, the fear of flying, dark places or blood contamination. Those who suffer from this type of anxiety avoid any association to the triggers to avoid inducing panic attacks.