Suffering from anxiety isn’t something to be embarrassed by or hide from. Feelings like stress, sadness, and fear exist in everyday life, but when they become overwhelming and interfere with normal responsibilities, you may be experiencing the first signs of a more serious anxiety disorder. This is a treatable condition.
WHAT IS ANXIETY?
“Anxiety is a feeling of fear, dread, and uneasiness. It might cause you to sweat, feel restless and tense, and have a rapid heartbeat. It can be a normal reaction to stress. For example, you might feel anxious when faced with a difficult problem at work, before taking a test, or before making an important decision. It can help you to cope … But for people with anxiety disorders, the fear … can be overwhelming.”
RISK FACTORS
You’re at a greater risk of developing anxiety if you suffer from any of the following:
- Trauma experienced at any age can result in suffering an anxiety disorder later on.
- Stress due to an illness.
- Stress which isn’t relieved can trigger anxiety.
- Certain personality types are more disposed to anxiety disorders.
- Depression and other mental health disorders.
- Family members who suffer from anxiety, especially blood relatives.
- Excessive use of drugs or alcohol or withdrawal symptoms.
PREVALENCE OF ANXIETY DISORDERS
Feelings of anxiety – like fear, restlessness, avoidance – are pretty common in everyday life. You may also be surprised to learn many people experience more serious anxiety disorders, some of which can be treated with medications like ketamine:
- Anxiety disorders affect about 40 million U.S. adults.
- More females than males suffer from anxiety disorders.
- It’s estimated that at least 31 percent of adults experience anxiety once in their lives.
- Nearly 32 percent of adolescents experience anxiety.
WHAT CAUSES ANXIETY DISORDERS?
Scientific, medical, and social research has uncovered clues that anxiety and anxiety disorders have multiple causes. Most of these are unique per person, and some happen concurrently. Environment and genetics are only two possible causes. Others include:
- Certain medications.
- Heart disease.
- Thyroid problems, such as hyperthyroidism.
- Respiratory problems, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
- Drug misuse or withdrawal.
- Withdrawal from alcohol, anti-anxiety medicine or other medications.
- Irritable bowel syndrome or chronic pain.
- Rare tumors producing certain “fight-or-flight” hormones.
- Trauma or stress caused by illness.
- Certain personality traits.
- Genetics or family history.
- Other mental health illnesses.
- Too much caffeine.
SYMPTOMS OF ANXIETY
- Little energy
- Trouble making decisions
- A quick heartbeat
- Breathing heavy absent exertion
- Profuse sweating
- Shaking
- Depressed moods
- Feeling tired or weak
- Feelings of irrelevance or guilt
- Irregular sleep pattern
- Pain, digestive issues, or aches minus a cause
- You make an effort to avoid people or anything else triggering anxiety
TYPES OF ANXIETY DISORDERS
People deal with many kinds of anxieties; some can be easily handled while others have a sketchy treatment history. The most popular ones to be reminded of include these:
- Agoraphobia, where you try to dodge settings where you feel trapped, embarrassed, helpless.
- Generalized anxiety disorder, or a fear of general activities or events.
- Panic disorder is characterized by getting stricken without warning with severe anxiety.
- Separation anxiety disorder happens mostly in children when they can’t bear to be separated from their parents or other parental figures.
- Social anxiety disorder can be explained as being very self-conscious or uncomfortable in a public setting.
There are particular phobias that can produce a laugh amongst loved ones but cause anxiety in another person. If a child admiring a bed of flowers is surprisingly stung by a bee, he may suffer dual phobias – a fear of insects (Entomophobia) and flowers (Anthrophobia).
DIAGNOSING ANXIETY DISORDERS
If you’re experiencing signs of anxiety, you’ll need to be diagnosed by a doctor or mental healthcare provider. Diagnosis usually includes a physical exam to rule out possible causes, then a mental health evaluation and review of personal and family history of mental illness. The diagnosis informs the treatment options.
TREATMENT FOR ANXIETY DISORDERS
As science and medicine learn more about the causes of anxiety and what triggers it, treatment options have become more targeted. One type of medicine growing in popularity to treat anxiety disorders and symptoms of other mental illnesses like depression is ketamine. It was once used only for anesthesia, but researchers discovered in the 1960s that its mind-altering properties lend themselves to calming mental distress when other treatment has failed. Today, that research is continuing.
FINAL THOUGHTS
If you think you’re suffering from an anxiety disorder and are having trouble handling daily life, get help from a doctor or mental health professional. With the right treatment, including medicine like ketamine, you can control the worst symptoms and lead a productive, healthy life. Help resources are available online.
Research into IV ketamine infusions for the treatment of anxiety is still ongoing, but the current understanding is that ketamine can bind to receptors in the brain and increase the amount of a neurotransmitter, glutamate. This will set off a chain of reactions in the brain and impact emotional regulation.
To put this into layman’s terms, ketamine allows the brain to trigger hormones that create more positive emotions. One added benefit of ketamine infusion is that relief can occur within hours rather than the weeks or months an antidepressant or therapy may take.
Suffering from excessive anxiety can be debilitating, undermining one’s ability to enjoy a healthy existence. But there is new hope for you at NeuroRelief! Contact us today to learn more about the treatment options available for anxiety and how NeuroRelief can help you.
