Taking Another Look At Anxiety

Dear Dr. LeCrone:

Is excessive worrying a disease?

My sister frets and stews over every detail imaginable. When things don’t get done to suit her, she comes apart at the seams.

My mother worries constantly about things that she thinks may occur in the future, like epidemics, terrorist attacks and natural disasters.

Finally, I have a brother who constantly worries about his health. One day he is sure he has cancer, and the next day he believes that he is going to have a heart attack within the week.

Please help me better understand anxiety.

-A reader in Virginia

Dear Reader:

Your mother and siblings are in the company of millions of Americans suffering from various forms of anxiety.

There is growing evidence that certain types of anxiety disorders may have biological roots, as they tend to occur more frequently in families and are often passed from one generation to the next. This tendency has been reported in other psychological illnesses and problems, including some forms of depression, bipolar illness, substance abuse and schizophrenia.

Anxiety can emanate from many causes, including medical disorders, chronic stress, personality factors and faulty thinking.

Often, a combination of factors can be related to a person’s anxiety. For example, a person with a very perfectionist approach to life may experience a lot of anxiety when he finds himself in situations where he lacks control over the outcome of his efforts.

His persistent struggle to correct this imbalance can lead to the excessive use of alcohol or other drugs in an attempt to self-medicate his anxiety. A drug addiction can then develop, which leads to medical problems and even more anxiety.

All of these factors need professional evaluation and treatment as they are often complex and intertwined.

Treatment is available and effective for anxiety conditions. Mental health care professionals have made dramatic advances during the past several years in treating these problems with medication, counseling or, frequently, a combination of the two.

Anxiety can often be diminished or avoided by practicing the following healthy habits:

• Limit caffeine consumption.

• Avoid skipping meals. Instead, stick to a balance diet and carefully control alcohol consumption.

• Exercise regularly and develop techniques for managing stress.

• Keep the need for perfection and control in a healthy perspective.

If you need further information, I have archived many columns on anxiety on my website www.haplecrone.com