Types of Anxiety Problem

Tension and anxiety are common problems. About one tenth of the population every year will see their doctor because they feel tense or anxious.In the past doctors have traditionally prescribed drugs for such problems,but over the last few years research has shown that there are more effective ways of treating anxiety.This new approach involves teaching people how to cope,and these methods are similar to learning a new skill such as riding a bicycle or learning to play piano.

These approaches can help a variety of people whose problems on the surface may take a different form,but who underneath suffer the same unpleasant feelings.Examples include the housebound person who is terrified of going out ; the person who is afraid of spiders,lifts,aeroplanes,or small spaces (these problems are called Phobias);the person who experiences panic attacks; the person who obsessively checks things such as all the electrical appliances or compulsively washes the hands.Lastly,there may be people who feel generally anxious and who cannot tie their feelings down to anything specific.

Anxiety is a normal reaction.
Don't get surprised when a doctor tells you that you are normal even when you suffer from depression or anxiety.
Anxiety is a normal healthy reaction.It happens to everyone at times of danger or in worrying situations.When you are anxious,your bodily system speeds up.In certain circumstances this can be a definite advantage.It means that you are ready for action and enables you to respond quicky if necessary.Moderate amounts of anxiety actually improve your performance,spurring you on to greater achievements.

People were given a task to do which involved remembering some numbers.But as they did this they were made anxious,some a little,some a lot,some in between.The studies showed that when the anxiety level was high or low,the people did not perform well,but when their anxiety was moderate,they did best.



When does anxiety become a problem?
Anxiety becomes a problem when it interferes with our performance or our everyday lives.This is when it becomes necessary to learn how to control it.Remember that anxiety is a normal healthy reaction.You can not banish it completely from your life but you can learn to manage it.

In the next page,we shall discuss what anxiety does to our body or how does it affect our performance.