Who is Most at Risk to Have Anxiety?

Imagine waking up in the middle of the night, drenched in sweat, worrying about the chances of getting that elusive job, looking at your aging parents, and then drowning in a pool of self-pity. Seems all familiar? Anxiety is the word for that feeling of unease, debilitating fear, and dread that keeps you from leading a whole and happy life.

At some point in our lives, all of us fall prey to the web of negative thoughts that threaten to drown us in the abyss of no return. But are some of us genetically predisposed to developing anxious feelings, or is it a classic case of nature versus nurture?

In the following paragraphs, we will attempt to decode the most vulnerable sections of society at risk of developing anxious feelings at some point in their life.

A Quick Definition

The American Psychological Association states, “Anxiety is an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes like increased blood pressure.” Another poignant definition of stress by Selye goes like this, “Stress can be explained as a feeling of emotional and physical tension which arises from any event that threatens our homeostasis.”

Anxiety, stress, and fear are terms used interchangeably to indicate the fight-or-flight response. However, there is a fine line of distinction between these three terminologies.

While stress is the person’s response to a real-time stressor, anxiety is the reaction to stress. Trembling, sweating, dizziness, or a rapid rise in heartbeat are all symptoms of the disorder. Similarly, while fear is a short-lived response to a clearly identifiable threat in the present, anxiety is a prolonged response to a future threat that may be diffuse in nature. Let that sink in!

Let’s have a look at some numbers to understand the repercussions and the depth of the roots of this mental health issue:

• The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) revealed some interesting facts. While 40 million of the US population lives with this disorder, only 36.9% of those afflicted receive appropriate treatment for it.
• In India, “The weighted prevalence rates of different anxiety disorders were 4.2% (Phobia), 5.8% (GAD), 3.1% (Obsession) and 4.5% (Hysteria).”
• According to the National Institute of Mental Health, women are twice as likely to suffer from Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) as men.
• COVID-19 brought a tide of unending and pervasive fear of getting infected and losing our loved ones. Not to mention the loss of livelihood and the pains of lockdown-induced loneliness. Indian young adults and students displayed moderate depression owing to unprecedented changes in their daily routine and method of learning dissemination.

Moving over to the types of such disorders, let’s delve into the categories highlighted by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders: 5th Edition.

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Though an extremely common condition, it is also fairly treatable. Living with this mental health issue can be crippling and lead to lower life satisfaction levels. To be diagnosed with GAD, one must report excessive anxious thoughts and worry related to different areas of their life for at least six months or more. Other symptoms, such as trouble sleeping, difficulty concentrating, constant fatigue, tense muscles, and irritability, will also be considered. To rule out any other physical conditions, the doctor may prescribe body-fluid tests and physical examinations, use psychological questionnaires, and conduct a detailed medical and family history assessment.
• Panic Disorder: A panic attack can be a debilitating experience for people with high anxiety levels. It can manifest in physical symptoms like rapid breathing, sweating, fear of going crazy, lightheadedness, nausea, shaking, and increased heartbeat. In addition to the above symptoms, a panic attack is also characterized by the following:
  
  • It occurs without any warning, and there is no way to stop it.
  • The intensity of the panic response is way out of proportion and completely unrelated to the situation.
  • The body cannot sustain a “fight or flight” response for more than a few minutes; however, repeated attacks may occur in the following hours.
• Selective Mutism: Selective Mutism is a disorder where a child or adult may exhibit a “fear of talking” in unfamiliar social situations or in the company of strangers. This is not due to unfamiliarity with the language or a lack of knowledge. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5), to be diagnosed with selective mutism, one must meet the following criteria:
  
  • One may have excellent communication ability at home or in familiar situations, however, face the inability to articulate effectively or “freeze” verbally in social situations where talking is expected, such as at school.
  • The symptoms persist for over one month and significantly hamper school, socializing or work progress.
  • The difficulty observed in articulation is more likely because of a communication disorder and not due to a lack of knowledge or comfort with the language used.

Other kinds of this disorder include phobias, agoraphobia, and social and separation anxiety disorder.

What are the Symptoms?

Such mental health disorders can have multiple ramifications in terms of external symptoms and internal unrest, feelings of unease. Let’s delve into the different signs of this disorder that should ring alarm bells!

• Debilitating restlessness and thoughts or beliefs that are recurrent and hard to control. They interfere with a person’s ability to lead a full life and worsen in intensity over time.
• Marked changes in behavior, such as disinterest in activities that earlier sparked joy.
• Physical signs include rapid heartbeat increase, nausea, dizziness, and unexplained body aches and pains.
• Difficulty in concentrating and sleep issues.

The list isn’t exhaustive, and it is recommended to seek medical opinion for further diagnosis and treatment. On that note, let’s move to the vulnerable sections of society at a higher risk of developing these disorders and other related conditions, such as depression.

Women

Women, since time immemorial, have shouldered immense responsibilities and ages of gender bias. Not surprisingly, as per the National Library of Medicine, women are more likely to get diagnosed with GAD and fall prey to phobias. Here are some pressing facts and numbers that must force us to re-evaluate our social fabric and setup.

• Women are three times more likely to develop OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder) than men.
• Rape being the most likely trigger of PTSD, women are five times more likely to be affected than men.
• When it comes to developing specific phobias and panic disorders, women are twice more likely than men to succumb to these disorders.

The poignancy in these numbers is reminiscent of the blaring need for a change, a shift in thinking, and re-conditioning years of collective trauma.

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Younger Adults

Young adults and adolescents who are yet to learn the ways of the world find themselves predisposed to a lot of mental health disorders in an increasingly uncertain post-covid era. According to research findings from the National Institutes of Health, one in three teenagers will develop such mental health disorders. These numbers have witnessed an upward trend, with a double-fold increase in the number of hospital admissions for teenagers experiencing suicidal tendencies. The statistics are outright scary and indicative of a deeper problem. In a world where competition for basic survival is cut-throat, not to mention lockdowns, and epidemics, ensuring a peaceful existence seems like a lost cause.

People Who Suffer With Related Conditions

This mental health issue brings with it a host of other related conditions, such as depression, hyperventilation, impaired immune system function, digestive disorders like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), and cardiovascular diseases.

When the body kicks into “fight or flight mode,” the lungs try their best to get more oxygen resulting in shorter, quicker breaths. Also referred to as hyperventilation, this can trigger other symptoms like dizziness, tingling, fainting spells, and weakness.

The demand for extra oxygen in a state of nervous worry increases heart rate. The increased narrowing of blood vessels also affects body temperature. A person may experience hot flashes resulting in excessive sweating, which in turn may make a person feel cold.

When in a prolonged state of anxious thoughts, the body releases stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. Cortisol inhibits the release of substances responsible for inflammation, thereby hampering certain parts of the body’s natural immune system resulting in a weakened response to antigens.

When Should I Seek Treatment?

Anxiety is the body’s natural reaction to a temporary stressor. However, when the feelings of worry and unease don’t go away, worsen with time, and interfere with a person’s ability to carry out daily chores, that is when one should seek medical help.

A treatable condition, doctors may use a combination of the following methods depending on an individual’s bespoke needs and journey:

• psychotherapy (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance, and Commitment Therapy), 
• medication (beta-blockers, antidepressants, anti-anxiety), 
• support groups, 
• stress management techniques (exercise, mindfulness, meditation).

Get Help From a Trusted Therapist With DocVita Today

While we live in challenging times, the best of us succumb to the pressures of life, making ends meet and everything in between. Please know that it is okay to seek help and that you aren’t alone.

If you have been feeling on edge, fatigued, and out-of-sorts for a long time or know someone who is, please feel free to get in touch with qualified mental health professionals at DocVita.

Healing is just a couple of clicks away; see you on the other side of the proverbial tunnel where the Sun shines bright, and troubles are but a far sight!