Month: August 2021


Types of Anxiety Disorders and Their Effects on Mental and Physical Health

August 9, 2021

Health

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While feeling anxious over possible outcomes are reactions that people normally experience, anxiety becomes a problem if occurring persistently and excessively. The body responds to anxiety by increasing the amount of blood that will flow to the brain as it needs to prepare the mind for an intense situation.

However, this response should only be for short periods, usually lasting until the cause of anxiety has been resolved or provided with relief. Otherwise, if anxiety occurs for a long term and in excessive levels, it becomes detrimental to a person’s health. Mainly because the heart and the brain are constantly subjected to intense and stressful conditions.

Long term anxiety is by itself a problem, because it means that the brain has a proclivity to focus only on fears and worries, instead of concentrating on responses and reactions to diffuse a body’s anxious state. Actually there are several types of anxiety disorders that a person could develop over time.

Common Types of Long Term Anxiety Disorder

 

General Anxiety Disorder or GAD – Characterized as having excessive anxiety for a variety of conditions and oftentimes for no logical reason.

Social Anxiety Disorder or SAD – Described as having a paralyzing fear of being judged or humiliated in social gatherings.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD – A type of excessive anxiety developed after experiencing a traumatic incident such as the occurrence of natural disaster, a physical or violent attack or a serious accident.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that causes excessive anxiety to an afflicted person. A high degree of anxiety takes place if a person with OCD is unable to take action as guard against negative elements; or has to face undesired outcomes that do not meet his or her high standards for cleanliness or safety.

Phobias are mental conditions that nurture excessive fear of of certain conditions like heights or enclosures, which if not avoided can cause serious anxiety responses like dizziness, nausea or even fainting.

Panic Disorder – An intense form of anxiety disorder triggered by an overwhelming fear of an impending doom or terror. In some cases, inability to overcome another type of anxiety disorder can lead to panic attacks.

These stressful conditions increase the risks of developing other health issues like insomnia, depression or obesity, which if allowed to worsen, would lead to impairments of other mental and physical functions.

The worst actions to take in addressing the negative effects of anxiety disorder is to drown out feelings of nervousness and depression with excessive alcohol or by taking sleeping pills. Since such remedies are temporary and superficial in nature, a resulting dependency on the substance increases risks of addiction.

Consider Organic Formulations as Safer Alternatives in Alleviating Anxiety Disorders

Even if a person seeks professional psyciatric help in addressing his or her anxiety disorder, a change of lifestyle geared toward maintaining a healthy mind and body is still the best remedy.

In the meantime, those suffering from lack of sleep should consider taking a safe form of sleeping aid, since a restful sleep is the only time that the body can recover from stressful conditions.

There are non-impairing and non-addictive sleep drops formulated from natural oils extracted from organic plants to help improve a person’s sleeping habits. The valerian root for one has been proven by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as having positive effects by creating a moderate relaxing effect on people with sleep problems. Although there are no clinical studies to support the use of valerian root for anxiety, an improvement of sleeping habits is a good start.

Nonetheless, if a valerian root-based sleeping aid is taken, mainly to relieve feelings of intense anxiety, the recommended dosage is lower than the dosage prescribed as treatment for a sleeping problem like insomnia. That way, the form of relaxation experienced will not lead to drowsiness, especially as some of the doses are taken during the day.