What is Anxiety?
The often debilitating state of being known as anxiety has its basis in a very natural function. Linked to the "fight or flight" emergency reaction mechanism of the survival instinct. Anxiety appears as a feeling of apprehension or fear and often brings on such physiological responses as rapid heart beat, chest pains, shortness of breath and nausea. In this state the blood vessels are rerouted to increase flow to the muscles and secondary systems like the immune and digestive systems are slowed.
The dangers that lie in anxiety in part are that they can easily lead to the creation of phobias. Negative reinforcement in childhood can cause a person to have an underdeveloped sense of self motivation and will lead to feelings of fear and discomfort when faced with the need to confront difficult life situations. The inability to take charge of one's life will further escalate the problem by creating an ever-growing feeling of worthlessness and impotence. This course can develop severe depression if not treated.
Sometimes this overweening anxiety can be brought on by the psychological prospects of the unknown. Existential anxiety can be brought on by one's contemplating their own mortality or questioning their worth in life. This form of anxiety is often traced to an obsessive-compulsive disorder of the mind.
Fear of failure in one's tasks is referred to as "test anxiety". With the fear of failure and ridicule, those with an underdeveloped sense of self worth can succumb to the negative associations and create physiological symptoms that will further reduce the ability to perform and maintain a spiraling effect on the victim. This "test anxiety" can well follow a person beyond school and show up in later life in the workforce by lowered performance and the inability to function socially.
The primary treatment for excessive anxiety disorder takes the form of pscyological counseling and positive image reinforcement. To quell the worst of the physical symptoms of this problem, simple relaxing teas of natural soothing herbs such as chamomile, peppermint or valerian root will give short term relief. counceling and positive image reinforcement. To quell the worst of the physical symptoms of this problem, simple relaxing teas of natural soothing herbs such as chamomile, peppermint or valerian root will give short term relief.
