Question 1

What is an anxiety disorder?

Accepted Answer

An anxiety disorder involves excessive fear, worry or avoidance that persists or significantly interferes with daily functioning [7].

Question 2

What symptoms can anxiety cause?

Accepted Answer

Symptoms may include worry, restlessness, poor sleep, muscle tension, palpitations, sweating, trembling, nausea, dizziness and breathlessness [7].

Question 3

Can physical illness resemble anxiety?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Cardiac, respiratory, endocrine, neurological and metabolic conditions, medicines and substance withdrawal can resemble or worsen anxiety [7].

Question 4

Are panic attacks dangerous?

Accepted Answer

Panic attacks themselves are not usually physically dangerous, but first-time, severe or unusual chest, breathing, fainting or neurological symptoms require medical assessment [7].

Question 5

What treatments are effective?

Accepted Answer

Evidence-based options include cognitive behavioural therapy, exposure-based treatment and, for some patients, antidepressant medicines [7].

Question 6

Are benzodiazepines suitable for long-term anxiety treatment?

Accepted Answer

They are generally not preferred for routine long-term treatment because tolerance, dependence, withdrawal, falls and cognitive impairment may occur [7].

Question 7

Which TCM patterns may be considered?

Accepted Answer

Patterns may include Liver Qi stagnation, Heart-Gallbladder Qi deficiency, Heart-Spleen deficiency, Yin deficiency, Phlegm-Heat and Qi-Blood stasis [7].

Question 8

Can acupuncture cure anxiety?

Accepted Answer

No cure can be guaranteed. Acupuncture may provide adjunctive symptom support but must not replace psychological or medical care [7].

Question 9

Can Chinese herbs interact with anxiety medicines?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Sedating, stimulating and Blood-moving herbs may interact with antidepressants, benzodiazepines, antipsychotics and other medicines [7].

Question 10

When is urgent help required?

Accepted Answer

Urgent help is required for suicidal risk, psychosis, mania, severe withdrawal, collapse, chest pain, severe breathlessness or new neurological symptoms [7].

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