Anxiety

Anxiety

Anxiety can cause a range of physical symptoms, including nervousness, tiredness, dizziness, headaches, hypervigilance, insomnia or difficulty sleeping, nausea, loss of appetite, tics, fatigue and bowel symptoms. Severe anxiety can also lead to panic attacks, which are sudden episodes of acute anxiety. Anxiety tends to vary from day to day depending on what else is happening in someone's life.
The symptoms of anxiety, like those of panic attacks, reflect various physiological changes in the body.

The body reacts as though to prepare for physical danger.This reaction is known as the 'fight and flight response'. The body releases the hormones adrenaline and noradrenaline does not know whether the perceived threat is physical or mental The changes of acute anxiety reflect the bodies response to danger. People feel anxious when they are worried about something or feel as though they face danger.

Causes and cures
The causes of anxiety are to be found in a person's environment and how they respond to it. Undoubtedly, some people appear to a more nervous or sensitive disposition than others. Nonetheless, there is a great deal that a person can do themselves to prevent themselves becoming chronically anxious by learning strategies to help manage their anxiety. Coffee, tea and many soft drinks contain caffeine, this acts like adrenaline in the body, which of course increases anxiety levels as does nicotine. A sugar/processed food diet makes anxiety worse.
A good cognitive therapist can provide strategies to help with anxiety and panic attacks. There are also some good self-help books.

Other possible diagnoses
Rarely a high level of thyroid hormone (or even occasionally a low level of thyroid hormone) will cause a person to feel anxious. If this is associated with a disproportionate loss of weight, palpitations, an irregular heart beat, it is important to test for this condition. Other physical illnesses such as anaemia can leave a person feeling anxious and tired, so if there is any doubt about your condition it is important to seek a medical opinion.

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