physical symptoms of anxiety attacks, causes of anxiety attacks & much more
Physical symptoms of anxiety attacks
are common in ibs. We can all suffer anxiety at some point in our lives such as constant worrying about examinations, interviews etc, but they can also be part of general anxiety disorder, a more chronic form of the disorder. Depression is also more common in irritable bowel syndrome and it is important to recognise this as both these conditions can be treated.
So what are the symptoms of anxiety?
We all know what it feels like, but what are the actual physical symptoms of anxiety attacks? They can be listed as follows:
Physical:
Dry mouth
Sweating/perspiration
Palpitations
Restlessness
Dizziness
Breathlessness
Fatigue
Aches including stomach pains or anxious stomach
Poor sleep
Aggression
Period disturbance
Psychological
Impending doom/dread
Poor concentration
Easily distractrated
Constant worrying
What are the causes of anxiety?
Causes of anxiety can be due to medical causes and psychological causes.
Medical causes may include:
Hyperthyroidism - excessive production of thyroid hormone
Drugs - Salbutamol, steroids, excessive Thyroxine
Carcinoid syndrome - caused by a tumour that produces chemicals that stimulate the bodies autonomic system
Phaeochromocytoma
Psychological causes may include
'Life events' such as a trauma (post-traumatic stress syndrome)
Illness
A bad childhood experience (e.g child sex abuse)
A death
In most cases the causes of anxiety are unknown. There are theories as to a chemical imbalance and this involves the neurotransmitters norepinepherine and serotonin. Drug therapies are normally directed at these neurotransmitters.
How is anxiety diagnosed?
The diagnosis is made on the history, although there are scoring systems available including the GAD score and the Beck anxiety inventory.
What are the treatments of anxiety?
Treatments of anxiety can be split into drug treatment and psychological treatments. Drug treatments include short-term use of benzodiazepines such as Diazepam (valium), beta-blockers and SSRI's plus others. Psychological treatments include cognitive therapy, group therapy, support groups and much more!
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