Nigeria Health & Lifstyle

MANAGING ANXIETY

Anxiety, worry and stress are all part of most people's lives today. However, simply experiencing anxiety in itself does not mean you need to get professional help or you have an anxiety disorder. In fact, anxiety is a necessary warning signal of a dangerous or difficult situation. Without anxiety, we would have no way of anticipating difficulties ahead and preparing for them. It is normal to experience some form of anxiety at certain times of lives, perhaps before important events such as a job interview.

Anxiety disorders
Anxiety becomes a disorder when the symptoms become chronic and interfere with our daily lives and our ability to function. People suffering from chronic anxiety often report symptoms such as muscle tension, physical weakness, poor memory, sweaty hands, fear or confusion, inability to relax, constant worry, shortness of breath, poor concentration and more.

Here are some of the different forms of anxiety disorders.
Anxiety disorders are real, serious but treatable. Majority of the people with anxiety disorder can be helped with professional medical care.



Types of anxiety disorders
* Social Anxiety Disorder: You often get very nervous around other people. It feels like everyone is watching you and judging you. Social anxiety disorder can happen to anyone. Often it starts in the mid-teen years.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): This occurs if you have lived through, seen or heard about a horrible or traumatic event that made you feel scared, helpless or shocked. It can happen to anyone after a serious trauma. The signs of PTSD might not appear right away. In some cases, they show up months or years later.

Panic Disorder: This occurs when you suffer from sudden feelings of extreme terror. These are called "panic attacks." They could happen at any time. This can make you afraid to leave home. Anyone can have panic disorder. Sometimes it runs in families.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): This type of disorder occurs when you are overwhelmed by disturbing thoughts you can't control. These are called obsessions. To get rid of these thoughts, you might do certain things over and over again. OCD can happen to anyone. OCD starts earlier in boys than in girls. In adults, men and women are affected in equal numbers. Sometimes OCD runs in families.

Tips for Managing Anxiety
Control your worry, learn ways to relax, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, avoid alcohol and drug abuse, confront the things that have made you anxious in the past, take the fast track to relaxation and meditation.