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Health & Wellness
Are Anxiety Disorders Really Only in Your Head?
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We all experience periods of anxiety. It’s the brain’s way of getting us ready to face or escape danger or deal with stressful situations. For example, anxiety before exams can make one study more and, hence, do well on a test. However, at times, the anxiety can be quite se
vere or exaggerated in relation to the actual situation. This can lead to intense physical sensations, anxious thoughts, worries and avoidant that impact your life. An example would be skipping school the day of a test because you’re so anxious. Or, another example is having a panic attack to the point that you can’t take a test.
But why does anxiety manifest with physical symptoms?
Filza Hussain, M.D., Mayo Clinic Health System behavioral health provider, offers this simplified explanation: The brain is an extremely powerful organ. It is, in a way, the central command center for the rest of the body and has an influence over all the different organ systems. When this central command system is hijacked by anxiety, the anxiety has free reign to cause havoc in the different organ systems, creating physical symptoms even though there is nothing wrong with the organ itself.
Primary care physicians and emergency room doctors usually are the first line of defense. Their methodical approach to first rule out medical causes, such as thyroid, heart and other hormonal problems, and then diagnose an anxiety disorder, is a positive approach to diagnosing an anxiety disorder.
The good news is anxiety disorders are manageable. Medications are available to help in the short- or long-term. There also are a number of non-medication ways of managing anxiety. They include reducing stress, exercising, practicing breathing exercises and using yoga techniques. Cognitive behavioral therapy, which teaches your brain to change thought patterns, can help as well.
"So, when you hear 'it’s an anxiety disorder,' don’t despair or think no one is taking you seriously. Rejoice in the fact that there is no life-threatening medical problem causing your symptoms, and ask your doctor about the best way for to gain control over your affliction," says Dr. Hussain.
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