All of us have, in one way or another, experienced anxiety. It might have happened before your big piano recital or before your first date. Anxiety is a normal body response, but once it becomes excessive and regular, like you cannot do the things that you are supposed to do anymore, you should consider getting anxiety help from professionals. This might not be normal anxiety anymore, but already a form of anxiety disorder.

How would you know that you should already consult a professional for help with anxiety? First of all, you have to be aware of the signs and symptoms of an anxiety disorder. There are six types of anxiety disorders–generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, phobia, post-traumatic stress disorder, and social anxiety disorder. Take note that anxiety disorders, though mainly psychological, can also have physical symptoms, which can be potentially life-threatening at times. Here are the general symptoms of anxiety disorders:
•    Strong feeling of apprehension
•    Difficulty in concentrating
•    Feeling tense
•    Irritability
•    Restlessness
•    Feeling of impending doom
•    Difficulty in thinking rational thoughts
•    Excessive sweating
•    Increased heart rate
•    Stomach upset
•    Diarrhea or frequent urination
•    Difficulty of breathing
•    Muscle tension
•    Fatigue
•    Tremors

If you are experiencing these symptoms for a long period of time, then that might be the cue for you to seek for anxiety help. However, you do not need to consult a psychiatrist right away, since there are also ways in which you can help yourself deal with anxiety.

First, you have to know the cause of your anxiety. It does not necessarily follow that if you are a worrywart, you already have an anxiety disorder. On the contrary, you might be constantly anxious because of too much stress in your life. A very demanding schedule, lack of proper sleep, academic and work pressures, too much caffeine in the diet–all of these can cause anxiety. Identifying these as the causes of your anxiety can greatly help you in managing your anxiety symptoms. Maybe you do not need to consult a psychiatrist at all; you just have to modify your current lifestyle.

Make sure that you are able to devote time for relaxation    and recreation activities. Simply spending some time with family and friends can get you out of your hectic schedule every now and then, so that the stresses of work do not strain you. Also, take care of your body by having the proper exercise and eating the right diet. Don’t overload yourself with too much caffeine, for this increases the sympathetic response of your body to stress, making you feel jittery. Do not accept responsibilities that you cannot handle; asking help when you have had too much work seems to be a better idea. Delegating work to others and learning to say no to some jobs that you can turn down are not bad ideas either.

If these are not the causes of your anxiety, then you might want to get professional help with anxiety from other people. Start by getting a medical check-up to rule out possible physiological causes. Anxiety can be a symptom of some underlying medical condition, like asthma, hyperthyroidism, or hypoglycemia. Your doctor also needs to know about the medications that you are already taking, since these may also cause anxiety. Once your doctor establishes that anxiety is not related to any medical condition, then that is the time that you should consult a psychiatrist or therapist.

There are two treatment options for anxiety–undergoing therapy or taking anxiety medication. Two examples of therapies include the cognitive behavioral therapy and the exposure therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy is considered to be the most effective treatment option for anxiety. It involves focusing on irrational thoughts and behaviors and challenging them so as to decrease your anxiety. Exposure therapy, on the other hand, involves confronting your fears in a controlled environment. This is the best therapy for people who have phobic disorders.

One downside of anxiety therapies is that they may take a long time before you see some improvement. That is why taking the anxiety medication prescribed to you is another option you should consider, since this can help manage your symptoms. Anxiety medications come in different classes, most common of which are the benzodiazepines, or anti-anxiety drugs. Examples of benzodiazepines are diazepam or Valium, clonazepam, and lorazepam. These are fast-acting drugs, but they cause sedation. Benzodiazepines are the drugs of choice for people experiencing panic attacks. Other anti-anxiety medications include anti-depressants and beta-blockers.