Depression vector created by pch.vector - www.freepik.com and Inkscape.org
When a young Nigerian suffers from anxiety they are bothered about their education.
They are in a relationship and balancing it with work causes them to worry.
Another issue could be that they have a job and are trying to balance it out with schooling.
Good evening everyone, its Dr Ebingo Kigigha again, with a new topic...Anxiety.
Like Depression, I want to be able to write up to a thousand words about the topic from my head that will be factual.
Like always, I will start with anxiety in Nigeria with an article I can reference. The best I could find was this one where Anxiety was studied in the population of the National Youth Service. Let me explain to those who do not know How this service works.
In Nigeria after your first degree in the university, you are expected to go to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program where you will be posted to any state of the federation. This is expected to be a fun activity, but the level of safety in Nigeria usually comes to play, causing some anxiety.
That said lets go on...
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a mental health condition characterised by jitteriness, fear, abnormal sweating and tachycardia. Anxiety can lead to a panic attack which has significantly worse symptoms.
Anxiety can be a normal response to certain conditions, like right before a performance, or a test or exam. The feeling of anxiety generally speaking can be helpful in preparing the body to respond to a dangerous situation.
Anxiety disorder goes to extents beyond just the feeling of anxiety before a test. It interferes with daily function and makes it difficult for the sufferer to make it through the day, the patient also has uneasy emotions in addition to uncontrollable reactions to certain situations.
The causes
The different causes include chemical imbalances, hereditary causes and the environment.
The symptoms
The manifestations of the condition can appear physically, psychologically and in the behaviour of the patient.
Physically the patient might start having symptoms like sweating, palpitations, cold hands, nausea, difficulty breading, and a weird feeling on the hands.
Psychological problems like nightmares, flashbacks, and the like can also affect those dealing with anxiety.
The patient may also not be able to control their reaction to the environment and can be more jittery.
The Study
In this study, NYSC members in North Western Nigeria were studied to ascertain the occurrence of anxiety. The risk factors present in this population were also assessed.
The study population was counted as 157 members of the NYSC program who were given questionnaires over a period of 3 weeks in 2018. The state in the North Western part of Nigeria was Kebbi state.
According to, the study, most of the members who moved to the North West for the program were in fact from the southern part of Nigeria and that was a possible cause of the anxiety prevalence in the population.
In the next set of the blog, we will be building on this and discussing the rest of the article.
Tips
Anxiety is one of the most common mental health conditions, more possibly more common than depression in some countries.
Just like many other mental health conditions, it is best managed by a doctor. There is no way to force anxiety away from your life. Doctors will typically prescribe medication and the patient sees a psychotherapist.
Primary Health care practicians are very important for the diagnosis and exclusion of other similar conditions.
Hive Stories
In 
I would like to use this opportunity to send my love and care. I hope that things get better.
Questions
- What are the causes of Anxiety?
- What can be done to treat Anxiety?
Conclusion
Anxiety is a common mental health condition. It affects a significant number of people. For the best result in treatment, early diagnosis is key.