Anxiety and Stress

All of us have periods of worry, tension, stress or anxiety at some times in our lives. A certain amount stress can be beneficial, but too much may cause mental and physical disease. Reactions to stress can vary enormously and some of these reactions are undesirable. The most frequent undesirable reaction is anxiety. Anxiety can range from a feeling that something unpleasant might happen, to an overwhelming attack of panic.

Symptoms of Stress and anxiety

Some or all of the following symptoms may be present:

• Tiredness and lethargy

• Tenseness, nervousness and irritability

• Nausea, vomiting, frequent passing of urine and diarrhea

• Muscular tension, particularly in the neck or shoulders

• Difficulty in breathing

• A dry mouth

• Sweating

• Dizziness, trembling or shaking

• Difficulty in concentrating

• Difficulty in sleeping

Causes of Stress and Anxiety

Stress is the most common reason for anxiety. Stress at work, marital and family problems, financial insecurity, illness and death can all lead to anxiety. The causes of stress are different at different ages. For example, in young adulthood the sources of stress are often in the marriage or parent-child relationship, at work and in the struggle to achieve financial stability. In the middle years the focus shifts to changing family relationships and problems with ageing parents. In old age the principal causes of stress are retirement and loss of physical strength. Approximate anxiety is marked by justifiable worry, for example, if one’s job is threatened one might be constantly thinking of where else to find work  and be planning steps to find a new position. It causes sufficient stress to send one in search of a constructive solution to the problem. If, however, the dread of job loss is not realistic, then the anxiety breeds more anxiety. This type of anxiousness, which has no identifiable cause, very often impairs a person’s ability to function.

Self-treatment of Stress and Anxiety

• Try to identify the cause of the anxiety.

• Discuss the problem with a close friend or relative. Confiding in others sometimes relieves stress.

• Regular physical exercise is always helpful. A brisk half-hour walk has been shown to reduce muscular tension as much as some tranquilizers do.

• Some herbal teas also have a relaxing effect – try chamomile, passiflora or peppermint.

• Learn to relax. Ten minutes of quiet meditation slows the pulse and breathing rate, and reverses many of the natural stress responses in the body.

• Act rather than react. When something has upset you, step back from what is bothering you and define exactly what the cause of your stress is. Determine the source of the frustration and then calmly decide on a constructive plan of action. Try to minimize the number of new and challenging situations you are taking on – both at home and at work.

When to consult a doctor about your Stress condition

Consultation and examination by a doctor is usually necessary if the anxiety becomes so severe that you feel you can no longer cope with everyday life or if physical symptoms develop.

What the doctor might do about your Stress Condition

Your doctor may start off by asking some personal questions and frank, honest answers must be given to help him or her to identify the problem. A short course of an anti-anxiety medicine may be prescribed to help break the vicious circle of anxiety. Prolonged treatment with tranquilizers is no longer recommended, however, because of the risk of dependence. Your doctor may also prescribe a beta-blocker to ease physical symptoms such as sweating and palpitations. If symptoms are severe or persist, psychotherapy may be recommended to help you deal with your anxiety.

Questions to ask the doctor

• If your doctor has prescribed medicine for your anxiety, you should ask the following questions:

• For how long should I take the medicine?

• Are there any side effects?

• Can I drink alcohol or take other pills at the same time as the tranquilizer?

• Can I take the prescribed pills only when I feel I need them?