What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is a normal human emotion. It feels like worry or concern. Some physical signs of anxiety are restlessness, fast speech, sweating, fast heartbeat, or “butterflies” in the stomach. Anxiety originates back to when early humans needed to stay alert, escape or avoid danger, and even learn.

 

For modern humans (us!), occasional and moderate anxiety is also normal. It’s even helpful. For instance, it’s common to feel a little anxious when you’re with someone you “like” because you want to make a good impression! This also applies to the experience of meeting new friends.

 

Anxiety also alerts us about possible danger: it’s normal to feel some anxiety about going skydiving, or to be anxious about walking home alone in the dark, because of potential risk. Anxiety can be helpful in alerting us that we need to prepare for events like interviews, tests, and presentations.

 

However, anxiety can also be more severe. Abnormal anxiety can manifest as excessive worry. We may experience racing heart, irritability, difficulty sleeping, difficulty concentrating, stomach or body aches, rashes or hives, or cravings for junk food, drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol.

 

What Causes Abnormal Anxiety?

The most common cause of abnormal anxiety is an anxiety disorder. There are several types of anxiety disorders, but the common feature of all of them is the experience of overwhelming and frequent anxiety that makes daily activities difficult. Sometimes, abnormal anxiety can be caused by underlying medical conditions such as a condition of the thyroid, lung, or heart.

 

In these cases, abnormal anxiety may improve with treatment of the medical condition. Sometimes, abnormal anxiety can be a symptom of different psychiatric disorders such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Depression, Adjustment Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, and Schizophrenia. Sometimes abnormal anxiety is caused by addictive substances like drugs or alcohol, or withdrawal from these. A psychiatrist, therapist, or psychologist can diagnose the cause(s) of abnormal anxiety.

Who is at Risk for Anxiety Disorders?

Anxiety disorders are the most common type of psychiatric condition. These groups of people may be more likely to have an anxiety disorder: people with a family history of anxiety disorders, people who naturally have more anxious temperaments, and people who have had stressful or traumatic experiences.

 

This includes trauma like abuse or neglect, exposure to violence, an injury or illness, and more. Most anxiety disorders start before the age of 21 but some develop afterwards, often in response to a stressful life event or adjustment to a major life change such as a death in the family, or moving to a new place.

 

What are Treatments for Anxiety Disorders?

Untreated anxiety disorders can have consequences. People with anxiety disorders are more likely to feel depressed, have conflicts with others, struggle to take care of their physical health, use addictive substances, and experience suicidal thoughts. If you or your loved one are experiencing suicidal thoughts, call the New York State Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or go to your nearest Emergency Department.

 

The good news is that anxiety disorders are very treatable! Treatment includes:

• treating any underlying medical or psychiatric condition that may be causing or contributing to anxiety;
• psychotherapy;
• medications;
• reducing or stopping drug, cigarette and alcohol use;
• practicing healthy behaviors like healthy eating, regular exercises, and good sleep; and
• mindfulness activities like meditation, deep breathing, or yoga.

If you need help managing anxiety, ask your doctor to connect you with a mental health provider at Montefiore, or ask your doctor for an outside referral and call your insurance to get a list of providers that take your insurance. Also, the National Alliance on Mental Illness has more than 40 support groups that meet twice a month. Learn more here.

 

There is no one-size-fits-all treatment. The best treatment is the one that works for you and may include a combination of treatments. The goal for treatment is reducing symptoms of anxiety, improving coping skills to manage anxiety, and living a fulfilling life.

 

Dr. Nikki Bloch is a fourth year psychiatry resident Montefiore Health System