Anxiety is a common emotion and experiencing anxiety occasionally is normal. However, when a person feels anxious all the time and this starts to affect his/her day to day life then it becomes a medical disorder. People suffering from anxiety disorder have excessive worry and fear about everyday situations. The American Psychological Association (APA) explains anxiety as an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts and physical changes such as blood pressure. One should know the difference between normal anxiety and an anxiety disorder which requires medical attention.

The nervous feeling before an important life event or during a difficult situation is considered as normal anxiety but if these feelings of anxiety and panic intervene with your daily activities then it is considered as an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders include repeated incidents of unexpected feelings of extreme anxiety and fear.   

Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) include restlessness, feeling worried, increased heart rate, increased irritability, fatigue or weakness, trouble in concentrating, having trouble sleeping, stubborn feelings of worry.

If you’re feeling these symptoms from a long time and they cause trouble in your day to day life, then you might be diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. There are different types of anxiety disorders such as:

1 - Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): It involves excessive, long-lasting anxiety that worries about ordinary activities or routine issues. This is the most common anxiety disorder and is difficult to control. It also affects how you feel physically.

2 - Agoraphobia: People suffering from Agoraphobia anxiety disorder fear and avoid places or situations from which it may be difficult to escape and may cause them to panic.

3 - Panic Disorder: It includes repeated incidents of unexpected feelings of extreme anxiety and fear or panic that escalates rapidly and reach a peak within minutes resulting in panic attacks. These attacks can lead to breathing difficulties, chest pain, dizziness, and nausea.

4 - Selective Mutism: This type of anxiety disorder is generally experienced by some children, in which they fail to speak in certain situations, such as school, even if they have excellent verbal communication skills around familiar people.

5 - Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia): It is a fear of being judged by others in social situations and involves a high level of anxiety and avoidance of social situations.

6 - Specific Phobias: Phobias relate to a specific cause. People suffering from specific phobia tend to fear and avoid a specific object or situation.

7 - Separation Anxiety Disorder: People may suffer from separation anxiety disorder after detachment from the person they had feelings for.  

There are many causes of Anxiety Disorder. Some of the possible causes are:

• Hereditary, people whose relatives have an anxiety disorder are more likely to experience it.

• Difficulties at work or relationship problems may also be the reason for anxiety disorder.

• Medical factors, it may be related to an underlying health issue or it can be a side-effect of medication.

There are some factors which may increase the risk of forming an anxiety disorder such as trauma, stress due to an illness, alcohol, and depression.

Anxiety disorder, if not treated properly can worsen other mental and physical conditions such as insomnia, headaches and chronic pain, digestive problems, and it may lead to poor quality of lifestyle.

Anxiety originates from chemical imbalances in the human’s body and is beyond our control. According to CBD Central, 30% of American adults suffer from Anxiety and 1 out of 3 adults function with anxiety on a daily basis.

Some ways to reduce the impact of anxiety disorders include:

• Consulting A Doctor: Anxiety can be risky, if not treated for a long time. It’s better to consult a doctor before anxiety levels increase.

• Taking the help of CBD oil which interacts with and regulates the endocannabinoid system which is responsible for regulating balance in the body. Anxiety reduces when the body systems are balanced.

• Stay Active: Participate in activities you love and do the things that make you feel better. Try to indulge in social interactions.

• Avoid Alcohol: Regular alcohol intake can worsen your anxiety.

• Sleep: Proper sleep can help in reducing anxiety disorders.

• Decrease Caffeine intake.

The first step in managing anxiety disorder is self-management, it involves various relaxation techniques and a healthy lifestyle. However, treatment will be different for each person depending on the type of anxiety disorder they have. It’s better to seek treatment if you feel you have the symptoms of anxiety disorder.