Dr Tariq Jagnarine
Fam Medicine, Endocrinology / Diabetes
Anxiety and depression
Persons with anxiety disorder, may also be depressed. While anxiety and depression can occur separately, it’s not unusual for these two mental health disorders to happen together.
Anxiety can be a symptom of clinical or major depression. Likewise, worsening symptoms of depression can be triggered by an anxiety disorder.
Symptoms of both conditions can be managed with many of the same treatments: psychotherapy (counselling), medications, and lifestyle changes.
Children And Anxiety
Anxiety in children is natural and common. In fact, one in eight children will experience anxiety. As children grow up and learn from their parents, friends, and caretakers, they typically develop the skills to calm themselves and cope with feelings of anxiety.
But, anxiety in children can also become chronic and persistent, developing into an anxiety disorder. Uncontrolled anxiety may begin to interfere with daily activities, and children may avoid interacting with their peers or family members.
Symptoms of an anxiety disorder might include:
• Jitteriness
• Irritability
• Sleeplessness
• Feelings of fear
• Shame
• Feelings of isolation
Anxiety treatment for children includes cognitive behavioural therapy (talk therapy) and medications as listed above based on children’s age and the extent of the anxiety.
Teenagers and anxiety
Teenagers may have many reasons to be anxious. Tests, college visits, and first dates all pop up in these important years. But teenagers who feel anxious or experience symptoms of anxiety frequently may have an anxiety disorder.
Symptoms of anxiety in teenagers may include nervousness, shyness, isolationist behaviours, and avoidance. Likewise, anxiety in teens may lead to unusual behaviours. They may act out, perform poorly in school, skip social events, and even engage in substance or alcohol use. For some teens, depression may accompany anxiety. Diagnosing both conditions is important so that treatment can address the underlying issues and help relieve symptoms.
The most common treatments for anxiety in teenagers are talk therapy and medication. These treatments also help address depression symptoms.
Anxiety and stress
Stress and anxiety are two sides of the same coin. Stress is the result of demands on our brain or body. It can be caused by an event or activity that makes us nervous or worrisome. Anxiety is that same worry, fear, or unease. Anxiety can be a reaction to stress, but it can also occur in people who have no obvious stressors. Both anxiety and stress cause physical and mental symptoms. These include:
• Headache
• Stomach ache
• Fast heartbeat
• Sweating
• Dizziness
• Jitteriness
• Muscle tension
• Rapid breathing
• Panic
• Nervousness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Irrational anger or irritability
• Restlessness
• Sleeplessness
Neither stress nor anxiety is always bad. Both can actually provide persons with a bit of a boost or incentive to accomplish the task or challenge before them. However, if they become persistent, they can begin to interfere with person’s daily life. In that case, it’s important to seek treatment.
The long-term outlook for untreated depression and anxiety includes chronic health issues, such as heart disease
Anxiety and alcohol
In persons who are anxious frequently, they may decide to drink alcohol to calm their nerves. After all, alcohol is a sedative. It can depress the activity of the central nervous system, which may help them feel more relaxed.
In a social setting, that may feel like just the answer that is needed to let down their guard. Ultimately, it may not be the best solution. Some people with anxiety disorders end up abusing alcohol or other drugs in an effort to feel better regularly. This can create a dependency and addiction. It may be necessary to treat an alcohol or drug problem before the anxiety can be addressed. Chronic or long-term use can ultimately make the condition worse, too.
Food and Anxiety
Medication and talk therapy are commonly used to treat anxiety. Lifestyle changes, like getting enough sleep and regular exercise, can also help. In addition, some research suggests the foods we eat may have a beneficial impact on our brain if we frequently experience anxiety.
These foods include:
• Salmon
• Chamomile
• Turmeric
• Dark chocolate
• Yogurt
• Green tea
Medical Treatment Options for Anxiety
• Benzodiazepines
Doctors may prescribe these for certain people with anxiety, but they can be highly addictive. These drugs tend to have few side effects except for drowsiness and possible dependence. Diazepam, or Valium, is an example of a commonly prescribed benzodiazepine.
• Antidepressants
These commonly help with anxiety, even though they also target depression. People often use serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), which have fewer side effects than older antidepressants but are likely to cause jitters, nausea, and sexual dysfunction when treatment begins.
Other antidepressants include fluoxetine, or Prozac.
• Tricyclics
This is a class of drugs older than SSRIs that provide benefits for most anxiety disorders other than OCD. These drugs might cause side effects, including dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, and weight gain. Imipramine and clomipramine are two examples of tricyclics.
Additional drugs a person might use to treat anxiety include:
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
• Beta-blockers
• Buspirone
Natural remedies are used for anxiety
Lifestyle changes can be an effective way to relieve some of the stress and anxiety that persons may cope with every day. Most of the natural “remedies” consist of caring for the body, participating in healthy activities, and eliminating unhealthy ones.
These include:
• Getting enough sleep
• Meditating
• Staying active and exercising
• Eating a healthy diet
• Staying active and working out
• Avoiding alcohol
• Avoiding caffeine
• Quitting smoking cigarettes
Prognosis
Anxiety disorders can be treated with medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of the two. Some people who have a mild anxiety disorder, or a fear of something they can easily avoid, decide to live with the condition and to not seek treatment. It’s important to understand that anxiety disorders can be treated, even in severe cases. Although anxiety usually doesn’t go away, people can learn to manage it and live a happy, healthy life.
