Anxiety Disorders in Nursing

Introduction: Anxiety disorders are a group of mental illness, distress which are a cause a normal man cannot carry out a normal life. Anxiety disorders are a kind of disorder that differs from normal feelings of nervousness or anxiousness, and involve excessive fear. Anxiety disorders are the most common of mental disorders and affect nearly 30 percent of adults at some point in their lives.

Types: The types of anxiety disorders include:

• Specific phobias: A patient can feel too much fear of a certain situation or object. For example the person may fears from height or flying or water.
• Panic disorders: A patient may feel fear like random. During panic attack you may feel chest pain, heavy sweat, strong and fast heartbeat.
• Social anxiety disorder: A patient may feel much consciousness that what others say in certain situation. The patient may feel being embarrassed or like others are judging him.
• Generalized anxiety disorder. The patient can feel excessive, unrealistic worry and tension with little or no reason.

Symptoms: Anxiety disorders have some certain symptoms:

• Panic, fear, and un-easiness
• Sleep problems

Not being able to stay calm and still

Cold, sweaty, numb or tingling hands or feet

• Shortness of breath
• Heart palpitations (strong and fast heartbeat)
• Dry mouth
• Tense muscles
• Nausea
• Dizziness

Risk factor: Anxiety disorders are a combination of factors including genetic, environmental, psychological and developmental but the main cause is yet unknown. Anxiety disorders may also be the combination of genes and environmental stress.

Diagnosis and Treatment: Many of people don’t seek doctor’s help because they don’t even realize that they are ill mentally. The treatment may be of two types i.e psychotherapy or talk therapy and medication. Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), a type of talk therapy, can help a person learn a different way of thinking, reacting and behaving to help feel less anxious. And the medication include anti-anxiety medications and antidepressants like beta-blockers.