Mental health & crisis management 7 APRIL qui z

Anxiety disorders

A common problem

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health illnesses, affecting one in ten Canadians.

In the clinical setting, anxiety disorders often co-exist with other mental health problems such as depression, eating disorders and substance use disorders. This is particularly the case if anxiety disorders are left untreated.

However, when we work on managing the anxiety, the overall functioning, quality of life and well being of that person improves. Thus showing that anxiety can be a big part of the problem, but its treatment is also a big part of the solution.

It is very important to manage anxiety before it escalates further.

 Levels of anxiety

1. Mild anxiety, which occurs in the normal experience of everyday living, allows an individual to perceive reality in sharp focus. A person experiencing a mild level of anxiety sees, hears, and grasps more information, and problem solving becomes more effective. Physical symptoms may include slight discomfort, restlessness, irritability, or mild tension-relieving behaviours (e.g., nail biting, foot or finger tapping, fidgeting, wringing of hands).

2. Moderate Anxiety, As anxiety increases, the perceptual field narrows, and some details are excluded from observation. The person experiencing  moderate anxiety  sees, hears, and grasps less information and may demonstrate  selective inattention , in which only certain things in the environment are seen or heard unless they are pointed out. While the person's ability to think clearly is hampered, learning and problem solving can still take place, although not at an optimal level. Physical symptoms of moderate anxiety include tension, pounding heart, increased pulse and respiratory rate, perspiration, and mild somatic symptoms (gastric discomfort, headache, urinary urgency). Voice tremors and shaking may be noticed. Mild or moderate anxiety levels can be constructive because anxiety may signal that something in the person's life needs attention or is dangerous.

3. Severe Anxiety, The perceptual field of a person experiencing  severe anxiety  is greatly reduced. A person with severe anxiety may focus on one particular detail or many scattered details and have difficulty noticing his or her environment, even when it is pointed out by another. Learning and problem solving are not possible at this level, and the person may be dazed and confused. Behaviour becomes automatic (e.g., wringing hands, pacing) and is aimed at reducing or relieving anxiety. Somatic symptoms such as headache, nausea, dizziness, and insomnia often increase; trembling and a pounding heart are common; and the person may hyperventilate and experience a sense of impending doom or dread.

4. Panic , the most extreme level of anxiety, results in noticeably disturbed behaviour. Someone in a state of panic is unable to process what is going on in the environment and may lose touch with reality, even experiencing hallucinations, or false sensory perceptions (e.g., seeing people or objects not really there). Physical manifestations may include pacing, running, shouting, screaming, or withdrawal, and actions may become erratic, uncoordinated, and impulsive. These sorts of automatic behaviours are used to reduce or relieve anxiety, although such efforts may be ineffective. Acute panic may lead to exhaustion.