HOW IS ANXIETY DIAGNOSED?

• Obvious anxiety or an obvious manifestation of a defense mechanism (such as phobia), or both.
• Definitely not limited to an adjustment disorder.
• Bodily symptoms referable to a specific organ system (eg breathlessness, palpitations, numbness).
• The symptoms are not a result of physical disorders, diagnosed psychiatric conditions (eg, schizophrenia), or substance abuse (eg alcohol or cocaine).

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS

Stress, fear and anxiety all are interactive. The principal components of anxiety may be any of the following:

1. Psychological: tension, fears and difficulty in concentration and
2. Somatic (fast pulse, faster breathing, palpitations, tremors and excessive sweating).

IN WHAT DIFFERENT WAYS WILL ANXIETY MANIFEST?

In some, anxiety may be free-floating, resulting in acute anxiety attacks. But in most with one or several defense mechanisms functioning, the consequences can be any of the following well known problems such as

• General Anxiety
• Panic attacks
• Phobias
• Conversion reactions
• Dissociative states
• Obsessions & compulsions.

Planned-time activities tend to bind anxiety and many people have increased difficulties when this is lost, as on a Sunday or in retirement. These people do well during the week with a planned work schedule but cannot tolerate the unstructured weekend.