An expert from UC Davis explains the distinctions between fear and anxiety as well as the practical applications of medication, therapy, and self-care in the treatment of anxiety disorders.
(SACRAMENTO)
Anxiety disorders afflict about one-third of Americans at some point in their life, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, which counts anxiety as one of the most common mental illnesses in the country.
Anxiety disorders produce continuous anxiety that can grow over time, but occasional anxiety is tolerable. The symptoms might make it difficult to go about daily responsibilities like relationships and work performance.
Andres Felipe Sciolla, a professor of clinical psychiatry in the UC Davis Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, describes the most common anxiety disorders here along with some useful treatment choices that include medication, therapy, and self-care.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FEAR AND ANXIETY
Sciolla argues that fear is a universal emotion, a usual response to a threat, whereas anxiety is more broad and less threat-specific, using elevators as an example.
“If you can see that an elevator is failing, operating at maximum capacity, or shaking in an unusual way, it would be normal to be afraid of one,” says Sciolla. “A person experiencing anxiety would be someone who is terrified of an elevator despite the fact that it is fully operational and has recently been inspected and serviced.”
A VARIETY OF ANXIETY DISORDERS
Panic disorder and social anxiety disorder are the two most common conditions. Sciolla states that “anxiety disorders are a large family with several individual disorders.” It’s important to realize that sometimes they occur concurrently. You can own one along with a small amount of another.
Additional diseases include generalized anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, and selective mutism, a rare condition that primarily affects children.
Phobias are another type of anxiety disorder. According to research, 10% of Americans will at some point in their lives suffer from a phobia, which is defined as an intense, irrational fear of something that actually poses little to no risk “.
ANXIETY DISORDERS CAN BE EFFECTIVELY TREATED.
Sciolla states that “the category of illnesses or disorders we can treat most successfully is probably anxiety disorders.”
“Many people use benzodiazepines as medicine to treat panic attacks. This class of anti-anxiety medications may be beneficial for someone who only occasionally experiences anxiety episodes. He notes that patients with generalized anxiety disorder, a chronic illness, should not be prescribed benzodiazepines because they are easily addicted. Examples of these medications include Valium, Ativan, and Xanax.
Sciolla states that “antidepressants, specifically the so-called serotonergic antidepressants, are the other mainstay treatment, in terms of medications.” “Some of them, like paroxetine or sertraline, can reduce some of the symptoms of anxiety by increasing serotonin transmission in the brain.”
COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY
In addition to medications, there are a number of therapies specifically targeted at anxiety, and according to Sciolla, “they work incredibly well.” One such therapy is cognitive behavior therapy, which is well known. It entails teaching the patient to identify ideas and opinions that can be refuted. By confronting, modifying, rephrasing, and changing those ideas, anxiety can be reduced.
SELF-CARE FOR ANXIETY DISORDERS
Another important component is self-care. “The most effective self-help strategies are those that tend to reduce the activation of the stress response system in the body,” he says, explaining that the stress response system causes the release of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which also quickens breathing and pulse rate.
Research indicates that people can engage in a variety of activities to lessen this stress response. Sports, Tai Chi, yoga, meditation, and cardiovascular exercise are just a few of the activities that help lessen the activation of this stress response system, according to Sciolla.
TAKING UP YOUR WORRIES
He notes that humans’ main coping strategy is to avoid situations that make them anxious. Unfortunately, avoidance is the worst thing we can do because it makes anxiety worse and lasts longer. The more afraid we are, the more we try to avoid the scenario.
“If you’re nervous about public speaking, for example, you might want to join Toastmasters,” advises Sciolla. The organization promotes public speaking in a supportive environment where we can find a place where we feel more secure and gradually open ourselves up. The more we practice, the less nervous we get.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF YOU THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE AN ANXIETY DISORDER?
“One of the most popular tools to screen for anxiety disorders is a widely available online questionnaire known as the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7),” says Sciolla. You can do the screening on your own or with the assistance of your healthcare provider.
It’s possible that you should also see a therapist. “I think you need medication in addition to therapy,” the therapist would be prepared to tell you, according to Sciolla. “It can be very effective.”
For further information, go to the National Institute of Mental Health’s webpage on anxiety disorders.
