Anxiety disorder Anxiety is a feeling of unease, such as worry or fear. It’s absolutely normal for feelings anxious at some point in their life – worried and anxious about exam, job interview, giving presentations front of huge crowd, meeting new people. However, if anxious/ worried for long time, unable to handle the worry, affecting your daily activities, decreasing your performance then anxiety becomes disorder and needs help of psychiatrist. Usually anxiety patients reach family physician, cardiologists- getting almost all investigations done which are normal , however symptoms persists and worsens till they reach psychiatrist- either directly or referred. Anxiety disorder is presented in several ways- panic attacks, phobias (fear), generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Symptoms of anxiety disorder- • restlessness, and a feeling of being "on-edge" • uncontrollable feelings of worry • increased irritability • concentration difficulties • sleep difficulties, such as problems in falling or staying asleep In panic disorder- panic attacks lasting for few minutes characterized by increased heart rate, sweating, coldness of hands and feet, tremors/shakiness of body, dryness of mouth. An individual experiencing a panic attack may misinterpret it as a life-threatening illness like heart attack, and may make drastic changes in behavior to avoid future attacks like rushing to hospital in emergency room, getting ECG and other tests done which are normal. Social anxiety disorder- fear of being in social situations like family get together, with group of friends, in crowded public places. This leads to isolation- being alone, avoiding meeting people, and decreased self-confidence. There is fear of being judged and criticized in public. Phobia- fear of heights, fear of dark, fear of closed spaces like lifts, fear of open spaces. This fear leads to symptoms like cold feet, tremors of hands legs, increase in heart beats- palpitations, feeling numb, and chest pains. These symptoms gradually lead to avoiding such places and situations. This leads further to socio-occupational impairment. Treatment- yes, anxiety can be treated. Treatment includes counselling sessions (Talk Therapy) to identify deep rooted issues causing anxiety. There are medications for management of anxiety. However, these medications will not be required lifelong if treatment is taken on right time along with counselling sessions. Supportive therapy- Relaxation therapy, avoid alcohol smoking as they are aggravation factors for anxiety, physical exercises, deep breathing twice a day for 10 mins, yoga meditation, healthy diet.