Types of Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders can be identified when fear or anxiety is excessive, persistent and affecting daily life. Psychotherapy, talk therapy, and medication are effective ways to treat anxiety.
First, talk to your doctor to rule any physical ailments out that might be causing symptoms. A psychiatrist or another mental health specialist can determine the type of anxiety disorder that you suffer from.
Generalized anxiety disorder
Everyone feels anxious from time to time, and there can be good reasons to worry about things like job obligations, health or money. But when the worries become constant and overtake your life, you may have a more serious anxiety disorder called generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). GAD sufferers experience anxiety-like feelings that can influence their lives for the rest of their lives and can be difficult to manage. They tend to assume the worst, and that small issues can escalate into major disasters. GAD can be affected by anyone. It usually begins in the adolescent years or early childhood but can occur at any time. It is twice as prevalent for women and in those who are born female.
GAD can trigger physical symptoms, like stomachaches and headaches, as well as make it difficult to sleep. It can also interfere with social and work activities, leading people to isolate themselves from families or friends and lead to an eroding of self-esteem. People suffering from chronic and severe GAD are more likely to suffer from depression, but treatment can help manage both disorders.
While the specific cause of anxiety disorders is unknown but they appear to be related to genes and changes in brain structure that affect how your body responds to stress. Some experts believe that an imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain plays a role in the cause.
GAD is not curable, but it can be controlled with psychotherapy (talk-therapy) and medication. Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, encompasses various treatments that teach you to identify and change negative thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. Cognitive behavior therapy is a kind of therapy that can help you control your distorted thoughts and reduce your fear by confronting them. Some physical symptoms such as dizziness or heart palpitations can be alleviated by medication. They include benzodiazepines and antidepressants and some medications that treat seizures, such as hydroxyzine.
GAD isn't easy to identify and is therefore important to get help if you are experiencing anxiety and other symptoms of the disorder. disorders anxiety is more effective, since it lets you reduce the physical and mental symptoms before they become a major part of your life.
Panic disorder
This anxiety disorder is characterized by intense, sudden feelings of terror and fear (panic attacks) that peak within a matter of minutes. The sufferers may also experience chest pain, shortness of breath or the sensation that their heart beats or is fluttering ("heart palpitations"). They may be concerned that the symptoms they are experiencing are signs of heart attacks. People suffering from panic disorder could be at risk of developing other anxiety disorders, such as depression and other health problems like hyperthyroidism or asthma.
Researchers believe that anxiety disorders are caused by a variety of factors. Certain studies suggest that they could be linked to faulty circuits in the brain that control the emotions and fear. Other studies suggest that genetics, life experiences such as childhood abuse or traumatic events are the most common causes of anxiety disorder. A large majority of people suffering from an anxiety disorder have a first-degree family member with the condition.
Anxiety disorders can cause people to feel constantly stressed, even when they realize their fears are irrational. This can create issues in social settings, at work or in school. Certain people suffering from anxiety disorders also have difficulty sleeping or eating well. They may also suffer from muscle tension, irritability and difficulties in concentration.
A person with generalized anxious disorder might be concerned about a myriad of everyday tasks such as work responsibilities and family issues. They're also likely to feel tired or irritable as well as having trouble concentrating. They often worry about the safety of themselves or others.
The good news is that there are effective treatments for anxiety disorders. The treatments include medicine psychotherapy, psychotherapy, and other complementary health techniques. A mental health professional will help you determine the problem that is causing your symptoms, and recommend the best treatment. Psychotherapy or talk therapy can help you deal with anxiety and decrease panic attacks. There are a variety of psychotherapy, including cognitive behavior therapy and exposure response preventative. These therapies can be performed either in a group or on an individual basis.
Social anxiety disorder
While many people are shy or nervous in certain situations, social anxiety disorders cause such extreme anxiety, fear and avoidance of social interactions that it can interfere with normal life activities. It can be present in early adulthood, but it typically starts in childhood. It can manifest itself as anxiety in certain social situations, such as speaking in class or going out on a date. Or it may be more widespread and include avoidance of all situations that could lead to being assessed.
While the person with SAD recognizes that their fear is unfounded, they are unable to overcome it. They attempt to manage their symptoms by avoiding the anxiety-provoking situations, but this only makes them more anxious in the long in the long run. They might also develop "safety behaviours" to try to reduce their anxiety, like drinking alcohol, staying silent and not making eye contact.
In addition to the psychological treatments, a few patients with SAD benefit from medications. These antidepressants can help balance some neurotransmitters within the brain. Some examples of these medications are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).
If you or someone you know has social anxiety disorder, it's essential to get treatment. If left untreated, the disorder can be debilitating and lead to other mental health issues like addiction or depression. If you or someone you know is suffering from suicidal thoughts contact 911, your local crisis line or text TALK (741741) to talk to a crisis counselor.
Only 1 in 4 sufferers of anxiety disorders receive treatment. Barriers to getting treatment include lack of awareness that anxiety disorders are real, low investment in mental health services and stigma. It is also essential to ensure that your doctor is aware of the various types of anxiety disorders to ensure that you will be properly diagnosed and treated. If you're not sure whether you suffer from an anxiety disorder Ask your doctor to refer you to an expert in mental health or utilize an online screening tool.
Specific phobias
A person who suffers from a particular phobia has a persistent and intense fear for one or more objects or situations, animals, or other people. These fears are usually in contrast to the risk that the object or circumstance creates, but they can cause distress and hinder the daily activities of. In contrast to other types of anxiety disorders, specific phobias involve anxiety over a single stimulus rather than multiple stimuli. The object or event that is feared may range from heights, dogs, flying, injections, or overcrowded spaces. The condition is found worldwide and is more common among women than men and it tends to start in adolescence or childhood. People who have phobias specific to them know their fears are unfounded, but this knowledge does not diminish the severity of their symptoms.
Children with specific phobias usually get over them, however if a fear persists in adults, it may be difficult to treat. Doctors diagnose the disorder by looking at the symptoms and how they impact daily functioning. Before diagnosing a phobia doctors are able to rule out other disorders with similar symptoms, such as agoraphobia or social anxiety disorder. In earlier editions of the DSM adult patients were required to recognize their fears that were irrational in the diagnostic process. However, the 2013 edition states that this requirement is no longer necessary for adults.
Treatment options for specific phobias are cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure-based therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on changing the way people react to their fears and helps them develop healthier strategies for coping. The treatment is based on exposure, which involves gradual and systematic exposure to the feared object or circumstance. A patient may start with thinking about the object or event and then move to looking at pictures of the subject. They may then take an action towards it (such as walking by an elevator) or holding a toy snake, going to a zoo to look at real snakes, and then being in a noisy elevator. While this type of therapy is not able to alleviate phobias but it can dramatically decrease the severity of its symptoms.
Other options for treating specific fears include medications such as antidepressants and anti-anxiety psychotherapy and other drugs. People with specific phobias that try these therapies frequently experience better outcomes.