Types of Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders can be identified when anxiety or fear are chronic, persistent, and affecting daily life. Psychotherapy or talk therapy and medication are effective ways to treat anxiety.
First, visit your physician to determine if there are any physical issues that might be the cause of your symptoms. A psychiatrist or another mental health professional can diagnose the kind of anxiety disorder you have.
Generalized anxiety disorder
Everyone is anxious from time to time, and there are many good reasons to be worried about things like job responsibility and financial obligations, as well as health. When the worry becomes constant and consumes your life, it could be a more severe anxiety disorder referred to as generalized anxiety disorder. People with GAD have anxiety-like feelings that can influence their lives for the rest of their lives and can be difficult to manage. They are prone to believe that everything is worst and believe that minor issues can turn into major catastrophes. GAD can affect anyone. It typically begins in the adolescent years or early childhood but it can happen at any time. It is twice as common for women and those who are assigned female at birth as in males.
GAD can lead to physical discomforts, such as headaches and stomachaches. It can make it difficult to fall asleep. It can cause people to feel depressed and self-esteem erode. It can hinder social and work activities. People with severe, chronic GAD are at a greater risk of developing depression. However, treatment can help manage both conditions.
The specific cause of anxiety disorders is unknown but they appear to be related to genes and changes in brain structure, which affect the way your body responds to stress. Some experts believe an imbalance of neurotransmitters within the brain also plays an important role.
GAD is not curable, however it can be controlled through psychotherapy (talk-therapy) and medications. Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, includes various treatments that teach you to identify and modify unhealthy emotions, thoughts and behaviours. Cognitive behavior therapy is a kind of talk therapy which can help you control your distorted thoughts and reduce your anxiety by engaging them. Medications can anxiety disorder cause nausea help relieve certain physical symptoms, including dizziness and heart palpitations. They include antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and some medications that treat seizures, like hydroxyzine.
GAD can be difficult to identify and treat, but it is important to seek help when you are worried or if other symptoms of the condition are apparent. It is much easier to treat by seeking help early, before the physical and emotional symptoms take over your life.
Panic disorder
This kind of anxiety disorder is defined by repeated, sudden feelings of intense terror and fear that peak within minutes (panic attacks). This disorder can also cause chest pain, shortness breath or the feeling that your heart is racing or beating (heart palpitations). They frequently worry that their symptoms are signs of heart attacks. People who have panic disorder are at risk of developing other anxiety disorders anxiety, and may be more susceptible to depression or other health issues such as hyperthyroidism or asthma.
The cause of anxiety disorders isn’t known, but researchers believe that they arise from a mix of factors. Certain studies suggest that they could be due to brain circuits that regulate emotions and fear. Other studies suggest that genetics and life experiences, such as traumatizing events in childhood, are typical causes of anxiety disorders. A large majority of people suffering from an anxiety disorder have a first-degree relative who suffers from the condition.
People suffering from anxiety disorder getting worse disorders can be anxious all the time even though they know that their fears are not rational. This can result in difficulties in social situations, work or school. Additionally, some people with anxiety disorders have difficulty sleeping or eating properly. They may also suffer from tension in their muscles, irritability and difficulty getting their attention.
A person suffering from generalized anxiety disorder is likely to have many worries about routine tasks, like work responsibilities or family issues. They might also feel anxious and fatigued, or have difficulty in concentrating. They might also be concerned about their safety or the safety of others.
The good news is that there are effective treatments for anxiety disorders. Treatments include psychotherapy, medication and complementary health practices. A mental health professional can help you determine the cause of your symptoms and suggest the best treatment. Psychotherapy, or talk therapy can help you understand how to cope with your worries and reduce the number of panic attacks that you suffer from. Several types of psychotherapy are available, including cognitive behavior therapy and exposure response prevention. These therapies can be done individually or in groups.
Social anxiety disorder
Although many people feel anxious or shy in certain situations, social anxiety disorder causes such intense anxiety, fear, and avoidance of social interactions that it can interfere with everyday life activities. It usually begins in childhood, but may also appear in early adulthood. It can manifest itself as anxiety in specific social situations like speaking in class or going out for a date. It could also be more widespread and include the need to avoid situations that could lead to being assessed.
While the person with SAD realizes that their anxiety is unfounded, they are unable to overcome it. They try to manage the symptoms by avoiding situations that cause anxiety, but this makes them even more anxious. They may also adopt “safety behavior” to ease their anxiety disorder brain. For example they may drink alcohol, stay silent or avoid eye contact.
Some people with SAD might benefit from medication in addition to psychotherapy. 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 suffers from social anxiety disorder, it’s crucial to get treatment. The condition can be fatal if not treated and may cause other mental health problems like addiction and depression. If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, call 911 or your local crisis line or text TALK (TALK) to 741741 to speak to a trained crisis counselor.
One in four patients suffering from anxiety disorders receive treatment. Barriers to getting treatment include ignorance that anxiety disorders are real, low investment in mental health services, and stigma. It is essential that your healthcare provider understands the various forms of anxiety disorders, to ensure you receive proper diagnosis and treatment. If you’re not sure if you suffer from an anxiety disorder consult your physician 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 like animals, animals, or people. These fears could be unrelated to the threat that the object or situation, but they can cause severe anxiety and can hinder functioning in daily life. Contrary to other forms of anxiety disorders, specific phobias cause fear of only one stimulus instead of multiple stimuli. The object or situation that is feared could be anything from dogs to heights or flying, injections to flying and areas that are crowded. The condition is widespread and is more prevalent for women than men, and usually begins in childhood or adolescence. Specific phobias are not unreasonable fears however, the fear is still very real.
Children with specific fears usually get over them. However when the fear persists in adulthood it may be difficult to treat. Doctors diagnose the disorder based on reported symptoms and their impact on daily function. Before diagnosing a phobia, doctors exclude other conditions that have similar symptoms, such as agoraphobia, or social anxiety disorder. In previous DSM editions, adult patients needed to recognize their irrational fear as a part of the diagnosis. However, the 2013 edition says this is no longer required for adults.
There are two kinds of treatment for specific phobias: cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy concentrates on changing the way people respond to their fears and teaches them healthier strategies for coping. Exposure-based therapy involves gradual and systematic exposure to the object or situation that is feared. The patient might begin by imagining the object or the situation. They can then proceed to see images of it, stepping into an elevator, holding toys, going to a zoo and looking at real snakes, before taking a ride in a crowded elevator. This type of therapy may not be able to eliminate a fear, but it could reduce its intensity.
Other treatment options for specific fears include medication, such as antidepressants and anxiety psychotherapy and other Drugs For Generalized Anxiety Disorder. These therapies are often considered to be effective by people with specific phobias.
