Many of us are struggling to balance increasing workloads with added family pressures, such as financial issues and the care-giving needs of both children and ailing adult loved ones. The result can be an overload of stress which, for 25% of us, leads to anxiety disorders at some point during our lives.
When stress begins to feel out of hand, it is time to assess whether you may be suffering from an anxiety disorder. Given that this is one of the easiest mental conditions to treat, diagnosis is the first step towards recovery. Now could be the perfect day to begin.
Tips and Tools You Can Use
Stress isn't an illness. It is merely mental or emotional tension and has a positive role to play in the release of adrenaline, which helps us face life's deadlines and challenges. However, if your reaction to stress becomes exaggerated or irrational, it is time to ask your doctor about anxiety disorders. Here are some tips to help you get started:
Symptoms may include
- Chronic worrying, nervousness and heightened fears.
- Shaking, twitching or trembling.
- Hot flushes, sweating.
- Dizziness, light-headedness.
- Numbness or tingling.
- Breathlessness or a choking sensation.
- Racing heart, tight chest.
- Feelings of impending doom.
- Depression and insomnia.
- Sudden panic attacks which may involve trembling, shaking, racing heart, tight chest, breathlessness, a choking sensation and feelings of being out of control.
- Fear of panic attacks.
- Phobias, involving an irrational fear of certain objects or situations.
- Extreme fear of being humiliated or 'shown up' in front of others, resulting in difficulty speaking, writing or interacting in public.
- Continual and compulsive unwanted thoughts or ritual actions that cannot be controlled.
- Anxiety that is impacting on your life.
- Anxiety vs stress
- Panic Attacks
Some of the above symptoms may indicate other, more serious conditions.
Please check with your doctor.
Treatment
- A thorough physical examination to rule out any physical medical conditions.
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy involves gaining understanding of thinking patterns, gradual exposure to and mastery of situations that have provoked anxiety, and various strategies-including breathing and relaxation techniques-to reduce unwanted reactions.
· Medications
o Access to Health Canada medication related information (http://www.hc-c.gc.ca/english/product.htm)
o Health Canada drug product database (http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hpb-dgps/therapeut/htmleng/dpd.html
o What's this pill for again?
- A combination of medication and therapy
- Coping with anxiety
o Simple things you can do to control stress (http://stress.about.com/library/weekly/aa112600a.htm)
- Supporting someone with anxiety
Helpful Resources
Self-assessment questionnaire
Anxiety Disorders Association of Manitoba (ADAM)
This article is not intended to replace professional consultation. Please see your doctor for all medical concerns.
For more information or to arrange an appointment
for confidential counselling, contact FGIworld,
your EAP/EFAP provider, (24 hours-a-day/7days-a-week) at:
1-800-268-5211 (English) 1-800-363-3872 (en français)
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