Anxiety and anxiety disorders
Anxiety helps us to stay focused and correctly assess dangers. However, anxiety can also become a major burden and illness if it gets out of control. It then loses its useful alarm function
1 What is fear?
Everyone is familiar with the feeling of fear. Anxiety can occur in different situations, such as before an exam, in the dark, during a thunderstorm or when you have to give a speech in front of an audience.
The anxiety that arises here can be felt both physically and emotionally, e.g. through strong palpitations, clammy hands or trembling in the voice.
Most people are familiar with dealing with these often unpleasant feelings. They perceive them as a normal reaction to an unusual or rarely occurring situation. The feelings thus lose their threatening nature.
It is completely normal to be afraid. As long as the fear remains manageable - i.e. manageable for humans - it fulfills a valuable purpose: it ensures that we pay attention in difficult situations, for example in the dark or before an important presentation. Fear can thus contribute to a risk-conscious approach to the environment and protect us from danger in everyday life.
1.1 Fear as preparation of the body for fight or flight
When a person feels anxious, this also has an effect on the heartbeat. This is noticeably accelerated because more blood is pumped through the body and the muscles are supplied with more oxygen. The body is thus prepared for a potentially necessary quick reaction.
In the course of human development, fear has always had the function of preparing us for fight or flight. Whereas in the past it was the often cited sabre-toothed tiger and other wild animals that required a quick reaction, today it is the expectations and performance demands of a restless life and work environment.
1.2 When fear becomes a constant companion
So anxiety makes sense as long as it doesn't get out of hand. However, anxiety can become a disease if it gets out of control. It then loses its useful alarm function. Excessive feelings of anxiety paralyze our ability to think and act and can have a considerable impact on our attitude to life and therefore our quality of life.
If the anxiety is too strong, too frequent or not appropriate to the situation, it is referred to as pathological anxiety. Depending on the symptoms, a distinction is made between different anxiety disorders.
2. the three parts of fear
Three components of anxiety do not always occur at the same time, nor are they equally pronounced.
However, they all play an important role in the so-called "spiral of fear and worry":
- Reactions of the body, e.g. palpitations, sweating, shortness of breath
- Reactions in thinking and feeling, e.g. fear of losing control and even fear of dying
- Behavioral reactions, e.g. escape from or avoidance of anxiety-provoking situations
3. signs of morbid anxiety
In the case of an anxiety disorder, the fears are pronounced, occur more frequently and for longer periods and in most cases are not appropriate to the situation. Months of persistent inner restlessness, tension, anxiety or constant worries and fears about everyday things can also be signs of an anxiety disorder.
Feelings of helplessness, despair, fear of losing control or feelings of shame usually lead those affected to avoid all situations that could trigger anxiety. This can even go so far that they no longer leave their home and cut off all social contact.
This avoidance behavior, often triggered by the fear of fear, may initially bring a sense of relief. But this is deceptive and only effective in the short term. In the long term, it makes every anxiety disorder worse.
4 What anxiety disorders are there?
4.1 Generalized anxiety disorder
People with a generalized anxiety disorder (formerly known as "anxiety neurosis") are in a permanently anxious and tense state. For example, they have a fear of catastrophes for no particular discernible reason ("Something bad could happen to my child or partner!"). The anxiety disorder is often accompanied by sleep disorders.
4.2 The panic attack or panic disorder
Panic disorder is characterized by sudden episodes of massive, panic-like feelings of anxiety. The anxiety reaches its peak within a few minutes. The person affected believes they are going to die due to the extreme physical reactions.
Palpitations, chest pains, feelings of suffocation and dizziness take on unprecedented proportions. The panic attack usually lasts a few minutes, but in some cases it can last for hours.
If you repeatedly suffer unexpected panic attacks that are not triggered by external circumstances, this is known as panic disorder.
4.3 Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia" mainly consists of the fear of getting into a situation from which escape seems impossible. Journeys on public transport, queuing at the supermarket, going to the theater or cinema or being part of a large crowd are situations in which the affected person feels completely overwhelmed, helpless and at the mercy of others.
One of the worst fears is losing control in public, fainting and feeling helpless. This consistent avoidance of anxiety-provoking situations can lead to a complete withdrawal into one's own home and a breakdown of all social relationships.
4.4 The social phobia
In the case of social phobia, those affected are primarily afraid of being criticized or ridiculed, of embarrassing themselves or of being the center of attention. The fears therefore relate to all areas of everyday life in which you come together with people: social occasions such as parties or outings with friends, professional life (talking on the phone to colleagues, talking to superiors or colleagues, eating together in the canteen) and daily contact in public.
In addition to the typical anxiety symptoms, there are also fears of embarrassing oneself in the presence of others, blushing, getting a squeaky voice or doing something very embarrassing. Contact with other people is reduced to the bare minimum and, where it is unavoidable, is perceived as incredibly stressful.
4.5 The specific phobia
Spiders, dogs, snakes or even thunderstorms, heights or confined spaces can cause excessively strong fear reactions and avoidance behavior in people who suffer from a specific phobia.
A specific phobia is always focused on specific situations, objects or things. There are situational phobias, such as the fear of deep abysses or swimming in deep water, the well-known animal phobias, environmental phobias (e.g. the fear of storms or environmental toxins) or blood, syringe and infection phobias.
5 How can I overcome my anxiety?
Various treatment options are available, from self-help to psychotherapeutic and medicinal procedures.
Which therapy should be used in each individual case depends, among other things, on the duration and severity of the disease and any previous treatments. However, it is important to remember that even the best treatment methods will only really work if those affected help!
It is also important to seek help early on!
Talk to a good friend and ask for support - for example in finding a suitable psychotherapist. Don't wait to do this. The sooner you start treatment or attend a self-help group, the easier it is often to get the illness under control.
