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Anxiety
Anxiety is a vital built-in reaction, which enables the body and brain to react quickly to possible dangers. There are different forms of treatment for anxiety, depending on how afflicted you are. In the case of an anxiety disorder, anxiety reactions are triggered very often and without any real reason.
What is anxiety?
Anxiety is the most common mental disorder in Norway. About a quarter of the population will be affected by anxiety at some point in their lives. Normal anxiety is a built-in reaction to protect the body from potential dangers. An anxiety disorder differs from normal anxiety in that the feeling of anxiety is long-lasting, comes often and occurs for no real reason.
Causes of anxiety
The reason why someone develops an anxiety disorder is not known for sure, but the predisposition to develop anxiety is hereditary. Environment and external factors are often decisive, such as problems in childhood or having experienced something unpleasant in a particular context.
An anxiety disorder can develop over time, or occur suddenly in connection with a traumatic event. Anxiety can come on its own, or as a result of another mental disorder. Depression and anxiety often occur together.
Different types of anxiety
There are many different types of anxiety. The word anxiety disorder is often used as a collective term for the various types of anxiety.
Generalized anxiety: persistent feelings of unease, worry or fear
Panic disorder: sudden and frequent attacks of anxiety for no apparent reason
Health anxiety: excessive fear that something serious will be wrong with one's own health or that of others
Post-traumatic stress disorder: anxiety disorder triggered by a serious event. Excessive caution and fear of ending up in a similar incident characterizes everyday life
Phobias: anxiety attacks triggered by certain situations that are not actually dangerous, such as going to the dentist
Symptoms of anxiety
The symptoms of anxiety will depend on the type of anxiety you have. Anxiety is often experienced as an unfounded fear over which you have no control. Common symptoms are palpitations, increased heart rate, sweating or feeling cold, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, muscle tension, tremors, dry mouth, difficulty breathing and dizziness.
Good advice and self-treatment for anxiety
Do not use alcohol to reduce anxiety
Relaxation techniques and breathing exercises can help
Try to find a pattern in your anxiety symptoms and practice the ability to tolerate what triggers an anxiety attack. Start carefully
Exercise and physical activity have shown a good effect on anxiety
A healthy and varied diet can contribute to increased well-being
Seek help from others! Talk to family, friends or contact organizations with good expertise in the area.
Self-help on the internet can help those with mild to moderate anxiety disorders.
Treatment of anxiety
The goal of treating anxiety is to achieve symptom freedom and prevent relapse. Which treatment you receive will depend on which anxiety disorder you have.
Talk therapy
Talk therapy is the first choice in the treatment of anxiety disorders, and gives good results in most people. A doctor, psychiatrist or psychologist can perform talk therapy. Here you get information about your own anxiety disorder, help to map when and where the anxiety is triggered and training with exposure exercises (that is, gradually exposing yourself to what you are afraid of).
Treatment with medication
The use of anti-anxiety medication often comes second, and is often combined with talk therapy. In the case of anxiety, disturbances occur in the brain's signaling substances. The use of medicines that affect the amount of signaling substances in the brain has therefore shown a good effect. Antidepressants of the type SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) increase the amount of the signal substance serotonin in the brain and have shown a good effect on anxiety disorders. Other types of antidepressant medication are also used. It takes a few weeks for this type of medication to take effect, and side effects are common in the start-up phase. Therefore, most people start with a low dose, which is gradually increased until the correct dosage is achieved. The treatment continues as long as necessary, and termination of the treatment must take place in consultation with a doctor.
In exceptional cases, sedative drugs of the benzodiazepine type are used. Benzodiazepines have a rapid onset of effect, and may be relevant for a transient anxiety episode or while waiting for other treatment. The downside to these medications is that they are addictive and only help for a short period of time.
Sources: Institute of Public Health, Norwegian electronic medical handbook, Patient handbook, Norwegian Medicines handbook for healthcare personnel, Pocket doctor, Directorate of Health (mental health)
