Ladies, remember when you had decided to wait till that time of the month to confirm you hadn’t got yourself pregnant after doing the do? Guys, remember when you pulled out (coitus interruptus) and you just weren’t sure if you actually brought everything (semen) out? 

I’m sure we all had that moment where we waited for the results of a test in school to know what the teacher would do next. It’s only natural to feel restless or expectant during such situations and this is known as anxiety, but there are times when anxiety can go overboard and becomes an actual health condition known as anxiety disorder.

Anxiety disorder

This is a condition or a mental health disorder that is expressed by feelings of anxiety, fear and worry that is so strong that it affects one’s normal life activities. Examples of Anxiety disorder include post-traumatic stress disorder, phobias and panic attacks.

Anxiety is a good thing since that fear you sometimes feel makes you anticipate danger and prepares you for flight. What makes anxiety a problem is when you tend to overreact to even the smallest emotional disturbance or you can’t even focus on the work you do or other duties you’re to perform and it just seems like everything is out of your control.

How do I get affected?

Anxiety disorders can be as a result of your personality build as well as environmental factors, let’s take a look at some of them:

i. If a person is naturally born an introvert, chances are high as timidity and shyness tends to be the major behavioural trait. We have such people all around and we sometimes see how jumpy they can be and how much attention can make them mess things up.

ii. When there is also a history of mental illness or anxiety disorders in the family, this can put a person at risk of showing signs of the condition.

iii. There are also the effects of traumatic experiences at one point in the life of an individual. For example, seeing your own house involved in a gas explosion could give you fears and worries which may cause you to stay away from or be overly cautious of gas even if it’s in your kitchen.

iv. Another cause could also be when your hormones being imbalanced in production or secretion this could sometimes be as a result of problems affecting the thyroid gland.

Any signs or symptoms?

The symptoms of anxiety disorders usually are dependant on the type of anxiety disorder, but we will take look at some general symptoms of the condition;

i. Heart palpitations – intense pumping of the heart leading to high blood pressure.

ii. Running short of breath or difficulty in breathing.

iii. Sweaty or cold hands.

iv. Restlessness and inability to remain calm

v. Nightmares

vi. Insomnia – inability to sleep at night

vii. Repetitive actions or behaviours such as repeatedly washing of hands 

viii. Flashbacks or traumatic experiences

ix. Fear and panic

x. Numbness or tingling in hands or feet.

xi. Suicidal thoughts

xii. Depression

How do I prevent or get rid of anxiety disorder?

Well…since anxiety is naturally part of us, it is safe to say anxiety disorders are not preventable especially with the knowledge of the fact that you can never be too safe (accidents do happen). Good news is, you can still try your best to be careful and also do your best not to worsen the symptoms by;

i. Hiding or keeping it secret when you first notice it - Women are statistically known to be fond of this yet they are most-likely to suffer from this condition for reasons which are still undergoing research. Seek early help for diagnosis and treatment.

ii. Be health-conscious – Eat healthy and balanced meals, regularly exercise and avoid alcoholism and drugs.

iii. Limit caffeine intake – Caffeine can affect your body’s normal function and change your sleep patterns or even affect your nervous system in ways that can be hard to fix when it becomes an addiction. Be sure to check the caffeine content in the beverage you choose to buy.

iv. Be sure to ask the pharmacist for more information about any over-the-counter (OTC) or herbal drug or you choose to buy, to check how it might affect your condition. Avoid self-medication as much as possible.

v. Try your best to get social and mingle

vi. Engage in hobbies like reading, cooking, playing video games and maybe yoga.

vii. Think positive and look on the bright side of life.

Anxiety disorder can affect both the young and old but children might have a bigger effect of it if not handled well. Do your best to know what situation your child is in at every point in time.  For your convenience, you can reach our doctors for quick help, just click the link to have the pharmacy right there in your hand and pocket - Pharst Care