A anguish is a psychological sensation known for its "choking throat" feelings, chest tightness, restlessness, and nervousness. It is a complex experience that can affect our behavior, mood, and thinking, and can lead to future psychosomatic problems.

It is true that all people have it, but not at a high level. In this state, it manifests itself motivated by one of the Anxiety Disorders (panic, phobias, obsessions), by reactions in the body and manifestations that involve, or not, an organic disease.

Among the most common symptoms of anguish, we have:

• Anxiety accompanied by shortness of breath, tightness in the chest;
• Feeling of inner chaos;
• Heartbeat slowed down;
• Negative thoughts and feelings of worry;
• Frequent headaches and migraines;
• Muscle aches and pains;
• Insomnia;
• Changes in appetite;
• Discouragement and mental dejection;
• Difficulty concentrating on tasks;
• Shortness of breath and bouts of panic and fear;
• Tremors, chills, sweating at night, and attacks of diarrhea.

What are the reasons for the cause of the distress?

A most cases of distress are related to Even so, there are situations in which pain arises for no apparent reason, varying according to each person.

The feeling of anguish can also be an intimate sign of a state of depression, which can further intensify the pain felt. Studies show that both of these diseases increase by three times the risk of patients developing them simultaneously. Therefore, at the first sign of frequency of symptoms it is recommended to seek a psychologist or psychiatrist.

How does angst act in our brain?

She acts on the nervous circuits of our system The brain tends to deflect uncomfortable physical signals so that the body can concentrate. These pain and emotion receptor pathways use neurotransmitters to regulate mood.

When this regulation fails, anguish takes shape and intensifies, along with sadness and hopelessness. With this alteration of the nervous system, pain becomes the center of attention, and this psychological condition is perpetuated.

Medication and Treatment for Distress

Before we talk about the types of medications in the treatment for distress, a reminder is in order. All medication must be prescribed by a medical professional (psychiatrist) And, of course, the psychoanalytic therapy is fundamental to the treatment, regardless of whether the person is using medication or not.

The pain caused by anguish can be treatment with virtually all drugs used by psychiatry Mood stabilizers, anticonvulsants, and benzodiazepines are generally indicated to relieve anxiety, fatigue, and insomnia, while the two main antidepressants, tricyclics and SSRIs, can also be used, but in lower doses.

During the treatment of anxiety, the tricyclic antidepressant amitriptyline (Elavil) is the most recommended to be used as an analgesic, mainly for its sedative action against pain and increased activity of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and serotonin.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can also be used, but their results can be different. Generally, antidepressants of this nature, such as sertraline (Zoloft) and fluoxetine (Prozac), are not effective as painkillers, but their side effects are more tolerable to the body, and are less risky options for the patient. A treatment that mixes these two typesof medication is quite common for patients suffering from anxiety, since both drugs act on pain perception and regulate mood.

There is also a more modern antidepressant that can help all these neurotransmitters: the dual action venlafaxine (Effexor), which is superior to the two types of drugs already mentioned. However, the evidence for its use is still inconclusive.

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Thoughts to help in the fight against anxiety

Another way to strengthen chemical treatment is through work that focuses on the emotional and active thoughts of the patient. therapeutic treatment The work of a psychologist and psychoanalyst is essential for better results.

In it, the patient will work to overcome the force of his restless thoughts in order to reduce his physical symptoms in various situations. And it is during this treatment that the patient needs to face his inner mental conflicts. In the process, he needs to recognize the problems and situations that disturb you and if there is more than one problem, the priority becomes to define which is the worst of the evils.

This reflection is more than necessary, after all, not defining a problem intensifies anguish, making it disturbing and infringing on everyday social issues. Facing the problem and dealing with it is an important process, as is accepting resolutions that are beyond your reach and the powerlessness for issues that do not depend on you.

In summary, the distress patient needs to perform certain mental exercises, such as:

• The pain of anguish only exists because there is an internal conflict;
• Identify what is the problem that most generates this feeling within you;
• List actions that can change the situation and perform them whenever possible;
• Stop putting off issues and accomplish them immediately;
• Accept situations where it is not possible to change them independently of yourself, especially losses of people, jobs, etc;
• Always turn your mind to the priority issues in your life.

The search for better days, health, and acceptance must start from the patient himself, and he must have perseverance and hope that with the help of a specialist, his life will get better.

See also:

• Symptoms of Depression: Top 20 and Treatments
• Where, when, and how to practice as a psychoanalyst?