Stress and Anxiety

"Stress and anxiety"

Introduction:

Over the years stress management has become a big factor or part in our lives and how we cope with on a daily basis can be really challenging. One of the biggest problems is learning how to recognize this problem and dealing with it. After extensive research that doctors have gone through, it is now becoming less challenging because of the new techniques and methods. Making society aware of the potential threats of stress and anxieties is basic the most basic but very effective. In this paper I will discuss what stress is; relations of stress and anxiety; types of anxieties; causes of anxiety due to stress; how to deal with anxiety; percentages of U.S population.

What is stress?

Stress is an emotional and bodily reaction to physical, psychological or emotional demands. Stress is a fact of life and all of us go through it one way or another. Learning how to manage stress the right can become useful and healthy when viewing events as challenges and trying to solve them. On the other hand unmanaged stress can become distressful and unhealthy. This occurs when viewing certain events as threats and not seeing the positive. (www.middlebury.edu) Stress is always present with everyday decisions, but all that matters is how those decisions are navigated; the outcome will either be satisfactory or unsatisfactory. (www.nlm.nih.gov)

How does anxiety relate to stress?

Stress is what causes anxiety, which, in small doses, is healthy, because it motivates you to get things done. Stress is both additive and cumulative. It adds up over time until a state of crisis is reached and symptoms appear. A series of little things, which make you anxious and nervous, can over a period of time, be harmful. Knowing your body and how it operates is a preventing method that everyone needs to be aware of. Always knowing when to blow some steam off, before the mind and body go over board.

Define anxiety and types of anxiety?

"Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterized by a pattern of frequent, persistent worry and anxiety, about several different events or activities. The symptoms last at least 6 months." (www.nlm.nih.gov)

Almost always anticipating the worst even though there is little reason to expect it; accompanied by physical symptoms, such as fatigue, trembling, muscle tension, headache, or nausea. This is the basic clinical term and how doctors defined it; there are also four categories that anxiety was broken down into aside from GAD. The first one being Panic Disorder-Repeated episodes of intense fear that strike often and without warning. Physical symptoms include chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, abdominal distress, feelings of unreality, and fear of dying. The second is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder-Repeated, unwanted thoughts or compulsive behaviors that seems impossible to stop or control. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder-Persistent symptoms that occur after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event such as rape or other criminal assault, war, child abuse, natural or human-caused disasters, or crashes. Nightmares, flashbacks, numbing of emotions, depression, and feeling angry, irritable or distracted and being easily startled are common. Family members of victims can also develop this disorder. The third is Phobias-Two major types of phobias are social phobia and specific phobia. People with social phobia have an overwhelming and disabling fear of scrutiny, embarrassment, or humiliation in social situations, which leads to avoidance of many potentially pleasurable and meaningful activities. People with specific phobia experience extreme, disabling, and irrational fear of something that poses little or no actual danger; the fear leads to avoidance of objects or situations and can cause people to limit their lives unnecessarily. (www.nlm.nih.gov)

What are some symptoms and possible causes of anxiety due to stress?

Anxiety and worry are often associated with the following symptoms: Restlessness or feeling keyed up or "on the edge", being easily fatigued, difficulty concentrating, irritability, Muscle tension, shakiness, headaches Sleep disturbance (difficulty falling or staying asleep; or restless, unsatisfying sleep) Excessive sweating, palpitations, shortness of breath, and various gastrointestinal symptoms. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a common condition. It is characterized by excessive anxiety and worry, which is out of proportion to the impact of the event or circumstance that is the focus of the worry. (www.nlm.nih.gov)

For example, while college students often worry about tests, a student who constantly worries about failure, despite getting consistently good grades, they have the pattern of worry typical of this disorder. The person finds it difficult to control the worry because they have become accustom

to the stress. The cause of GAD is not known, but biological and psychological factors play a role. Stressful life situations or maladaptive behavior, acquired through learning, may also contribute to GAD. The disorder may start at any time in life, including childhood. Most patients with the disorder report that they have been anxious for as long as they can remember. GAD occurs somewhat more often in women than in men because the young ladies in the house are held up to a higher standard than the young man are. (www.nlm.nih.gov)

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