Anxiety in Overdrive

By Dr. Hoda Eltomi

If a world existed where we all happily chilled on a beach day in and day out, we would probably never feel anxious, but we would also never get anything done. The reality is that many of us have a lot to do each day, and a little anxiety can sometimes motivate us to get it done.

However, there is a fine line between anxiety pushing you to meet or exceed the demands on your plate and being so anxious about them that you cannot work efficiently, have fun with friends, spend quality time with family, or fall asleep.

When anxiety impacts your life in negative ways, we refer to this as an anxiety disorder. There are several types of anxiety disorders, including panic disorder, phobias, and generalized anxiety disorder.

A panic disorder, or having “panic attacks,” is a serious condition. During a panic attack, a person is overcome with fear without a real reason or even without warning. These sudden attacks of fear and nervousness are often accompanied by sweating, dizziness, and a fast heart rate. What’s challenging about a panic attack is the fear can occur in a situation which often is not threatening. What’s worse: people get panicked about having another panic attack, which creates a vicious cycle.

Generalized anxiety disorder is a common form of anxiety and is defined as an exaggerated worry and tension over everyday events and decisions. It’s basically worrying about “anything and everything.”

Phobias are another form of anxiety disorder where a person has an irrational and often overwhelming fear of a situation or object. We cannot always pinpoint why people develop phobias, but sometimes there is an obvious experience that triggers them. If you were robbed in the past, for example, you are more likely to feel anxious about going outdoors and mixing with people in fear that an attack might happen again.

What might cause or trigger an anxiety disorder?

• Environmental factors such as living with anxious people or being raised by anxious parents are more likely to make you more anxious.
• Underlying medical conditions like thyroid illness and B12 deficiency can affect your emotions and stress level.
• There is evolving research about the role of vitamin D, and there may be a link to anxiety and vitamin D deficiency.
• Certain medications, like birth control, may play a role in increasing anxiety in a person.
• There also appears to be a genetic predisposition which was found through conducting “twin studies.” Twins who were raised separately and did not live together in the same household were shown to demonstrate similar degrees of anxiety to different situations and experiences.

So what can you do?

• You can start by reducing or even eliminating coffee and other stimulants (e.g., weight loss supplements, caffeinated soda) as they have been linked to increased anxiety
• Regular exercise has also been shown to help
• Breathing exercises can help, especially deep breathing techniques like diaphragmatic breathing
• Herbal teas such as chamomile and hibiscus have not been adequately studied but can be helpful and harmless interventions
• Very importantly, take time to do things that you enjoy! Go fishing like you used to, goof off with your children, change your surroundings when you can, and just take a moment to enjoy the little pleasures of life

If you are still having trouble, talk to your doctor. Some studies have shown that people struggle with anxiety for about five years before seeking help – that’s a long time to deal with these feelings on your own! Your doctor can screen for any underlying illness and perhaps may recommend psychotherapy, which has been shown to be very helpful in the treatment of anxiety. Medications also play a role, and can be helpful, just ask your doctor for advice and guidance.

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About Dr. Hoda Eltomi
Dr. Eltomi has been practicing medicine since 2004 and has been seeing patients at the Braintree practice of Harvard Vanguard since 2013. She is board certified in family medicine, which means she sees both adults and children. She is particularly interested in maternal and child health and health education. She speaks Arabic and is learning Spanish. In her spare time she likes to read, write poetry, cook, and spend time with her children.