Facing the Fear: Anxiety Awareness Month

Learn the Signs, Break the Stigma, Support the Journey

In May there is an awareness month for anxiety. The most prevalent mental illness affecting people is anxiety. This is due to the fact that its triggers are experiences that all people must have during their lifetimes. For some it is only temporary. For others even for insignificant reasons it occurs frequently. Whatever it is, we have all experienced anxiety in the past due to uncertain events. 

Background of Anxiety Awareness Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and Anxiety Awareness Month which are both observed concurrently. An entire week of Mental Health Awareness Month is devoted to talking about anxiety, spreading knowledge about it and offering advice on how to deal with it because it’s such a serious problem. The U.S. mental health organization Mental Health America was founded in 1949. S. has been commemorating May as the month of mental health. Educating the public about anxiety and other mental health issues is one of their month-long initiatives. 

Prior to the 19th century anxiety and its subtype anxiety disorder were considered to be uncommon illnesses. Greco-Roman philosophers and physicians on the other hand recognized anxiety as a disorder and a detrimental effect. For instance in one of his books (or books he is credited with writing) Plato documented a case of severe anxiety in a woman. This indicates that anxiety has been a persistent issue since ancient times. The fact that philosophers in antiquity proposed remedies for mental imbalance that are not too dissimilar from the cognitive ones that are currently available provides additional support. 

Even though anxiety has been recognized a few centuries ago it was thought to be a symptom of melancholy rather than a distinct illness. In 1621 Robert Burton published The Anatomy of Melancholy which affirmed this. But anxiety was not recognized as a separate phenomenon until the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As an indication that the illness was being researched separately Sigmund Freud for instance created many of the terms used today to describe different anxiety disorders.

What is Anxiety?

The emotion of fear, tension or worry that arises in reaction to actual or imagined threats is known as anxiety. 

The stress response – also referred to as fight flight or freeze – is triggered when someone feels afraid. This may include behavioral physiological and cognitive changes like an increase in breathing or heart rate. 

Through increased blood flow and oxygen to the muscles this reaction can aid in human escape or avoidance of danger. Nonetheless anxiety can also be triggered by non-dangerous things like

• Significant choices or occasions
• Speaking in front of an audience
• Interpersonal settings

A person’s anxiety does not necessarily indicate a mental health issue. A lot of people experience anxiety from time to time. 

 However anxiety may be an indication of an anxiety disorder if it becomes excessive out of proportion to a situation or continues after the experience has ended. 

The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) estimates that 40 million Americans suffer from an anxiety disorder. It is the most prevalent mental illness in the nation. However treatment is only provided to 36.7% of individuals with anxiety disorders.

Symptoms of Anxiety

Feelings of worry are the primary sign of anxiety. Here are some additional symptoms. 

• Elevated heart rate. 
• Increased respiration. 
• Anger
• Restlessness
• Tightness in the muscles
• Inability to focus
• Difficulty getting to sleep or remaining asleep

A panic attack which is characterized by a strong sense of dread or panic that peaks and then passes can occur in someone who suffers from severe anxiety. These are some possible symptoms. 

• Breathing too quickly (hyperventilation)
• Heartbeat that beats
• Perspiration
• Trembling or trembling
• A sense of helplessness or impending disaster

The type of anxiety a person has will determine how and when these symptoms appear.

Types of Anxiety

There are multiple different types of anxiety disorders listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders: Fifth Edition text revision (DSM-5 TR). 

The DSM-5-TR previously included obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and acute stress disorder under this heading. The handbook no longer lumps these diagnoses together though. 

The following are examples of anxiety disorders. 

• Disorder of generalized anxiety (GAD)

A persistent all-pervasive and non-specific feeling of dread or anxiety is a hallmark of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). It is a general feeling of worry that can impact many facets of daily life rather than a reaction to a stressful event that passes after it is over.

A person with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) may have trouble relaxing or falling asleep and they may worry about a lot of things. 

• Anxiety Disorder

Unexpected panic attacks and frequent panic attacks are common in people with panic disorder. A person might not be aware of the cause or have particular triggers. 

• Phobia that is Targeted

A specific phobia is a fear of a certain thing or circumstance like spiders or heights. Phobias in contrast to other anxiety disorders are centered around a single trigger. 

Despite knowing that their fear is unreasonable or excessive, a person with a phobia may still be unable to control it when they come into contact with the trigger. 

• A Disorder of Social Anxiety

The fear of being negatively judged by others is known as social anxiety. When someone has social anxiety they might think that people are judging everything they do or that interacting with others will make them feel ashamed or degraded. 

A person may only engage in specific forms of social interaction like conversing with strangers as a result of this. 

• Anxiety Disorder Related to Separation

A person who experiences separation anxiety does so after being separated from a person or location that gives them a sense of security like a parent. 

Young children are most likely to experience separation anxiety although it can happen to anyone at any age. 

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Causes of Anxiety

Frequent anxiety is frequently a reaction to worry about the past or uncertainty about the future.

A person might experience anxiety for instance before an exam or worry that they have made a choice they may later come to regret. 

A number of factors can contribute to the more complicated causes of anxiety disorders. Some psychological factors are listed by the UK charity Mind. 

• The current state

Anxiety disorders may develop as a result of life events that lead to persistent stress. Financial difficulties, workplace pressure and discrimination are a few examples. 

• Past Trauma

Events that put a person’s safety in danger either real or imagined are considered traumatic events. Years later people may still be impacted by these incidents even if they occurred a long time ago. 

• The Use of Substances

Anxiety can be brought on by certain substances like stimulant medications. When someone experiences withdrawal from other substances anxiety may result. 

These are a few examples of physical factors. 

• Structure or Function of the Brain

A heightened amygdala response may be present in people with anxiety disorders. The brain region responsible for reacting to danger is the amygdala. Genetics: Anxiety may be inherited in certain individuals. 

• Medical Considerations

Anxiety can occasionally be the result of a medical condition like a neurological disease or a hormone imbalance. It may also be brought on by chronic pain or other symptoms or it may be a side effect of certain medications.

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Preventing Anxiety

Sometimes anxiety cannot be completely avoided. Anxiety is a common emotion for many people during difficult times. 

Building stress resilience however may lessen the risk of anxiety disorders according to research. A 2020 review of past research highlighted several strategies that may help to reduce the risk by affecting a person’s gene activity such as:

• Obtaining regular exercise
• Being mindful
• Living in a loving family setting

However the study is still in its early phases. Other tactics that could be useful are as follows:

• Cutting back on caffeine
• Keeping a wholesome well-balanced diet
• Maintaining a regular sleep schedule
• Steer clear of cannabis alcohol and other recreational substances
• Consulting a medical expert prior to using herbal remedies or over-the-counter medications. 

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