Ask people if they have ever felt anxiety and everyone who tells the truth will say 'yes' because everyday experiences cause us anxiety. We get anxious about exams, about work, about relationships, about the health of a relative or friend, about our children starting school, about our young people going off to university and even about our sports team playing their next match. Wherever people get serious about an issue, they are likely to become anxious about current developments and they can feel stress about the outcome of future events.
In these situations, anxiety is a normal human reaction to our unknown future and stress is rooted in the possibility that our future will fall below our expectations. In the short term, we can benefit from anxiety as the adrenalin rush increases our concentration, improves our performance and accelerates our responsiveness.
The feelings, thoughts and behaviours associated with the anxiety usually arise in the short term and they pass relatively quickly: children adapt to school or university, work issues ease, relationships sort themselves out and, in the majority of cases, health concerns are either explained or cured.
There is no suggestion that anxiety and stress should be regarded lightly. They cause concern, distress and tension - and the symptoms of anxiety and stress can themselves generate further anxiety and stress. However if the anxiety persists for more than 6 months, and the feelings, thoughts and behaviours become habitual, we are looking at long term anxiety. This tends to be associated with increased levels of stress where your competence begins to erode and your ability to cope with life becomes less effective.
It is a recognised that about 10% of the population suffer anxiety that is severe or prolonged, which has become a medical condition and which has a detrimental effect on their everyday life. Anxiety disorders include phobias, panic attacks, obsessive compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.
- These conditions can arise from physical illness: for example thyroid problems often create a chemical imbalances that leads to anxiety; alcohol misuse can have side effects that mimic anxiety; and the withdrawal from the long term use of tranquilisers can lead to heightened anxiety and deepened depression.
- Anxiety conditions can also arise from external events: for example sudden death; accidents; loss of employment; and other traumatic events all have natural consequences.
- And the conditions for anxiety can be displaced in time: life events can generate anxiety many years after the shock and the life changes appear to have been overcome and dealt with.
In general, when you recognise that you have severe or prolonged anxiety, your first response should be to discuss it with your doctor. They can check your medical circumstances and address any physical causes of your anxiety. Following your check up, your doctor will refer you to a counsellor or psychotherapist to deal with the feelings, thoughts and behaviours that are maintaining your anxiety and accumulating the stress in your life.
Adrian Pepper counsels people with personal difficulties and life issues - such as depression, anxiety, stress and anger management. You can contact him through Help4You Ltd, through his website at http://www.help4you.ltd.uk or by phone .
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