Anxiety

Einstein Health Library

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is a natural feeling in humans that allows them to anticipate risky situations and prepare for daily challenges. However, when this emotion becomes very intense, with disproportionate worries about problems and in a continuous manner, it turns into a disorder. This disorder can interfere with rest and trigger specific symptoms.

Symptoms

Anxiety disorders present intense symptoms, such as:

Exaggerated worries, tensions, or fears
Continuous feeling that a disaster or something very bad will happen
Extreme fear of an object, being publicly humiliated, or a particular situation
Lack of control over thoughts, images, or actions, which repeat regardless of one's will
Dread after a very difficult situation
Muscle tension
Intensification or onset of body aches
Difficulty disconnecting from problems and sleeping
Changes in bowel function bowel

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of anxiety is usually made by a psychiatrist or psychologist. The process involves a careful assessment of symptoms, medical history, and information about the patient's life. Common steps for diagnosing anxiety include:

Initial assessment: the first step is an initial conversation between the patient and the mental health professional. During this assessment, the patient is encouraged to discuss their symptoms, concerns, medical history, family history, and any stressful life events
Physical exam and laboratory tests: to rule out medical causes underlying anxiety symptoms, the healthcare professional may perform a physical exam and request laboratory tests, such as blood tests, to check for other medical conditions contributing to the symptoms
Diagnostic criteria: the diagnosis of anxiety is based on criteria established in diagnostic manuals in the field. To be identified as an anxiety disorder, symptoms must meet specific criteria, such as duration and severity of symptoms
Psychological evaluation: in some cases, a more detailed psychological evaluation may be conducted to assess specific aspects of anxiety and other mental conditions

Treatment

There are three main types of treatment for anxiety disorders:

Medications (always with medical supervision and indication)
Psychotherapy with a psychologist or psychiatrist
Combination of both treatments (medications and psychotherapy)

The vast majority of people with an anxiety disorder start to feel better and resume their activities after a few weeks of treatment. Therefore, it is important to seek specialized help.

Depending on the causes involved, such as personality development factors, traumas, and crises, the most appropriate approach is to seek psychotherapy. If the disorder has a physiological origin, called “biological anxiety,” a psychiatrist should be consulted.

Prevention

To prevent anxiety from becoming a disorder, with specific disease symptoms, some quality of life measures can help, such as:

Daily physical exercise
Balanced, nutritious, and high-quality diet
Taking care of sleep quality
Relaxation techniques
Leisure

References

CORREA, André Ricardo et al. Exercício físico e os transtornos de ansiedade e depressão [Physical exercise and anxiety and depression disorders]. Revista Faculdades Do Saber, v. 7, n. 14, p. 1072-1078, 2022.

CRUZ REBOUÇAS, Francília et al. A influência da nutrição no tratamento e prevenção dos transtornos mentais: ansiedade e depressão [The influence of nutrition on the treatment and prevention of mental disorders: anxiety and depression]. Research, Society and Development, v. 11, n. 15, 2022.

FROTA, Ilgner Justa et al. Transtornos de ansiedade: histórico, aspectos clínicos e classificações atuais [Anxiety disorders: history, clinical aspects, and current classifications]. Journal of Health & Biological Sciences, v. 10, n. 1, p. 1-8, 2022.