Cigarette
The use of cigarettes and other products containing nicotine is another common form of self medication. Nicotine temporarily lowers feelings and symptoms of anxiety, which provides a short lived sensation of relief. Unfortunately, as the substance leaves your system, anxiety symptoms return and are often greater because they are coupled with symptoms of nicotine withdrawal.
Most people know that smoking poses a great risk to your health, as does using smokeless tobacco products such as chewing tobacco. Even nicotine replacement products can create dependency, and the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal can often create significant levels of anxiety.
While quitting smoking or ceasing the use of tobacco products may temporarily increase symptoms of anxiety, it is the best long-term decision. Nicotine, while temporarily providing the brain with a sensation of anxiety relief, is actually a stimulant, which means that it will make anxiety and panic worse. All people are advised to avoid the use of tobacco products, but this warning is especially important for people who are prone to anxiety and panic.
Caffeine
Caffeine is a stimulant commonly found in chocolates, teas, sodas, and coffee, as well as energy drinks. A large number of people begin their day with a beverage containing caffeine as a means of helping them to feel more alert in the morning. Because caffeine is a stimulant, however, one of its primary side effects is increased anxiety.
Caffeine works by increasing the heart rate. For people who already have anxiety, this can greatly exacerbate symptoms. For some people, caffeine can even induce panic attacks. Overconsumption of caffeine, which may be even a single cup of coffee for people who are sensitive to the chemical, can be enough to create anxiety and panic attacks even in people who do not otherwise experience these conditions.
For people who have anxiety or panic disorders or who experience anxiety symptoms, the National Institute of Mental Health recommends avoiding any product containing caffeine. Limiting caffeine intake can have a profound effect on people who tend to be anxious or high strung.
Because caffeine is considered a drug, patients who are used to taking in large amounts of it on a daily basis will find that they are best off to taper off of the chemical slowly. Sudden cessation of caffeine for someone who is used to ingesting large amounts of the substance can lead to withdrawal symptoms, including a racing heart, shaking, nervousness, and difficulty sleeping. Gradually tapering off of caffeine can greatly reduce withdrawal symptoms.
Medical Conditions
sick woman
In addition to substances, it is also important for patients to realize that there is a link between many medical conditions and anxiety. Some conditions can actually produce anxiety, some conditions can be caused by it, and in some cases, the condition and the anxiety can have a cyclical relationship where each can contribute to the symptoms of the other. If you have been diagnosed with a medical condition and also experience anxiety or panic, it can offer great benefit for you to research how the conditions may interact with or exacerbate one another.
A strong example of this can be found with GERD, or gastrointestinal esophageal reflux disease. There are many studies that show that anxiety can contribute greatly to symptoms of GERD, but many people who experience severe cases of GERD, which can present with chest pain and other symptoms, are also prone to experience greater anxiety as a result of the condition.
Another common relationship is between anxiety and heart disease. It is worth pointing out again that anxiety and panic do not cause heart attacks or heart disease. With that said, however, people who have heart disease are prone to experiencing anxiety and panic. If heart disease is present, it will be picked up by an EKG. Heart conditions that can cause anxiety include cardiomyopathy, cardiac ischemia, and mitral valve prolapse, though any condition that can be terminal or result in sudden death can also trigger feelings of anxiety or panic.
Hypothyroidism is one condition that can actually cause symptoms of anxiety and panic. Many patients with this condition are accidentally misdiagnosed as having an anxiety disorder either without the thyroid diagnosis being made or in addition to this diagnosis, and then treated with anti-anxiety drugs. For patients experiencing anxiety caused by hypothyroidism, treating the thyroid disorder can resolve the anxiety, rendering anxiety medications ineffective and presenting the risk of side effects without resolving the condition.
Menopause can also trigger anxiety for many women. As you begin to go through menopause, hormone levels in your body start to undergo rapid changes. It is not uncommon for women to experience anxiety during this time. In many cases, anxiety will resolve itself when menopausal changes are the cause, though learning relaxation techniques and other coping mechanisms can be highly effective in dealing with symptoms.
There is a definite link between stress and irritable bowel syndrome, though scientists and researchers are still uncertain as to which disease comes first. These two conditions frequently co-exist for patients, and treating both sets of symptoms is important. Studies do show that managing stress and learning to utilize relaxation techniques can decrease the symptoms of both conditions.
Last, it is important to point out the relation between terminal or fatal medical conditions and anxiety. Anxiety is extremely common in people who have been given a terminal diagnosis for a number of reasons. Fear of death can certainly be anxiety inducing and is common among most people. Sleep deprivation is also incredibly common in end stage illnesses, and patients are often frequently awakened to be given medication and for vital sign checks. For patients who are in the end stages of disease or illness, managing anxiety is an essential part of treatment. There are many different ways of managing anxiety in patients faced with terminal illness, many of which depend on the extent and stage of the illness.