Suresh Chandra points out the cause and effect relationship that leads to anxiety and how to overcome it.
Feeling anxious or nervous is a common emotion for people of all ages and a normal reaction to stress but it is more common and intense in older adults. Studies have revealed that about 10-20% of the adult population suffer from anxiety disorder. It is normal to feel anxious about illnesses, new social interactions, and frightening events. But when one feels anxious often and the anxiety is overwhelming and affects daily tasks, social life, and relationships, it may be an illness.
Anxiety disorder causes feelings of fear, worry, apprehension or dread that are excessive or disproportionate to the problems or situations that are feared. It may be of two kinds – specific phobias and generalised anxiety disorder. A specific phobia is an intense, irrational fear of a place, thing or event that actually poses little or no threat. Some common phobias are heights, escalators, tunnels, flying, etc. Agoraphobia is a fear of public places, leaving one’s home or being alone. Social phobia is when an older person feels overwhelmingly anxious and selfconscious in everyday social situations. Such persons feel embarrassed about being unable to remember names or are ashamed of their appearance due to illness.
Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
This is a common illness among older adults and those suffering from GAD have constant worries about their health, family, financial situation, some possible disaster and mortality although there is no imminent cause for such worries. Those with GAD usually understand that they worry more than necessary but still the worry persists. Such older adults have difficulty in relaxing, sleeping, concentrating and are startled too easily. Some other symptoms include fatigue, headaches, muscle tensions, trembling and irritability. They go to the bathroom frequently and feel out of breath.
Causes of GAD
This story is from the January 2018 edition of Dignity Dialogue.
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This story is from the January 2018 edition of Dignity Dialogue.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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