Anxiety is a state whereby a person experiences uneasiness and fear brought about by stress.
It is considered to be a normal reaction to help the body cope with stressors that are encountered in our day to day living.
However, in some individuals, anxiety becomes so overwhelming that it impedes normal daily activities.
In such cases, mood and behavioral changes occur and the person develops an irrational fear of typical, everyday situations.
Anxiety has physical, cognitive and emotional manifestations.
Physically, a stimulus triggers a reaction from an individual evoking fear, apprehension and worry.
Once this happens, the body prepares itself to fight.
Here, the brain sends signals to different parts of the body hence the heart rate increases, pupils dilate and blood pressure rises.
As a result, excessive anxiety can cause nausea, headaches, heart palpitations, shortness of breath and tremors, because the body's responses are sustained over long periods of time until strained to almost breaking point.
There is a general feeling of restlessness because the perception of danger, however irrational it may be, is very real to the person.
The emotional manifestations include feelings of foreboding, dread, apprehension and paranoia.
The individual begins to search for signs to justify his worries and fears which eventually becomes an obsession.
He or she becomes jumpy and tense even at the slightest, everyday occurrences.
In some cases, nightmares and feelings of being trapped are also some of the emotional manifestations.
Anxiety medication is often used as a supportive therapy whereby drugs are given to the individual to treat the specific symptom exhibited by the patient.
Cognitively, the individual with anxiety disorders begins to think of lurking dangers and threats that may not even be there.
Fear of dying is heightened that causes the person to worry incessantly.
Anxiety medication can help alleviate the symptoms of excessive anxiety such as headache, depression and so many others.
These drugs can bring relief but they do not cure the underlying problem.
Anxiety is psychological in origin which is why anxiety medication should be accompanied by psychiatric therapy as well.
Often times, when one stops taking these drugs, the symptoms come back.
There are a variety of prescription drugs available that can be bought over the counter.
Some of these drugs, however, can bring about addiction after prolonged use which is why it is important to first consult a doctor.
The doctor will be able to fully explain the therapeutic as well as the adverse effects of the drug.
He or she can also recommend what anxiety medication to use and help monitor the individual's progress in treating the problem.
Overcoming anxiety is a daunting task.
Often times, the use of anxiety medication is not enough.
Psychiatric therapies and major lifestyle changes should be made as well.
This means getting enough sleep, eating the right food and doing regular exercises.
By doing so, the body then responds positively.
These alternative approaches are often the most difficult to do but have long-lasting effects.
Over time, such activities can help the patient keep anxiety at a manageable level which can then be further reduced with continuous treatment.