Anxiety – an uneasy, fearful feeling – hallmarks a
condition that is commonly met with in day-to-day life. Anxiety disorders are amongst the most
prevalent psychiatric conditions all over the globe. Like fear, anxiety is a
package of reactions that tend to occur together simultaneously or
sequentially. None of us are ever free of Anxiety, although we do not suffer
its consequences most of the time. It is a feeling of worry, nervousness or
unease about something with an uncertain outcome.
In day to day life, individuals may face
anxiety before meeting new people, or preceding any activity involving
self-presentation in public, or when they have to reach a particular
destination at a set time. Such an expression of anxiety is seen under the
clinical entity of Social Phobia. A
minor case of the “jitters” before performing in public is considered as a
usual phenomenon. While mild normal
anxiety can actually enhance performance, excessive anxiety can severely impair
performance and even lead to the development of a multitude of psychosomatic
diseases.
Causes: - These are not fully understood but the studies
have been shown that combination factor including biological and environmental
factor-
·
It has been shown
to run through families. It may pass on to one people by one or both parents.
·
Abnormal levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain are
more likely to suffer from generalized anxiety disorder.
·
Abuse of drugs
and alcohol
·
Stressful events
and major life transitions such as death of love once/ Trauma.
Common symptoms:-
Ø Intense feeling of fear and panic
Ø Uncontrollable obsessive thoughts.
Ø Painful memories
Ø Recurring nightmares.
Ø Physical symptoms like sickness in stomach,
butterfly in stomach, increased heart rate
People
with anxiety disorders if untreated may go into depression; they may abuse
alcohol or other drugs to get relief from their symptoms.
TYPES OF ANXIETY:
PANIC DISORDER: - It is a condition which strikes out without
reasoning or warning. During attack, fear is out of proportion for the
situation. Over time, a person with
panic disorder develops a constant fear of having another panic attack, which
can affect daily functioning and general quality of life.
PHOBIAS: It is excessive and
persistent unreasonable fear for specific object or place, situation or
activity. These fears can cause distress in people that some people go into
extreme to avoid that thing.
Phobias can disturb daily routines, limit the efficiency of work,
reduced confidence or cause a stress on relationship. These things will happen
because people will do things according to their way to avoid uncomfortable
feeling of anxiety.
Their onsets are sudden or occur in situations that never cause
a discomfort previously.
Types of phobia:
Specific Phobia:- it’s an extreme or
excessive fear for objects that are not harmful. E.g. animals, flying,
elevator, blood-injection-injury, natural environment.
Social
Phobia:- it’s an anxiety and discomfort
about being embarrassed or looked down in social or performance situation.
Common examples speaking in public, meeting in public.
Agoraphobia:-
It’s an intense fear of being in public places where patient person feel escape
might be difficult. E.g. having fear of crowd, public places, traveling in bus
or train or plane, being in a lift, being in cinema or hall where there is no
easy exit, being away from home.
GENERALISED
ANXIETY DISORDER:- It is persistent, excessive
worry about everyday things even when there is no specific reason. They overly
concern about money, health, family, work or other issues. Sometimes while
thinking of those things get anxiety.
OBSSESIVE
COMPULSIVE DISORDER (O C D):- It is characterized by
constant thoughts that produce uneasiness, apprehension, fear or worry
(obsession) and repetitive behavior to reduce anxiety (compulsion).
Examples if the people have fear for germs or dirt they may
develop to wash their hands again and again, if people have fear of being
robbed they may check lock and relock again before going in bed or outside
home.
POSTTRAUMATIC
STRESS DISORDER:- It is condition that occur in a people who have experienced
or witnessed of natural disaster, serious accident, terrorist incident, sudden
death of love one’s, war, violent personal assault such as rape.
These people may experience group of symptoms like flashback of
events, bad dreams, frightening thoughts, staying away from places that reminds
experience.
It is extremely vital to note that everything is not anxiety,
stress is a normal reactive pattern which is healthy in correct proportion, only
when it crosses a certain limit it becomes a disorder.
MEDICAL MANAGEMENT:
With regard to
the pharmacological mode of treatment for anxiety disorders, the modern
psychiatric drugs have a limited potential for benefiting the patient.
Treatment of anxiety can be
taken in form of both medicines and psychological therapy.
Modern
Medicine can help keep thesymptoms of anxiety under control. The principal
medications used for anxiety disorders are antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs,
and beta-blockers to control some of the physical symptoms.
Psychotherapy
involves talking with a trained mental health professional, such as a
psychiatrist, psychologist to know what cause of anxiety disorder is and how to
deal with its symptoms. There has been a significant progress
in the psychological treatment of anxiety disorders in recent years. Most of
this progress can be linked to research on Cognitive Behavioural Therapies
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: - A common feature of all these
treatments is active exposure to distressing stimuli either in vivo or in
imagination. These exposures vary depending upon the type of anxiety disorder.The cognitive part helps people change the thinking patterns
that support their fears, and the behavioural part helps people change the way
they react to anxiety-provoking situations.
Homeopathic treatment for Anxiety Neurosis is a gentle, rapid,
effective mode of therapy. Homeopathic medicines can set balance in the
internal imbalance of an individual. For this, the homeopathic physician needs
to understand & evaluate the core of the person, identify the cause &
root from which this anxiety stems. A careful selection of the appropriately
indicated homeopathic remedy can bring forth a sense of security & internal
well-being in the most natural way.
At URJAA HOMOEOPATHIC CENTRE we
have adopted an integrated approach for healing Anxiety Disorders, by a unique
combination of Homeopathy & Lifestyle Modification. Dr.Urvashi S Guglani, has done an extensive
work & Thesis on Management of Anticipatory Anxiety with Homeopathy
and is continuing her contribution towards this ailment through successful
Homeopathic Practice. Lifestyle modification includes encouraging Right Eating
Habits, Yoga & Meditation for long-lasting benefits.
For starting your treatment for
Anxiety with us, call us at 022
42954400 / +91 9769283173 or
email us at homoeopathy@urjaa.in
Dr. Purva Patil
(BHMS)
