Sometimes, feeling worried is okay. We all worry about things like our health, money, or family. But anxiety disorders are different. They’re when the worry doesn’t go away and keeps getting worse. This kind of worry can make it hard to do things like work, school, and be with others.
Overview:
Feeling anxious is normal when we’re stressed. Sometimes, a bit of it can help us notice danger and get ready for things. But when it becomes too much and brings a lot of fear, it’s called an anxiety disorder. These disorders are common, affecting around 30% of adults at some point. But don’t worry, they can be treated with talk therapy.
Anxiety is when you worry about things that might happen in the future. It can make your muscles tense and make you avoid stuff.
Fear is when you’re scared right away because of something happening now. It can make you want to fight or run away.
Anxiety disorders can make you try to stay away from things that make you feel bad. They can mess up how you do at work, school, or with friends. For it to be a disorder, the fear should be too much for the situation and stop you from living normally.
There are different types of anxiety disorders, like feeling anxious about a lot of things (generalized anxiety disorder), having sudden fear with or without avoiding places (panic disorder), or being super scared of certain things (phobias). But remember, there’s help available to make things better.
Different types of anxiety problems are:
- Agoraphobia: This is when you fear and stay away from places or situations that might make you panic. You might feel trapped, helpless, or embarrassed.
- Anxiety due to Health Problems: It can happen because of a physical health issue, and can cause strong anxiety or panic feelings.
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder: You feel a lot of anxiety and worry all the time, even about everyday things. This worry is too much for the situation and is hard to control. It can affect your body and often comes with other problems or depression.
- Panic Disorder: You suddenly feel super anxious and scared, sometimes even feeling like something bad is about to happen. Your heart might race, and you can’t breathe. These panic attacks can make you scared of them happening again.
- Selective Mutism: Kids don’t talk in certain places, like school, even if they can talk at home. This can make it hard to do schoolwork or be around others.
- Separation Anxiety Disorder: Kids feel very anxious when they’re away from parents or those who act like parents.
- Social Anxiety Disorder: You worry a lot about being around people and feel embarrassed or judged. So, you might avoid social situations.
- Specific Phobias: You feel super anxious around certain things, like animals or heights. It makes you feel like staying far away.
- Substance-Induced Disorder: Drugs or toxins can cause strong feelings, and are often addressed by managing the causing substance (s).
- Other Disorders: Some of the problems/ problems don’t fit exactly into these categories but are still tough to deal with.
Remember, there are different types of disorders, and it’s okay to seek help if you’re struggling with any of them.
Symptoms of anxiety:
- Feeling nervous, uneasy, or tense
- Thinking something bad is going to happen
- Heart beating faster than usual
- Breathing quickly (like you just ran)
- Sweating more
- Shaking
- Feeling weak or tired
- Finding it hard to focus or think about anything other than worrying
- Having sleep problems
- Having tummy troubles
- Struggling to stop worrying
- Wanting to stay away from things that make you anxious
What Causes Anxiety?
Doctors aren’t completely sure what makes it happen. It’s likely a combination of various factors. Here are some things that might cause anxiety:
- Stress: When you’re under a lot of pressure, you might start feeling anxious.
- Other Health Problems: Sometimes, things like feeling down (depression) or having a disease like diabetes can also cause the disorder.
- Family History: If someone in your family has anxiety, you might be more likely to get it too.
- Environment: Bad things that happened when you were young or tough situations can also make you anxious.
- Using Substances: Drinking too much coffee, certain things, or some medicines might make your anxiety worse.
- Situations: Things like surgery or dangerous jobs can trigger anxiety too.
Also, experts think that parts of the brain connected to fear and emotions might be involved.
Who Might Get Anxiety Disorders?
Different things make different kinds of disorders more likely. But there are some things that might make it more likely:
- Personality: If you were shy or nervous as a kid, you might have a higher chance of having a disorder.
- Life History: Going through tough or sad stuff in the past can make you more prone to facing disorder.
- Family: If someone in your family has anxiety, you might be more likely to get it too.
- Health Issues: Some health problems like thyroid issues can make you more anxious.
- Caffeine: Drinking lots of coffee or taking certain things can make anxiety worse.
Dealing with Adult Anxiety
When you’re really stressed and anxious, you can try simple and natural ways to feel better. You don’t have to use prescription medicine if you don’t want to. These methods are safe and easy to do every day. They can help lower your anxiety and let you enjoy life more. You can decide what works best for you. Sometimes, you feel okay, and suddenly you can’t breathe properly. Does that sound familiar? That’s an anxiety attack. Your heart races, and tears come to your eyes. This can happen when you’re in a crowded place, for example.
Whether you call it an anxiety or panic attack, the feelings are the same. They often come from deep fear. Some people think hemp oil can help with things like anxiety. But there are other ways to manage stress too. By doing this, you can go to events, have family trips, travel alone or with others, and face things that scare you.
10 Natural Ways to Deal with Adult Anxiety
It can be hard for adults, but getting therapy after being diagnosed can help. Even if you don’t need therapy for a long time, it can teach you how your thoughts affect your disorder. There are books about anxiety therapy that might give you useful ideas. Once you know what triggers your disorder and how you think, you can use these ways to create your own plan to cope.
1. Focus on One Thing:
Practice this technique to help calm yourself. Find something to focus on wherever you are. Think about that thing and use good thoughts to make yourself calm and slow your heart. Keep focusing until the anxiety goes away.
2. Stay Calm:
When anxiety suddenly happens, it can be frustrating because you might not know why. But be patient with yourself. Remember, anxiety is just a part of you. Being patient can help you calm down faster.
3. Relaxation Methods:
Try different ways to relax, like meditation, yoga, or taking a warm bath. These things can help you relax and feel better when anxiety shows up.
4. Take Care of Yourself:
Make sure you get enough sleep, eat balanced meals, and do things you enjoy. This can help lower your overall anxiety.
5. Watch Something Funny:
Laughter can calm you down. Watch something funny every day to keep your mind peaceful. Pick a comedy or something that makes you laugh.
6. Breathe Deeply:
Practice deep breathing when you’re alone. Controlling your breath can help you focus and calm down during anxiety attacks.
7. Try Chamomile Tea:
Chamomile tea calms you. It has things that help you feel relaxed. People use it to sleep better when they feel too anxious.
Learn More…...Herbal Tea
8. Lavender for Calm:
Lavender can calm anxiety. Use lavender-scented detergent and essential oil at home. The smell can make you feel more calm and relaxed.
9. Hold Something:
Keep an item like keys or a stress-relieving ball. Touching it can help you focus away from stress and feel calmer.
10. Face Your Fears:
Lastly, face your fears. Be brave and conquer anxiety. Try to face one fear twice a year. This makes you stronger and anxiety weaker.
Remember, you have choices to manage anxiety naturally in your adult life. There’s help available, and you don’t need to change your lifestyle. There are many products to help adults with anxiety without medicine. Natural supplements can also be good. Ask your doctor for advice on herbal things to manage your anxiety.
There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, but the hope is that these ideas will help you live with anxiety while still enjoying your life.
When to Talk to a Doctor:
It’s a good thing to visit a doctor if:
- You’re worrying too much, and it’s causing problems in your work, relationships, or life.
- Your fear, worry, or anxiety makes you upset and you can’t control it.
- You’re also feeling sad or have problems with alcohol or drugs, or other mental health worries along with anxiety.
- You think your disorder might be connected to a physical health issue.
- You have thoughts of hurting yourself or behaving dangerously. If this happens, make sure to get help immediately. Your worries might not go away by themselves, and they could get worse if you don’t seek help. It’s better to talk to a doctor or mental health professional before your anxiety gets worse. Treatment works better if you start it early.
