An anxiety disorder is a common mental health condition that changes the way you respond to situations. If you live with an anxiety disorder, you may experience dread or fear when faced with a certain circumstance. This is usually accompanied by physical signs and symptoms of anxiety, such as, a racing heart, muscle tension, or trouble sleeping.

While it’s normal to have some anxiety in your day to day life, an anxiety disorder makes it hard to function In a healthy way. It interferes with your ability to respond to a situation calmly and might lead to emotional reactions when you feel triggered by something out of your control. While an anxiety disorder can be overwhelming, there are several treatments available to help you tackle the symptoms.

Main types of anxiety disorders:

• Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD). (Feelings of extreme & constant worry and stress)

• Panic disorder (Panic attacks that may include palpitations, sweating, extreme fear, chest pain and severe anxiety)

• Phobias (Intense & irrational fears of certain situations or objects)

• Separation anxiety

• Social anxiety disorder (Constant worry about being judged or extreme nervousness in social situations)

• Agoraphobia (Constantly feeling overwhelmed or unwilling to leave the house)

• Selective Mutism (Consistent failure to speak in certain social situations)

Some other mental health conditions also share symptoms with anxiety disorders. These are post-traumatic stress disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

It’s important to remember that anxiety disorders are not a reflection of a personal weakness or failure. While researchers have not found an exact cause, there are a combination of factors at play.

Environmental triggers: Any kind of traumatic experience can increase the risk of developing an anxiety disorder.

Heredity: It’s possible to inherit an anxiety disorder from your parents.

Chemical imbalances: If you have experienced long-term stress, it can change certain chemical imbalances that affect your emotions. These changes can trigger an anxiety disorder.

It may not be possible to prevent an anxiety disorder, but there are things you can do to reduce the impact of symptoms.

Managing stress: Stress can worsen an anxiety disorder. It’s important to find ways to relax, so you don’t get easily triggered. Learning mindfulness techniques and asking for help & support when needed are some useful ways to manage stress and reduce symptoms of an anxiety disorder.

Exercise: Whether you like to go to the gym, take quiet walks or go running, find a way to keep your body moving - even if it’s just for 20-30 minutes per day. Physical activity is a great way to tackle common anxiety symptoms like worry and irritation.

A therapist will help you work on the various psychological aspects of anxiety, like constant worry, nervousness about work presentations, exams, irritability and so on.

A psychiatrist will help you work on the various physical aspects of anxiety, like sleeplessness, intense panic etc.

Self-care includes all the steps you can take to help yourself in your mental health journey. This includes building mindfulness and learning relaxation techniques.

Generally, the best possible outcomes from treatment arise when therapy, self-care, and psychiatry work together as they are all complementary to one another.

Yes, while anxiety can be challenging, with the right treatment (like therapy and/or medication) and self-management strategies, many people with anxiety disorders lead fulfilling and productive lives. It's about learning to manage symptoms and learning coping techniques that work for you in stressful situations.

The main treatments for anxiety include psychotherapy (especially Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or CBT), medication (like antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications), and lifestyle adjustments (e.g., exercise, stress management, sufficient sleep, avoiding caffeine). Often, a combination of these approaches is most effective.

Yes, online therapy, particularly online CBT, can be just as effective as in-person therapy for various anxiety disorders. It provides convenience, accessibility, and a comfortable environment.

Yes, a counsellor (or therapist) can help people with anxiety. They use various therapeutic techniques to help you understand your anxiety, identify triggers, understand the root cause, challenge negative thought patterns, and develop coping strategies.