Anxiety Recognition and Treatment

Feeling anxious is a normal physiological, emotional and psychological response, Click Therapies recognise that this can be a normal reaction, especially if facing something new or something very important that could have a big impact on person's life. However, when the anxiety affects the person’s behaviour and interferes with their ability to function properly, it becomes a problem.

Anxiety is a psychological state that manifests with feelings of concern, worry, or fear. This state affects behaviour as well as the emotional and mental state of a person. It will influence the person’s character, and the way they behave. It can also change the way they see life, disturb their routines and the way they interact with other people, either family or friends.

In simple terms, anxiety is used to describe a state when a person’s reactions go beyond what is considered normal or appropriate to the situation.

Anxiety Disorders

There are many different classifications of anxiety. Here are a few anxiety disorders:

• Panic Attacks – Panic attacks are characterized by a sudden feeling of extreme fear that leads to difficulty in breathing, confusion, dizziness, palpitations, and chills.
• OCD – Obsessive compulsive disorder is characterized by repetitive cycles or rituals. These rituals are performed to relieve feelings of fear that have led them to obsess on certain issues.
• PTSD - Post traumatic stress disorder is a form of anxiety caused by traumatic events that happened in the past and now has a deep effect on the person.
• Phobias - Phobia is defined as an intense yet irrational fear about a specific place, item or situation. This fear is avoided at all costs to avoid having panic attacks. For example, some people may have a fear of heights, spiders or fear of driving or flying.
• GAD - Generalized anxiety disorder is a general fear or concern about many things in life that occur daily. There are often no valid reasons for these concerns, but the anxiety can very often seem as though it cannot be controlled.
• Social Anxiety - Social anxiety disorder is the fear of being embarrassed or ridiculed by other people in social situations. This type of fear will cause the person to keep away from other people and avoid everyday situations that include others.

Treatments

Anxiety medications are available to treat anxiety disorders. Benzodiazepines such as diazepam are the traditional drugs used to treat anxiety. Other medications commonly used in the management of anxiety now are anti-depressants and beta-blockers.

Though effective in providing relief from symptoms of anxiety disorders, these medications do not serve as cures. Also, these medications can have withdrawal symptoms which can be very intense. If a course of medication is begun, medical advice should always be sought before ceasing the treatment.

Common side effects of anxiety medications are headaches, stomach upset, drowsiness and impaired judgment; memory loss, slow reflexes and lack of energy.

Anti-anxiety drugs (Anxiolytics) like benzodiazepines slow down the normal processing of the brain. This will result in sleepiness, uncoordinated movements and often give a foggy feeling. These drugs are metabolized slowly in the body, so prolonged administration will cause over-sedation of the patients and they may appear to be ‘drunk’.

Where possible, to avoid these side effects, Click Therapies recommend the ideal way to manage anxiety is through more natural methods. This can include Online Video Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, this approach has often proven to be more effective than medications since these methods tackle the root of the anxieties as well as the symptoms. Over time this can lead to a reduction of anxiety, as well as desensitisation to the triggers. Individuals can also learn to manage their own anxiety more effectivey through this approach.

To find out how we can help you to manage your anxiety book a Free 15 Minute Consultation visit: www.clicktherapies.com