Anxiety Reaction
Anxiety is the feeling we all get when we think something bad might happen. It is a normal response to stress. It most often causes only a mild reaction. But it can interfere with daily life when anxiety is more severe. In some cases, you may not know what you’re anxious about. Anxiety seems to have both mental and physical triggers. You may have stress from home and family. Or work and social relationships. Anxiety tends to run in families. This may mean it’s linked to genes.
During an anxiety reaction, you may feel:
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Helpless
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Nervous
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Depressed
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Grouchy
Your body may show signs of anxiety in many ways. You may have:
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Dry mouth
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Shakiness
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Dizziness
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Weakness
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Trouble breathing
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Fast breathing
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Chest pressure
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Sweating
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Headache
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Nausea
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Diarrhea
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Tiredness
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Inability to sleep
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Sexual problems
Home care
Try to find those things that set off anxiety in your life. They may not be obvious. They may include:
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Daily hassles of life. This can include traffic jams, missed appointments, or car troubles.
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Major life changes. This means both good changes, such as a new baby or job promotion. This can also mean tough life changes, such as loss of a job or loss of a loved one.
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Overload. This means feeling that you have too many responsibilities. And that you can't take care of all of them.
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Feeling helpless. You may feel you don’t have any control or choices. You may feel that your problems can't be solved.
Notice how your body reacts to stress. This will help you take action before the stress sets off anxiety. When you can, make changes to reduce the sources of your stress. But stress in life often can't be prevented. It is important to learn how to manage stress to reduce anxiety. There are many proven methods that will reduce your anxiety. These include:
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Exercise
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Good nutrition
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Getting enough sleep
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Relaxation methods
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Breathing exercises
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Visualization
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Biofeedback
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Meditation
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Counseling
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Medicine
For more information about this, talk with your healthcare provider. Or check online or at your local library or bookstore. You'll find many books and audiobooks on this subject.
Follow-up care
If you feel your anxiety is not getting better with self-help, call your healthcare provider. Or make an appointment with a counselor. You may need short-term counseling or medicine to help you manage anxiety.
Call 911
Call 911 if any of the following occur:
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Trouble breathing
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Confusion
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Drowsiness or trouble waking up
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Fainting
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Rapid heart rate
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Seizure
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New chest pain that becomes more severe, lasts longer, or spreads into your shoulder, arm, neck, jaw, or back
Call or text 988 if you have thoughts of harming yourself or others. You will be connected to trained crisis counselors at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. An online chat option is also available at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org. You can also call Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (800-273-8255). Lifeline is free and available 24/7.
When to get medical advice
Call your healthcare provider right away if any of the following occur:
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Symptoms that don't improve or get worse, such as feelings of hopelessness or overwhelming sadness
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Severe headache not eased by rest and mild pain medicine
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available at 800-273-TALK (800-273-8255). The Lifeline is available 24/7 and provides free and confidential support. The Lifeline also has an online chat at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org.