How to detect and manage Anxiety Symptoms and Signs of Depression naturally

In this article we are going to have a look at anxiety and understand it in a better way and then how are we going to manage the different forms of anxiety through Siddha System of medicine. So a good theory leads to a good practice.

What is Anxiety

You know what is anxiety — anxiety is a psychological state characterized by nervousness, fear, apprehension and worrying. So as humans we constantly encounter these feelings. The thing is how are we going to come to terms with that — how healthy way we are going to handle them. So that is going to make a difference.

When it comes to an anxiety state, what happens actually is we get immersed. We get submerged into these emotions without thinking about the source of it. Only if we are conscious about the source of it we can find the solutions for it.

Incidence in the General Population

So any medical talk, you know, it has to be started with the incidents in the general population. And I wanted to start it with the teens because this teenage group, adolescence, is a very common group who are suffering by anxiety because they're at the crossroads from childhood to adulthood — in the crossroads they are.

So almost 32% of people with anxiety, they constitute the adolescent group. So out of this 32%, almost 35% they have severe anxiety disorders. So it's not a small number, you know.

Undiagnosed Cases in Children

So in a country like India — you know I work with a lot of schools here — we could see a lot of children who have these anxiety symptoms but they're not diagnosed. Since they are not diagnosed, they're not getting the help. So all those symptoms have to be taken seriously so that, you know, they can get help.

Symptoms of Anxiety in Younger Children

Yeah, so in general for smaller children under 12, under 13, you can see all these symptoms of anxiety.

So we don't — if we come across such symptoms, we should — first thing is we shouldn't brush them aside and then start addressing it in a more human way.

Most of the kids with anxiety, they'll be complaining some body pain like headache, stomach ache, toothache — things like that, you know — constantly without the actual physical ache, they'll start complaining. That's the first line of symptom, actually.

Next, they'll be more clingy towards the parents or the primary caregiver. So they don't even allow them to go to the washroom break — things like that — they'll be even more clingy.

And then there'll be a significant difference in the eating and sleeping patterns, their playing patterns, the way they narrate their everyday happenings to the parents when they come from the school. It'll be significant difference.

And then they'll be constantly submerged with their own worries. They look sad. The bout of crying happens sometimes without any reason.

So — and then you can constantly see — like, you know, gradually see that the performance in the school is also coming down. These are some of the symptoms of anxiety in smaller children.

Separation Anxiety

So there is a separate kind of anxiety called separation anxiety.So that usually happens when children go from home to the school to begin with, and then if a parent is posted somewhere else because of some transfer of the jobs or moving to the different cities — you know, in those times, you know — the children can experience separation anxiety, which is a very common form of anxiety in children.

One thing what we have to keep in mind is: I know this is not going to last for a very long period, but if we don't interfere in a very constructive way, in a very supportive way, this is going to have a serious impact in the way how they are going to live their adult life — in terms of their adult friendships, adult relationships, adult jobs, and so many areas. So this has to be very meaningfully addressed.

Symptoms of Separation Anxiety

So some symptoms of separation anxiety is like bedwetting. There'll be constant bouts of crying, refusing to sleep or they want to hug someone and sleep or — some other parent's bed they would like to sleep.

Sudden tantrums without any reason, and they'll keep complaining about the nightmares. Nightmares are very common symptoms of separation anxiety for children, actually.

So these are the very common symptoms.

Apart from this, you can see their eating pattern changes, the sleeping pattern changes — those things also we have to take into consideration.

Autism and Anxiety

When we discuss about autism, anxiety is a predominant coexisting condition for people with autism spectrum disorders.

So what causes anxiety in them?

So last week we saw about autism and then, so autism — the predominant co-morbidity is anxiety. Almost 40% of people with autism have anxious overload.

So the main reason is: if children with autism go out of routine, they really get anxious.They need to follow their own physical work or all the everyday program should be in a, like, in a visual way. So they don’t like it to be disrupted — that is one thing.

Suddenly they'll get some physical pain and then they'll think what happens if it becomes big — you know, that also leads to anxiety.

And a lot of sensory triggers — some smells can trigger anxiety, some touch can trigger anxiety, you know, somebody's touch can trigger anxiety. There are so many sensory triggers can happen.

And then, if you put them into an unfamiliar situation without preparation — Preparation is a very good, powerful strategy in dealing with children in general.

So if you don’t prepare them and then if they encounter a situation which they are not familiar — that is enough to throw a big tantrum, and anxiety attacks can follow.

And some stressful situations like, you know, pushing too much in the academics, pushing too much into the sports without taking consideration about their bandwidth — that also can trigger anxiety in children with autism.

Anxiety in Women and Adults

So next moving to the next group of anxiety disorder — women are more commonly prone to have an anxiety disorder (AD) than men — almost twice. So in general, it is a worldwide stat which also says the same thing — in terms of mental health, almost 20% of adult population have anxiety. Out of that, almost 25% have severe anxiety which requires a diagnosis.

While we talk about the severe anxiety, we have to keep something in our mind called shallow disorders.

See, most of the people — they say around 41 to 42% of adults have anxiety-related mental health conditions.But what happens is most of them don't have the intensity of the symptoms to get diagnosed. So only half of them have the intensity of the symptoms to get diagnosed.

So that is called a shallow disorder.

If you omit the shallow disorders, almost one in five of every adult — able adult — is anxious.

Types of Anxiety

So there are different types of anxiety. There are more than these four which I have displayed. There are several types of anxiety. After that, I have just picked these four — you know — these things can give an overall understanding.

The first one I’d like to have is generalized anxiety. So that is — people, by being in their being itself, there will be a lot of fear, a lot of worry — constant state of worry, constant state of impulsivity — that is called as general anxiety disorder. We will discuss that.

When you talk about anxiety, it is not one or two symptoms — there are several symptoms. So all these symptoms — it's very chaotic.

What happens is, you know, it can present themselves into many permutations and combinations. So that is what makes treating autism a challenge, actually.

It's not an easy thing, because most of the symptoms are subjective and then you have to constantly listen to them to see, like, what is the intensity they're experiencing — especially like panic attacks.

When they are in that mood, you know, it is very difficult to help them at that moment. So you can only help them post that moment.

Healthy vs Unhealthy Anxiety

Is anxiety unhealthy?

Not entirely, right? We all need some sort of anxieties so that we won’t be complacent, we won’t be lazy, and things like that.

But beyond the small bandwidth, the other spectrum of anxiety is unhealthy.

Classification of Anxiety Symptoms

So the anxiety symptoms can be broadly classified into three groups:

1. Thought Realm

• ❖  The main thing is constant worry.
• ❖  Very rarely the people with anxiety smile in this situation — actually, if it is grown-up anxiety disorder.
• ❖  The thought loop will be very cyclical
• ❖  "That day he said like this… that day it happened like this…”
• ❖  Concentration is less
• ❖  High alertness — that high alertness is what makes one person more anxious actually.

2. Emotional Realm

• ❖  Neuromuscular irritation, constant irritation..
• ❖  Even if you slightly confront them, the tears will flow from their eyes — they'll be very touchy.
• ❖  Nervousness.

3. Behavioral Realm

It's very marked.

For example: we can send a message, and some people avoid it or postpone seeing the messages — even that type of anxious trigger can happen.

Squirming, fidgeting — these physical symptoms also we can observe in terms of anxiety disorder.

Common symptom is restlessness — that is what common symptom is.

They cannot take a clear decision, in terms of a confused state.

Irritability, which you have seen earlier.

Physical symptoms include

• ❖  Body pain
• ❖  Muscle pain
• ❖  General weakness
• ❖  Fatigue
• ❖  Low energy
• ❖  Loss of energy

Getting into sleep mode also takes a very long time.

Types of Anxiety Disorders

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

• ❖  The main symptom is Overthinking — a hallmark feature.
• ❖  Sleep problems
• ❖  What really separates GAD from the other types of anxieties is overthinking.

Social Anxiety

People with social anxiety are very comfortable in their own paradise, in their own homes or own spaces.

But when exposed to a public place or program, then comes this condition.

They always have the fear of being judged — “Somebody’s observing us, observing my body movement,” and things like that.

Overthinking again, and over-analyzing social interactions: “He said this word, what must he have thought to say this word?” It keeps going in a cyclical loop.

Eventually, they completely avoid social exposure — they isolate themselves.

That is the end product of social anxiety.

What causes social anxiety?

The seeds are sown in childhood, not suddenly in adulthood. Limited social skills — children not exposed to varied social and sports settings.

Genetics certainly plays a role in all mental health conditions.

Overprotective parents — who do not allow the child to get exposed in various healthy settings.

Bullied children — may grow up to have adult social anxiety.

Panic Disorder

Many people — at least 5% of the adult population — can get panic attacks or anxiety attacks.

I don’t know how many people in this group have experienced it, but I have personally — so I know the severity.

Experience of Panic Attack

Once a person is in the situation, it looks like a heart attack.

You’ll feel like your heart is jumping in the throat.

Sudden perspiration, full-body sweating.

You’ll be standing on stage, but words will not come out of your mouth.

You may be ready to take a class for a batch of students — but words won't come.

So many types of panic attacks — but the feeling is extreme, like you’re going to faint or die right there.

Illness Anxiety Disorder

This is a very unique form of anxiety.

Many people have this — especially after the COVID wave.

People who got COVID (first wave, second wave) — most of them underwent this.

Symptoms

• ❖  Constantly worrying about their health.
• ❖  Frequent blood work and health checks.
• ❖  Visiting doctors very frequently.
• ❖  Constant worry about health — that can lead to Illness Anxiety Disorder.

Two Groups Within Illness Anxiety Disorder

One group: Constantly seeks attention, frequently visiting healthcare providers.

The other group: Totally shuts down — full of fear:“What if I go and somebody says something?” Out of that worry, they become completely reluctant.

There are several ways prescribed in Siddha System of Medicine to handle anxiety, the part 2 section of this article explains that in detail.