Depending on the type / type of anxiety disorder, the condition may have some characteristic features. However, for this group of disorders, there are also so-called typical - general - symptoms. It’s also helpful to learn what steps you can take yourself to prevent anxiety disorders.
One of the main manifestations on the basis of which a suspicion of the development of one or another anxiety state may appear is direct pathological anxiety (increased irrational anxiety). It is worth noting that a diagnosis can be made only when a person has a restless state for at least 14-20 days in a row, and anxiety and fear are accompanied by additional negative manifestations.
Common symptoms of anxiety disorders
Among the general symptoms of anxiety disorders, there are signs that affect the physiological state of a sick person. As a rule, physiological symptoms are sharply exacerbated during the moments of attacks.
The main points by which the development of an anxiety disorder can be suspected are:
- unreasonable, often short-term dizziness, headache;
- rapid and / or shallow breathing, heart palpitations, high pulse, negative changes in blood pressure;
- any symptoms from the autonomic nervous system;
- sudden digestive problems, abdominal discomfort, eating disorders (lack of hunger or nervous hunger);
- tremors, tremors, dry mouth, shortness of breath;
- excessive muscle tension;
- problems with falling asleep and sleeping, persistent insomnia, nightmares, in which a traumatic situation can be repeated over and over again, due to which this or that type of anxiety disorder has developed;
- increased sensitivity, frequent proximity to tears.
However, physiological signs usually appear as additional ones. The manifestations on the part of the psyche play an important role.
Any type of anxiety disorder has the following symptoms:
- various oppressive, negative feelings, thoughts and sensations, for example, self-accusation, the desire to isolate from society, the desire for loneliness;
- refusal to communicate, unwillingness to make new acquaintances;
- isolation, concentration exclusively on their thoughts and experiences, "getting stuck" in a past traumatic situation or in a state of severe stress;
- inadequate reaction to criticism, comments from the outside, painful reaction to refusals or dissatisfaction from other - even unfamiliar - people;
- self-depreciation, too low self-esteem;
- a symptom of anxiety disorder, in addition to immediate inadequate anxiety, is often an irrational and uncontrolled fear that can transform into a pathological state (into a phobia);
- the desire to avoid any nervous, stressful, crisis, unexpected situations; unwillingness to go beyond the created comfort zone, unwillingness to argue with other people, inability to defend one's point of view;
- a feeling of hopelessness, which also often accompanies depression;
- panic and, as a result, panic attacks;
- inadequate modesty;
- avoidance of any physical touch and contact, refusal of intimacy;
- lack of trust, in especially difficult cases, even to oneself.
Against the background of developing anxiety disorder, a person may develop strange hobbies or addictions, including psychotropic substances, alcohol, adrenaline, caffeine, chemical addiction, and so on.
Preventive measures
Unfortunately, today there are no specially developed methods and actions that would one hundred percent protect against the risk of developing an anxiety disorder. However, there are a number of guidelines that can reduce the risk of a breach occurring.
People who have a predisposition to developing anxiety disorder need to learn to relax, release negativity and not focus on negative events and situations. It is important to make friends with yourself, find a common language with yourself, learn to manage thoughts and feelings, sensations.
It is recommended to create a special notebook, in which it is worth writing down every day at least for a month whether there were any unpleasant sensations during the day, whether there was an unexplained excitement, whether anxiety increased, and so on. In addition, in the recording, it is important to add details about what exactly provoked the internal discomfort: communication with people, some kind of situation, some sudden thoughts / ideas, and so on. For individuals prone to anxiety or phobic disorders, it is useful to analyze their condition, the easiest way to do this is based on such records.
It is necessary to exclude actions from life, as well as drinks and foods that can strain the nervous system. If there is no way to completely abandon such a thing, then at least everything that traumatizes should be minimized. In order not to provoke an increase in anxiety, you should not abuse alcohol and caffeine, drive yourself into any stressful situations on your own, and so on. Additionally, it is recommended to work on your stress resistance, self-esteem and other personal qualities. If you cannot do this on your own, you should not refuse the help of a specialist.
It is important to observe an adequate daily routine. Lack of sleep not only has a destructive effect on the physical level, but also provokes an exacerbation of fears, anxiety, and anxiety. Therefore, one should not only master the methods of relaxation, but also sleep a sufficient number of hours every day. In general, it is recommended to adhere to a normal daily routine, try not to overexert yourself, do not forget about physical activity, but you should not engage in the gym completely to an exhausted state.
Experts advise excluding, at least temporarily, brown and reddish foods and drinks from the diet. As a result of some studies, it was found that such a measure helped people who were already diagnosed with one or another anxiety disorder. In addition, in case of increased anxiety, it is recommended to drink a course of suitable herbal teas, for example, with thyme, chamomile, lemon balm, mint.
