Anxiety

Symptoms

Feelings of anxiety are familiar to us all. They range in intensity from feelings of uneasiness producing trembling and sweaty hands, to bouts of *diarrhea, *heart palpitations and full-blown *panic attacks. Anxiety can cause complete, albeit temporary, memory blocks, or cause entirely inappropriate behaviour.

Whatever the cause of anxiety, the result is not always debilitating. In fact, anxiety can be a useful coping mechanism. The apprehension of a deadline can improve performance, and an uneasy sensation of anxiety alerts us to a possible conflict or danger. If an anxiousness causes us to work through unresolved problems, the results are highly rewarding. Re-defining who we are and what we want reinforces a sense of ourselves, and provides confidence. On the other hand, if the source of the problem cannot be resolved, symptoms may intensify and be longer lasting. Depending on the individual, various types of problems may occur. Some typical ones are *head-aches, digestive upsets, impotence, *insomnia and an inability to relax. A feeling of a lump in the throat, also known as globus hystericus, is not uncommon for women during times of extreme *stress. This lump is not due to any physical problem, but is rather a strong signal of stress, and is possibly the result of a *muscle spasm in the throat.

Causes

Physically, anxiety occurs when an overload of stress on the nervous system throws it off balance. As a result, the autonomic nervous system becomes overstimulated, causing symptoms of anxiety. Anxiety is most often a temporary problem caused by periods of extreme emotional stress. It is often directly linked to our ability to cope with stress in our environment, but definite factors trigger and aggravate anxiety. All substances that induce wakefulness, including the caffeine in coffee and colas, act upon the nervous system to put the nerves on edge. Smoking to relax is a psychological fallacy, as the nicotine increases rather than reduces stress. An overload of toxins or toxic metals in the body can attack the nervous system and cause anxiety. Hangovers and withdrawal from alcohol produce nervousness and tremors. Furthermore, anxiety is linked to an increased production of lactate in the body, which both alcohol and caffeine cause.

In our society in particular, overstimulation leading to frayed nerves is a common problem. Besides the constant pressure of work, technological progress with cell phones and pagers allows individuals to be available twenty-four hours each day. Radio and television also play a role. Sleep helps maintain a balance with stress, so lack of sleep can cause and aggravate nervous tension. Late nights and continually changing sleep patterns are also problems. Anxiety occurs most commonly during, or in anticipation of, an event which depends on performance. Typical situations are writing an exam, relocating to jobs or cities, or meeting someone important. Change also causes anxiety, and the more serious the change, the more profound the effect. Death, divorce and personal illness are among the toughest changes which can trigger symptoms of anxiety and nervous tension. Since the nerves are dependent on nutrients to keep them calm, low blood-sugar levels or *hypoglycemia will cause feelings of distress. Hypoglycemia is often linked to eating too many sweets and missing meals.

Illness can also cause anxiety, even fear.

An overactive *thyroid can cause apprehension and anxiety, as the body's metabolism speeds up. *Strokes and other illnesses that affect the central nervous system may also cause feelings of anxiety.

Nutrition

Source: Encyclopedia of Natural Healing by Siegfried Gursche and Zoltan Rona