Anxiety: what it is, symptoms and treatments

However, in some cases it can become excessive and cause problems in people's daily lives, both socially, professionally and in marriage.

Sometimes anxiety shows its first signs in childhood. There is evidence that both genetics and the environment in which people live can contribute to the disease.

Some people may have a genetic predisposition to anxiety, but that doesn't mean the person will be held hostage by the disorder because there is a treatment.

Excessive worry and expectations of negative outcomes in unfamiliar situations that trigger anxiety are often accompanied by physical symptoms such as muscle tension, headaches, and upset stomach.

A psychologist will be able to identify the cause of anxiety and provide the best treatment. We emphasize that, during this process, the individual focuses on the goal and avoids distractions or situations that can generate anxiety.

1. What is anxiety

Anxiety is a state of uncertainty and distress characterized by fear and insecurity. This is a normal response to certain situations, like a job interview, because it prepares people for a challenge.

Adequate levels of anxiety provide personal and professional motivation. Excessive anxiety can paralyze, get in the way, and get in the way. The person may feel anxious for no reason most of the time, which can be so uncomfortable for them that they start to avoid certain situations.

2. Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety

The debut on the show, the conversation with the boss, the request for a raise, the first meeting with the person of your interest...

These are times that trigger normal anxiety, and we all have them.

However, when a person spends most of their time in a state of anxiety and it starts to affect behavior and health, it becomes a disorder that requires treatment. In these cases, the help of a psychologist is the best way to help overcome anxiety.

It is not easy to separate the natural anxiety of everyday life from the anxiety that has turned into illness. Both forms can have similar symptoms.

But when these symptoms become too frequent, the disease can take a toll on overall health, preventing people from carrying out the daily activities of their personal and professional lives.

Therefore, it is worth keeping an eye out for signs such as:

2.1 Excessive attention

One of the hallmarks of anxiety is that everything is much bigger than reality. This can make people suffer because constant worry – often something unimportant – can consume a lot of energy.

This excessive worry can lead to tiredness and even interfere with simple tasks like cleaning the room or preparing a work report.

2.2 Panic

Not always people who suffer from panic disorder also suffer from anxiety, but the opposite is very common.

Panic makes a person fear any situation and, more importantly, the next panic attack. In addition to being paralyzed, panic can cause a variety of physical symptoms.

2.3 Physical symptoms

Anxiety can trigger some very typical physical symptoms that often go undiagnosed with tests, but can negatively affect health if left untreated. they are:

tremor;

Fatigue;

Shortness of breathe;

Tachycardia;

Excessive sweat;

Digestive and abdominal problems;

Blocked throat sensation.

2.4 Digestive problems

Of the physical symptoms mentioned above, this is perhaps one of the most common among those who suffer from anxiety disorder.

The nervous system of the anxious person acts directly on the digestive system and alters its functions, causing poor digestion, heartburn, diarrhea and even ulcers, gastritis and various intestinal diseases.

2.5 Binge eating:

Anxiety causes the feeling of needing to eat all the time, even without hunger. It is as if the food brought some comfort to the person.

At the slightest sign of trouble, she turns to food — usually things that aren't healthy, such as overconsumption of sweets in general.

This attitude, in addition to contributing to the development of digestive diseases, can lead to eating disorders and, consequently, obesity.

Identifying physical symptoms

The physical symptoms are quite striking, specific and intense. A person with anxiety typically experiences a lot of agitation (cognitive and behavioral), muscle tension, sweating, dizziness, difficulty breathing, tachycardia, and facial flushing.

These symptoms are manifested together, some or all of them may be experienced.

Physical anxiety responses are of great importance for our survival and that of any species, as it is anxiety in the face of a situation of real danger that puts us in the possibility of flight or fight.

Being in a risky situation, for example, in the imminence of a robbery, our organism increases the heart rate to circulate more blood, our breathing is intensified distributing more oxygen to the whole body, our muscles stiffen and we are better prepared to run or run. fight the burglar.

Thinking about it, it makes perfect sense for our body to prepare in this way. What happens is that we are not always facing a real danger, it can be social or mental, and then these symptoms become maladaptive and can lead us to a freezing state (not having coping reactions or avoidance). .

Our thoughts, mood and behavior are related to the physical symptoms of anxiety, can influence them and are influenced by them.

For example, let's imagine a person who is afraid of flying and needs to take an air shuttle to receive an award from the company.

In order not to be frowned upon by the boss, the employee goes to the airport. While at the airport, her heart rate is increasing, she sweats and becomes tense, which leads her to believe that she is about to have a heart attack.

When you feel this mix of sensations, thoughts come to your mind like: “What if I have an attack here and I can’t board?”, “What if I manage to board and the plane has a problem?”, “What if I get sick on the plane? plane?".

When thinking about all this, physical symptoms are intensified and the impression of having a heart attack increases, so a vicious circle is established, each thought intensifies physical sensations, which in turn intensify the perception of danger and which intensify thoughts and feelings. so on.How does an anxious person feel?

An anxious person usually tends to think excessively about a future issue or situation, which generates feelings of fear and worry that can cause a lot of discomfort in everyday life.

In an era where we are aware of our vulnerability, it is not uncommon for fear to become part of the routine and intensify anxiety symptoms.

In fact, anxiety and fear are often very close: the fear that something bad may happen in the future if everything doesn't go as planned can make an anxiety disorder problematic.

In addition, stress, the fear of being insufficient, of comparing yourself a lot to other people around you and of losing control of the situation are cases that increase the feeling of distress of an anxious person, or even trigger anxiety in who had not yet manifested symptoms

When Anxiety Becomes a Problem

Looking for online or in-person therapy?

Meet the psychologists in our office

Psychologists for online therapy

Psychologists in Sao Paulo

About online therapy

Anxiety at normal levels has always been essential for human survival, as it allows us to be aware of what is happening around us and anticipate preventive reactions.

However, when it is no longer just a controlled concern, it can trigger more serious and difficult-to-treat psychological problems, such as panic syndrome, post-traumatic stress, OCD and phobias.

That's why it's essential to seek to identify when anxiety starts to get in the way of life and becomes a problem that needs to be treated with the help of a psychologist.

Of course, because these are psychological issues, it can be difficult to recognize when the case deserves special attention. After all, the intensity of the feeling varies from person to person and is something difficult to measure, especially for those who are not a professional in the field.

However, it is necessary to pay attention to the emergence of limitations in everyday life that may come from anxiety and try to understand, often with the help of friends and family, when the problem begins to get out of control.

3. Attitudes that stimulate anxiety and can be avoided

Anxiety has greatly disrupted people's lives. A little anxiety is natural, but when in excess it can bring a lot of damage and therefore needs to be controlled.

The best way to avoid too much anxiety and learn to deal with it is to look for a psychologist, who will certainly help a lot to change this situation. But it is also important to know which factors trigger anxiety in order to avoid them in everyday life.

3.1. Coffees throughout the day

Coffee is the enemy of those who suffer from anxiety. Caffeine stimulates anxiety and, therefore, the habit of drinking coffee several times a day should be put aside.

A tip is to exchange coffee for relaxing teas, such as chamomile, for example.

3.2. Foods that contain refined sugars

Sugar intake is harmful in many ways and is also harmful to those who are anxious. Sugar influences mood swings, so much so that it gives a feeling of relaxation at first, but then causes the opposite effect, stimulating anxiety.

The way is to reduce the consumption of sugar giving preference to the natural one present in fruits and vegetables.

3.3 Excessive Worry

Difficult to avoid, but it is possible to at least reduce the exaggerated worry. People who are overly worried have a tendency to anticipate problems.

That is, the negative fact has not yet happened – it may not even happen – and the person is already worried. This only harms the anxiety framework, bringing more discomfort.

3.4. Sedentary life

If you're spending a lot of time sitting and away from regular physical activity, change that quickly.

Physical exercise helps to distract the mind, sleep, stimulates your immune system, decreases muscle tension and regulates neurotransmitter levels, preventing anxiety and depression.

3.5. think negatively

If you think positively, are optimistic, and hope that there is no problem without a solution, you avoid anxiety. Thoughts are directly linked to your emotions.

Activate the positives whenever possible, remember good things you've lived, mentalize pure feelings, such as gratitude, love, affection and you will feel different about anxiety.

3.6. Saturated fat

Lipids have a similar reaction to sugar. They also activate the brain, causing moodiness and more anxiety.

After eating foods rich in saturated fats, more free radicals are released by the body, increasing the amount of cortisol, a hormone linked to stress and anxiety.

3.7. Alcoholic beverages

Avoid alcoholic beverages because they also cause quick euphoria and then trigger anxiety.

Alcohol hinders the action of calcium on neurons and nerve synapses and, therefore, deregulates the release of neurotransmitters, which can trigger sensations such as anxiety, anguish and sadness.

3.8. Little time to take care of the mind

When life is reduced to work and everyday tasks, without time to take care of the mind, the risk of anxiety increases is great.

Try to distract yourself with walks, walks or listening to good music. The practice of meditation or yoga has also been shown to be effective in reducing anxiety levels.

3.9. little sleep

Poorly slept nights or few hours of sleep prevent complete relaxation of the body and mind and cause, among other problems, anxiety.

If necessary, take a hot bath, relax and avoid eating three hours before bedtime. Rest is essential to recharge the energies necessary to face the hectic routine of today.