Anxiety: The most important information you need to improve your health
By Adams Media
()
About this ebook
Inside you’ll find expert advice and helpful tips on understanding anxiety, seeking help from therapist and support groups, finding the best medications and treatments, and thoughtful advice on helping family and friends understand your condition. Living with depression can be challenging, but with the right guidance you can live a happy and healthy life.
Adams Media
At Adams Media, we don’t just publish books—we craft experiences that matter to you. Whether you’re diving deep into spirituality, whipping up delights in the kitchen, or planning your personal finances, our diverse range of lifestyle books, decks, journals, and more is designed to feed your curiosity. The Adams team strives to publish content that celebrates readers where they are—and where they’re going.
Read more from Adams Media
The Encyclopedia of Crystals, Herbs, and New Age Elements: An A to Z Guide to New Age Elements and How to Use Them Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHappiness Hacks: 300+ Simple Ways to Get—and Stay—Happy Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Little Book of Self-Care: 200 Ways to Refresh, Restore, and Rejuvenate Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Freezer Meals: 50 Essential Recipes for Today's Busy Cook Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Hex Your Ex: And 100+ Other Spells to Right Wrongs and Banish Bad Luck for Good Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Brain Hacks: 200+ Ways to Boost Your Brain Power Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Read Tarot: A Practical Guide Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Try-It Diet - Vegan: A two-week healthy eating plan Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Quick and Easy College Cookbook: 300 Healthy, Low-Cost Meals that Fit Your Budget and Schedule Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Treasury of Christmas Stories: Heartwarming Tales That Capture the Holiday Spirit Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings5-Minute Yoga: A More Energetic, Focused, and Balanced You in Just 5 Minutes a Day Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The 50 Best Thai Recipes: Tasty, fresh, and easy to make! Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The "I Love My Rice Cooker" Recipe Book: From Mashed Sweet Potatoes to Spicy Ground Beef, 175 Easy--and Unexpected--Recipes Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe 50 Best Macrobiotic Recipes: Tasty, fresh, and easy to make! Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5My Pocket Tai Chi: Improve Focus. Reduce Stress. Find Balance. Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Unofficial Wordle Strategy Guide: How to Play—and Win—Everyone's Favorite Online Game Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsProsperity Spells: 50 Incantations and Potions for Financial and Personal Success Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Love Spells: 50 Romantic Incantations and Potions Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Body Language and Relationships: Learn the Secret Meaning Behind Every Move Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The 50 Best Healthy Slow Cooker Recipes: Tasty, fresh, and easy to make! Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to Anxiety
Related ebooks
Depression: The most important information you need to improve your health Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Everything Guide to Coping with Panic Disorder: Learn How to Take Control of Your Panic and Live a Healthier, Happier Life Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAnxiety Management Techniques: What Is Anxiety Attack & Disorder? Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Don’t Let Anxiety Stop You: Eliminate Anxiety And Panic Attacks With One Simple Strategy, One Step A Day Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNo Worries: A Guide to Releasing Anxiety and Worry Using CBT Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow To Be Alright: The Anti-Anxiety Handbook: How You Can Completely Overcome Fear and Anxiety Faster Than You Thought Possible Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTurning Stress Into Success: Understanding, Managing, and Overcoming Anxiety, Panic Attacks, and Panic Disorder Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPanic Attacks and You - Methodology for recovery from anxiety and panic attacks disorder: Panic Attacks, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAnxiety Disorder: A Self-Help Guide With Powerful Strategies for Overcoming Anxiety and Building Self-Confidence Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDepression: The Fool-Proof Method To Overcome Depression and Stress Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/57 Top Anxiety Management Techniques : How You Can Stop Anxiety And Release Stress Today Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Anxiety: A troubleshooting guide for parents Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe De-Stress Diva's Guide to Life: 77 Ways to Recharge, Refocus, and Organize Your Life Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMaster Your Emotions (2nd Edition): Reduce Anxiety, Stop Overthinking and Worrying: Self Help by Jack Peace, #2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOvercoming Anxiety: Reassuring Ways to Break Free from Stress and Worry and Lead a Calmer Life Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5What if...?: My Story of Panic Attacks Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSelf (Don't) Care: 200 Ways to Enjoy Life Without Giving a F*ck Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEmbracing the Fear: Learning To Manage Anxiety & Panic Attacks Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Everything Guide to Stress Management: Step-by-step advice for eliminating stress and living a happy, healthy life Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Everything Guide to Anger Management: Proven Techniques to Understand and Control Anger Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPanic Disorder With Agoraphobia: A Medical and Personal History: Where Things Stand Today 2018 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCalm Mind: Proven Tactics to Treat Anxiety Panic Attacks and Take Charge of Your Life Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCoping with Fears and Phobias: A CBT Guide to Understanding and Facing Your Anxieties Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Relationships For You
I'm Glad My Mom Died Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Good Girl's Guide to Great Sex: Creating a Marriage That's Both Holy and Hot Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5She Comes First: The Thinking Man's Guide to Pleasuring a Woman Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Polysecure: Attachment, Trauma and Consensual Nonmonogamy Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Big Book of 30-Day Challenges: 60 Habit-Forming Programs to Live an Infinitely Better Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Child Called It: One Child's Courage to Survive Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5ADHD: A Hunter in a Farmer's World Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, HER Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Not Die Alone: The Surprising Science That Will Help You Find Love Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Covert Passive Aggressive Narcissist: The Narcissism Series, #1 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Like Switch: An Ex-FBI Agent's Guide to Influencing, Attracting, and Winning People Over Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Art of Loving Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Everything I Know About Love: A Memoir Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/58 Rules of Love: How to Find It, Keep It, and Let It Go Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5All About Love: New Visions Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Unfuck Your Boundaries: Build Better Relationships through Consent, Communication, and Expressing Your Needs Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Codependence and the Power of Detachment: How to Set Boundaries and Make Your Life Your Own Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5It's Not Supposed to Be This Way: Finding Unexpected Strength When Disappointments Leave You Shattered Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen: A Survival Guide to Life with Children Ages 2-7 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The ADHD Effect on Marriage: Understand and Rebuild Your Relationship in Six Steps Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Boundaries Workbook: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Great Sex Rescue: The Lies You've Been Taught and How to Recover What God Intended Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Reviews for Anxiety
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
Anxiety - Adams Media
The Everything® Healthy Living Series
Anxiety
The most important information you need to improve your health
Adams Media, a division of F+W Media, Inc.
Avon, Massachusetts
Contents
Introduction
Anxiety: The Basics
A Human Quality
Defining Anxiety
Am I Going Crazy?
Is It All in My Head or Do I Have a Disease?
What Is a Disorder?
Fear Versus Anxiety
A Timeline
The Rise of Medication
Anxiety Statistics
Mind and Body
Responding to Stress
The Nervous System
The Central Nervous System
The Peripheral Nervous System
The Relaxation Response
When Anxiety Becomes Chronic
General Symptoms of Anxiety
Characteristics Associated with Anxiety
Self-Esteem and Self-Worth
Perfectionism
Repressed Emotions
Need for Approval
Rigid Thinking
Tendency to Ignore Signs of Stress
Desire for Control
Distorted Thinking
Medications That Treat Anxiety Disorders
Psychotropic Medications
Benzodiazepines
Tricyclic Antidepressants
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
Beta-Blockers
Azaspirones
Anticonvulsants
Guidelines for Taking Medication
Talk Therapy
What Is Talk Therapy?
Who Does Talk Therapy?
How to Find and Choose a Therapist
What to Expect from a Therapy Session
Does Talk Therapy Work?
Behavior Therapy
Psychotherapy
Group Therapy
Alternative Treatments and Therapies for Anxiety
What Does Alternative
Mean?
Acupuncture
Aromatherapy and Bach Flower Remedies
Ayurveda
Chiropractic
Dietary Supplements and Herbs
Homeopathy and Naturopathy
Massage and Therapeutic Touch
Meditation and Yoga
Also Available
Copyright Page
Introduction
For more than 10 years, millions of readers have trusted the bestselling Everything series for expert advice and important information on health topics ranging from pregnancy and postpartum care to heart health, anxiety, and diabetes. Packed with the most recent, up-to-date data, Everything health guides help you get the right diagnosis, choose the best doctor, and find the treatment options that work for you.
The Everything® Healthy Living Series books are concise guides, focusing on only the essential information you need. Whether you’re looking for an overview of traditional and alternative migraine treatments, advice on starting a heart-healthy lifestyle, or suggestions for finding the right medical team, there’s an Everything Healthy Living Book for you.
Anxiety
Everyone experiences anxiety. Stressful situations make up a good portion of the day for most people. If you have to get your kids off to school every morning or have a daily commute on traffic-choked highways, you probably feel anxious during these times. Maybe you became anxious when you had to take a test in school and still do when you give a weekly report to your boss. Major life transitions, such as graduating from high school or college, or getting married or divorced, or experiencing the death of a loved one will cause extreme anxiety that can last for long periods of time.
Anxiety is part of living, of being human, and is an important component of your ability to set goals, perform at your best, and achieve what you put your mind to. Anxiety is also a warning mechanism telling you that things are not right or dangerous, propelling you to take action to protect yourself. In fact, without anxiety humankind would never have survived. It is a normal reaction to life situations that are unpleasant, sad, or scary.
General, manageable anxiety happens to everyone, but anxiety becomes a problem when it turns into a disruptive chronic condition that hinders how you function in daily life. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health problem in the United States, and approximately 20 million adults, adolescents, and children have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Disorders include panic disorders, social phobia, and stress disorders. Whether you or a family member develops an anxiety disorder depends on any number of related factors, such as heredity, life experiences, and coping skills.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder there are many conventional and alternative treatments that can help ease acute symptoms and set you on the path to healing and recovery. The most important elements in controlling anxiety include awareness, education, getting professional help, treatment, and reaching out for support. It can be intimidating and difficult to admit that you are having significant problems functioning in your daily life, but not getting help can lead to a chronic condition and years of suffering.
Anxiety disorders are often misunderstood and many people think you should be able to overcome symptoms of anxiety by sheer willpower. If you have an anxiety disorder you know this is untrue. This book includes information about anxiety and its disorders, conventional treatments as well as alternative therapies, and how changing your lifestyle can go a long way to vastly improving the way you feel. You’ll also find resources and information on the latest research and self-help exercises and techniques to set you on your way to recovery.
Often the hardest part of getting control of your anxiety is recognizing that you have a problem and that you need help. In picking up this book, you’ve already done that, so you’re well on your way. Just stick with it, be optimistic, and read on — help is only a few pages away.
If you’d like to learn more about anxiety, check out The Everything® Health Guide to Controlling Anxiety, available in print (978-1-59337-429-7) and eBook (978-1-60550-916-7) formats.
Anxiety: The Basics
Anxiety is both a positive and negative force in humans. On the one hand, it protects and adds vitality to one’s life, but when it goes out of control it can negatively disrupt daily function. Anxiety is a complex issue, so the best way to start learning about it is to obtain some basic information, discover the history of anxiety, and find out how the mental health community classifies anxiety disorders.
A Human Quality
Anxiety is an innate quality of being a human being. From humans’ early stone-age ancestors to modern humankind, anxiety is one of your most important defense mechanisms. Without it you would not be able to sense danger and protect yourself. Anxiety is a normal response to certain life situations; it’s totally natural to feel anxious about losing your job or to worry when you learn a hurricane is headed your way.
Though anxiety has a negative connotation, it does have a positive side. It’s important to understand that if anxiety was absent from the human condition, then absent too would be the passion, vitality, and zest that make life worth living. The key is to think of anxiety as your own energy and express it in meaningful, productive ways. How you view anxiety and learn from it makes all the difference. As the saying goes, attitude is everything.
Anxiety, like physical pain, tells you that something is wrong. It can spark the awareness and understanding that leads to solutions to make necessary life changes. Anxiety can encourage you to achieve your personal best, to attain goals, and to reach for your dreams, if you learn how to use it constructively. But if anxiety becomes painful, acute, and persistent and turns into a chronic condition that wreaks psychological, physiological, and behavioral havoc, it becomes impossible to function normally and enjoy life. When that happens, anxiety becomes a disorder.
Defining Anxiety
Anxiety is defined as a state of intense apprehension, agitation, tension, and dread arising from a real or perceived threat of imminent danger.