Anxiety

Anxiety is a state of distress or uneasiness. An anxious person may be tense, restless and/or jittery, unable to sleep, unable to concentrate, short of breath or numb. These physical signs may overshadow the psychological symptoms of fear, worry or apprehension.

What to look for:

• Difficulty solving problems
• Excitability
• Muscle tension
• Trembling
• Nightmares
• Difficulty breathing
• Tight or butterfly feelings in the stomach

What to do:

• Try to determine exactly what causes the anxiety
• Talk about worries and fears
• Know that it's OK to feel sad and afraid
• Seek help through counseling, support groups, minister, priest or rabbi
• Recall how the patient coped with similar feelings previously
• Experiment with relaxation and/or visualization techniques

When to call hospice:

• If the patient has trouble with sleep
• If the patient feels dread or apprehension
• If the patient can't eat and is generally uninterested in activities of daily living
• If the patient has difficulty breathing, is sweating and feels fluttery in the stomach
• If the patient is unable to control wide mood swings
• If the patient has thoughts of suicide