Anxiety Disorders

This post was written with the help of Eaton Turner is a bachelor in English philology and literature at California University. Eaten is currently working as one of the best writers at the EssaysWriters.com He also studies feminine psychology.

Anxiety is a natural and widespread phenomenon that plays a particular role in people’s daily life. Basically, it is a primitive physiological process aimed at protecting a person experiencing difficult or even dangerous situation, preparing and priming them to act in self-preserving ways. Indeed, in the face of a threat, this physiological process should be activated to increase the chances of physical survival. This process happens in a predictable way, and it has served to protect species of all types, including people. However, anxiety can be experienced as physically and emotionally disturbing and uncomfortable. Some people may be frightened by anxiety, which oftentimes occurs when they cannot understand what it is and why it happens. In this sense, anxiety becomes a mental health disorder that requires special examination and treatment.

Signs and symptoms

Most people experience an anxiety reaction, or the activation response, when they are faced with a true threat. Although these people clearly say that something is happening with their bodies, few can adequately explain the phenomenon. General lack of knowledge about processes of anxiety often contributes to irrational, fear-based reasoning about the meaning of symptoms that cannot be supported by facts. There are several specific symptoms more commonly experienced during anxiety. For example, an increased heart rate occurs in the presence of threat or stress. A pounding heart pumps blood more quickly, so the heart has to work harder. If the heart rate goes up, the respiration rate is likely to quickly increase as well, often producing rapid, shallow breathing.

During anxiety, a few additional, biochemical responses occur as specific survival values. For example, cortisone is released from the adrenal glands to help restrain allergic reactions during danger. In addition, thyroid hormones are released to expedite metabolism; it is important for the most efficient use of blood sugar and other fuels. Endorphins are released to help mask pain perception, and cholesterol level rises, which helps keep up energy levels.

Sleep problems begin to occur as a result of anxiety. If anxiety happens, overwhelmed people may experience excessive worries, different phobias, muscle tension, chronic indigestion, panic, flashbacks, irrational fears, perfectionism, compulsive behaviors, and self-doubt. It is not easy to identify when anxiety crosses the line of being a simple feeling and becomes a disorder, but if a person experiences the above mentioned symptoms on a regular basis, he or she must consult a doctor.

Age of onset

Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental diseases, and they affect forty million people in the United States who are usually older than 18, which comprise 18 percent of the total population. Many findings reveal that the government spends much money (about $42 billion a year) on treatment; however, only one-third of those who need it apply for medical assistance. People with anxiety disorders are at risk of developing physical illnesses. Admittedly, women seek relief from this disorder more than twice as often as men. Anxiety disorders developed at the young age may lead to psychiatric disorders later in life. Individuals may be in danger of experiencing anxiety disorders because of genetics, life events, personality, and brain chemistry. Different age groups display various predispositions to anxiety disorders. For example, young people at the age of 18-24 are more likely to be anxious about loneliness or the relationships than older people (aged 55 and above).

Nursing interventions

Nursing interventions in cases of anxiety disorders are based on the level of severity of symptoms, psychiatric or medical conditions, and a personal motivation for recovery. For patients who suffer from anxiety disorders, the timing and pacing of interventions are critical. During any phase of anxiety, nursing interventions must be protective and supportive. Medication administration is often an emergent intervention required. Prior to medication administration, a nurse should realize what the patient is experiencing. The nurse needs to quickly establish a therapeutic alliance to support a patient, and not to harm him. Once medication is administered, the nurse then focuses on observing side effects, assessing vital signs of treatment and management of the disorder.

Helpful interventions include using clear and simple instructions; demonstrating deep, slow, diaphragmatic techniques; guiding the patient through visualization and imagery exercises; and helping the patient through progressive muscle relaxation techniques. Other appropriate interventions include identifying and modifying anxiety-provoking situations when possible and provision of reassuring actions rather than probing or challenging ones. When the patient’s level of anxiety is reduced to a moderate, the nurse may implement insight-oriented or educative nursing interventions that may help patients solve their problems. Additional interventions will vary widely depending upon specific anxiety responses and disorders. For example, evidence-based treatment for patients suffering from PTSD includes interventions based on eye movement or cognitive behavior therapies.

Possible nursing diagnosis

Many studies suggest that anxiety is not simply connected with being too anxious, but more critically concerns the exhaustive ways in which the unfortunate situations people find themselves in affect them. The different aspects of a person’s life, such as interpersonal, moral, intrapersonal, occupational, and social, affect his or her individuality that may result in anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders are highly prevalent, and often take chronic and devastating courses when left untreated. Any patient may experience anxiety because of different conditions that frighten them. Examples of medical diagnoses of a type include affective disorders, bulimia nervosa, self-destructive behavior, and many others.

Anxiety is present in every individual, but its degree differs broadly because of such personal characteristics as emotional threshold, problem-solving abilities, chemistry of the brain, and others. Nurses should be able to distinguish such patients in different settings, assisting them in receiving health care support in the form of appropriate interventions. The level of treatment is determined by the level of anxiety: panic, severe, moderate, or mild.

Treatment, medication side effects, and patient education

Treatment for anxiety disorders falls into two main categories: pharmacological and psychological. The majority of psychoactive medications prescribed for patients are azapirones, benzodiazepines, tricyclic antidepressants, and antipsychotic medications. The benzodiazepines tend to be frequently prescribed as they provide immediate relief from anxiety. The side effects are associated with the headache, sleep disturbances, nausea, agitation, decreased libido, and tremor. Based on the information described above, it is imperative to follow several recommendations. For instance, it is required to test the effectiveness of psychological interventions before introducing psychopharmacological treatment. When the level of anxiety is intolerable, medication may be necessary.

Psychological treatment can be provided in many forms, which include psychoanalytic, client-centered therapies, cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBT), supportive-expressive, and some others. Many findings reveal that CBT is the most common form of psychological treatment that can be repeatedly subjected to rigorous, well-controlled treatment outcome research. The various forms of CBT focus on symptoms relief. More specifically, treatment is focused on the relief of cognitive, behavioral, or somatic symptoms through the application of specified techniques. These techniques include relaxation, cognitive restructuring, systematic desensitization, and problem solving among others.

Patient education is an important task in preventing anxiety disorders. The lack of knowledge about this disorder may lead to serious complications that can become chronic. Therefore, training courses, discussions, and other measures must be implemented in the communities for people to better understand disorders of this type.

Anxiety disorders are rather common in modern life that is full of stresses. Some people can solve their psychological problems, while others cannot. It occurs because of different factors, such as excessive worries, different phobias, muscle tension, chronic indigestion, panic, flashbacks, irrational fears, perfectionism, compulsive behaviors, and self-doubt. Patients should be well-educated in order to consult the doctors concerning their psychological and physiological problems. Patients should realize that anxiety disorders are a health conditions that require treatment.