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Nervousness Treatment

Read ahead for ways to overcome nervousness.
Abhijit Naik
Nervousness is an uneasy mental state, quite similar to anxiety, but has more obvious external symptoms. Although it is referred to as nervousness, the disorder is rarely related to the physical nervous system.
Nervousness can be quite incapacitating at times, especially in circumstances wherein a coordination between thinking and acting is required. Some people get nervous when they go for an interview, while some get nervous on-stage or when they face an audience.
There are several simple cures for nervousness, but people are not aware about them. More importantly, the disorder in itself is misdiagnosed for some other complication, thus making the situation even more complicated.

Causes

Nervousness is a normal reaction to stressful, unknown, or intimidating situation. It can be caused as a result of underlying psychiatric conditions, like social anxiety or panic attacks.
Withdrawal from substance abuse can also trigger nervousness. Medical conditions, like strokes and seizures, and medication with certain side effects also make a person nervous. The most commonly seen causes though, are pressure situation on professional and personal fronts.
Job pressure, peer pressure, insecurity in relationships, parenting issues, etc., tend to make a person feel nervous. An individual also gets nervous when confronted by a known or unknown fear.

Symptoms

Normally when a person worries about the consequences of a particular action, he or she tends to get nervous. This condition, in turn, leads to some physical changes in the body owing to the release of stress hormones in the blood by adrenal glands.
The symptoms of nervousness may include ...
  • Confusion
  • Chest pain
  • Dizziness
  • Dry mouth
  • Extremely fast heartbeat
  • Fatigue
  • Fear of losing control
  • Feeling of apprehension
  • Insecurity
  • Insomnia
  • Irritation
  • Lack of concentration
  • Palpitations
  • Pounding heart
  • Sensation of choking
  • Shortness of breath
  • Stress
  • Sweaty hands
  • Trembling
The person may also experience upset stomach, nausea, abdominal pain, as well as inability to perform daily tasks and a feeling of being disconnected from the world. Knowing these symptoms can help in diagnosis of nervousness and help in initiating the treatment at the earliest.

Treatment

The treatment of nervousness becomes easy when the underlying cause is identified. Psychotherapy is an effective method for identifying the real cause of nervousness anxiety. Once the cause is determined, the doctor can initiate the treatment.
The treatment can be psychological, i.e. through counseling, or by the help of medication, like antianxiety drugs and antianxiety herbs. If nervousness is caused due to prevailing medical condition, treating the said medical condition can help overcome nervousness.
In the psychological process, the subject goes through a series of counseling sessions. At times, the subject will be referred to a hypnotherapist, who will use different hypnotherapy techniques to reassure him that he can face the fear and look at life in a positive way.
Other cures for nervousness include relaxation techniques, like meditation and controlled breathing, and antianxiety drugs. The antianxiety drugs though, should only be taken after consulting a professional, as they are known to have some grievous effects in the long run.

Home Remedies

  • In a bathtub filled with lukewarm water add half a cup baking soda and half a cup ginger, and have a bath.
  • Take a pot of hot water, add an orange to it, and take steam with the help of a cloth.
  • Drink orange juice with 2 tablespoons honey and 1 spoon nutmeg.
  • For people who experience trembling of hands due to nervousness, drinking two cups of tea with a tablespoon of honey, will help.
Other than these remedies, drinking chamomile, marshmallow, or peppermint tea also helps in easing the symptoms of nervousness.
Nervousness to an extent is not bad. In fact, it can help in improving your performance, as you are alert when you are nervous. At times, however, it tends to become bothersome, which is when it affects your performance negatively.
In such a situation, you are left with no option, but to resort to professional help. Remember that self-confidence is the key when you take on nervousness and hence, self motivation, which will boost your confidence, will be the best method to deal with it.