Anxiety

Anxiety is a feeling of apprehension or fear that lingers. The source for this uneasiness is not always known or recognized which adds to the distress. Stress is not a disease and is a normal part of everyone's life.

Stress in small quantities is good: it makes us more productive. For example, the fear of a bad grade can make a student study more attentively. However, too much stress is unhealthy and counterproductive. The same student, if he was recently mugged and or is getting over the sudden death of a friend will not be able to study as well. Persistent and unrelenting stress is called anxiety.

Causes of Anxiety

• Actual danger: very often stress is an appropriate reaction
• Emotional stress such as grief and depression often lead to anxiety
• Physical stress such as a medical illness
• Medication side effects 
• Drugs including caffeine, cold remedies (Cough/Cold Combinations - oral), sympathomimetics, decongestants (Antihistamines and Decongestants - oral), bronchodilators, tricyclic antidepressants, and thyroid supplements
• Withdrawal from drugs (including caffeine and nicotine)
• Substance abuse or withdrawal (including alcohol)
• Poor diet (deficiency of Vitamin B12)
• Hyperventilation syndrome
• Thyroid problems (hyperthyroid disease mostly)
• Low blood sugar
• Cardiac problems
• In extremely rare cases, a tumor of the adrenal gland (pheochromocytoma)

Symptoms of Anxiety

• Muscle twitching, tension, or trembling
• Headaches
• Sweating
• Dry mouth and difficulty swallowing
• Dizziness
• Rapid heart rate and palpitations
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Fatigue
• Irritability
• Sleeping disturbances
• Difficulty concentrating
• Sexual dysfunction

Treatment of anxiety

• Medications
• Pshycotherapy
• Support groups
• Stress management

Stress management tips

• Take a deep breath and breath deeply and slowly
• Get away from the situation
• Release the stress - cry, exercise, write about it, scream if you need to, but do it away from other people
• Pray and try to put the problem in focus
• Try to find a solution

Stress Releasers

• Laughing
• Exercise
• Prayer
• Crying
• Massage
• Yoga
• Reading
• Writing
• Listening to music
• Participating in a hobby
• Movies
• Friends
• Nature
• Relaxation
• Family time