HEALTH
The dangers of anxiety and stress: how to recognise them, what they cause and how to overcome them
We all remember the madness of William 'Bill' Foster in the famous 1993 film 'Falling Down' in which a normal person, on the verge of a nervous breakdown, wreaks havoc in the city after failing to get his breakfast. Obviously, breakfast was the triggering event for her madness, which had actually been residing in the recesses of her mind for years.
Without going to such extreme cases, our society imposes on us levels of anxiety and stress that were unthinkable for previous generations, and this conditions our lives causing us so many problems, uncomfortable situations and real pathologies that it is difficult even to recognise without the help of specialists and without deep work on ourselves.
Are you anxious, stressed, and does this worry you? Spend a few minutes reading this short gallery: obviously it will not solve your problem, but it might give you some useful starting points from which to begin working on your condition. And rest assured: you are certainly not the only one.
The dangers of anxiety and stress: how to recognise them, what they cause and how to overcome them
We all remember the madness of William 'Bill' Foster in the famous 1993 film 'Falling Down' in which a normal person, on the verge of a nervous breakdown, wreaks havoc in the city after failing to get his breakfast. Obviously, breakfast was the triggering event of his madness, which had actually been residing in the recesses of his mind for years.Without going to such extreme cases, our society imposes on us levels of anxiety and stress that were unthinkable for previous generations, and this affects our lives causing us so many problems, uncomfortable situations and real pathologies that it is difficult to even recognise without the help of specialists and without working on ourselves in depth. Are you anxious, stressed, and does this worry you? Spend a few minutes reading this short gallery: obviously it will not solve your problem, but it might give you some useful starting points from which to begin working on your condition. And rest assured: you are certainly not the only one.
The first step is to understand what anxiety is
All of us have, in life, suffered from periods of anxiety and stress, but we may not have been able to recognise things for what they really were. Anxiety is a situation of constant fear or alertness that is disproportionate to the situation or immediate danger we face. Disproportionate is the key word in this context, which is different from being anxious. Thus, anxiety is related to the subject's perception of imminent danger.
How to recognize that you are suffering from anxiety and stress
Generally, human beings acquire the same behaviours, or patterns, when they are in a condition of high stress. In general, those suffering from anxiety tend to continuously explore their surroundings, in a constant search for explanations that can comfort them, while controlling the escape routes present. In addition, certain physical reactions common to all have been documented, such as increased heart rate and blood pressure, as well as sweating and possible dizziness. If you experience these symptoms, suddenly, and without a clear explanation, it is possible that you are having a panic attack, or are in a highly stressful and anxious situation. Recognising this immediately is the first step to overcoming the problem.
What are the physical symptoms of anxiety
There are also some well-defined symptoms in people who suffer from anxiety and chronic stress. Constant nervousness and constant apprehension are two of the main ones. Insomnia, i.e. difficulty falling asleep, is also a typical symptom of anxious people. Finding oneself very prone to crying at some point in one's life is certainly a wake-up call. Having frequent palpitations, feeling weak or experiencing random stomach cramps in the middle of the day are also warning signs of stress and anxiety. Moreover, this condition wears down both physical and mental health, causing terrible damage if not treated or at least curbed in time.
Recognized and certified anxiety disorders
Having a constant and chronic condition of anxiety leads to certain disorders, which have been clearly defined and studied by medicine. Having a specific phobia is one of the most common anxiety disorders, and they can be the most diverse (agoraphobia is one of the most common). And again, obsessive-compulsive disorder is often a physical manifestation of anxiety experienced in a chronic form. Being affected by social phobia, i.e. fear of interpersonal relationships, is a clear sign that something is wrong on a psycho-physical level. Post-traumatic stress disorder is also a clear manifestation of anxiety, originating from a specific event.
Phobias and panic attacks are the most prominent manifestations
One of the most common manifestations of chronic anxiety and stress are panic attacks, reactions of fear and lack of excessive rationality with respect to the situation one is experiencing. They are real crises, which also involve the way we reason and process information, which do not allow us to think clearly. Being anxious for long periods of time can also lead to the development of certain phobias, i.e. irrational fears of real things, objects and situations, against which it is impossible to fight despite all the logical explanations that may be given to us. Beware of these alarm bells, they could save you.
How to treat anxiety
We would like to specify that we are not giving any medical advice, these are just suggestions for becoming aware of the situation, which is certainly the first step to take. If the anxiety stems from an established pathology, there will obviously be a whole series of pharmacological treatments that will be explained by the treating doctor. Suffice it to say that sometimes, anxiety arises from real and actual physical disorders, and therefore has a specific medical solution. For situational anxiety, on the other hand, there must be a great deal of personal work, in which the individual goes in search of the motivations that lead him or her into this condition, before one can begin to work on it. Obviously psychotherapy, perhaps combined with sedative drugs (let us repeat, this is not medical advice, just information to raise awareness) can always be helpful.
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