(Chronic Free-Floating Anxiety)
- Occurs without an external threat (called "free-floating" anxiety)
- Is excessive or unreasonable for the situation or threat
- Negatively affects how you function during the day
- Factors in the environment
- Family member with anxiety disorders
- Stressful life events
- Poor coping strategies
- History of physical or psychological trauma
- Chronic medical illness
- Substance abuse
- History of self-harm as a teenager, with or without suicidal intent
- Worry or dread
- Intrusive or ruminative thoughts
- Sense of imminent danger or catastrophe
- Fear or panic
- Trouble concentrating
- Chest pain
- Rapid heartbeat
- Sweating (especially the palms)
- Dry mouth
- Flushing or blushing
- Muscle tension
- Shortness of breath
- Feeling lightheaded or fainting
- Difficulty sleeping
- Choking sensation
- Abdominal discomfort
- Nausea or vomiting
- Feeling of "butterflies" in the stomach
- Sexual difficulties
- Tingling sensations
- Nail biting or other habitual behavior
|Symptoms of Anxiety|
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- Use of alcohol and drugs
- Mental health history
- Family's mental health history
- Have a strong support system of family and friends.
- Seek therapy to improve your coping skills.
- Join a support group.
- Antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants
- Be aware of situations, occupations, and people that cause you stress.
- If unavoidable, confront and overcome situations that provoke anxiety.
- Find a relaxation technique that works for you. Use it regularly.
- Develop and maintain a strong social support system.
- Express your emotions when they happen.
- Challenge irrational beliefs and thoughts that are not helpful to you.
- Correct misperceptions. Ask others for their points of view.
- Work with a therapist.
- Avoid using nicotine or other drugs. If you drink alcohol, drink only in moderation. Moderation is (one drink or less per day for women and two drinks or less per day for men.
Anxiety and Depression Association of America http://www.adaa.org
Mental Health America http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net
Canadian Psychiatric Association http://www.cpa-apc.org
Canadian Psychological Association http://cpa.ca
Antidepressant use in children, adolescents, and adults. US Food and Drug Administration website. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/InformationbyDrugClass/UCM096273. Updated December 23, 2014. Accessed January 26, 2016.
Generalized anxiety disorder. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed. Updated December 23, 2015. Accessed January 26, 2016.
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). National Institute of Mental Health website. Available at: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/generalized-anxiety-disorder-gad/index.shtml. Accessed January 26, 2016.
12/4/2009 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed: Javnbakht M, Hejazi Kenari R, Ghasemi M. Effects of yoga on depression and anxiety of women. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2009;15(2):102-104.
9/12/2012 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed: Li AW, Goldsmith CA. The effects of yoga on anxiety and stress. Altern Med Rev. 2012;17(1):21-35.
11/6/2014 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed: Mars B, Heron J, Crane C, et al. Clinical and social outcomes of adolescent self harm: Population based birth cohort study. BMJ. 2014;349:g5954.
- Reviewer: Adrian Preda, MD
- Review Date: 12/2015 -
- Update Date: 01/26/2016 -