Types of Anxiety Disorders
Everyone experiences anxiety and fears at times, but if the feelings are intense or continue to reoccur and interfere with everyday life they may indicate an anxiety disorder. Psychotherapy or talk therapy and medication are effective ways to treat anxiety.
First, see your physician to determine if there are any physical issues that might be causing your symptoms. Then, a psychiatrist or other mental health specialist can determine the type of anxiety disorder that you suffer from.
Generalized anxiety disorder
Everyone feels anxious now and then and there are good reasons to be concerned about issues like work responsibility, health, or financial. If the worry is constant and consumes your life, it may be a more serious anxiety disorder referred to as generalized anxiety disorder. GAD sufferers experience anxiety-like feelings that can affect their whole lives and are often difficult to manage. They tend to anticipate the worst and assume that minor issues will turn into major problems. GAD can affect anyone, and it typically begins in childhood or adolescence however, it can also occur at any age. It is twice as common in women and those assigned to be female at birth, as it is in men.
GAD can cause physical symptoms, such as stomachaches and headaches, as well as make it difficult to sleep. It can also cause people to withdraw and lose self-esteem. It can affect the activities of work and social life. People suffering from chronic and severe GAD are more likely to suffer from depression However, treatment can aid in managing both disorders.
Although the exact cause is not known, it appears that anxiety disorders are connected to genetics and changes to brain structures that impact the body's response to stress. Some experts believe that a lack of neurotransmitters in the brain plays a role too.
Although there isn't a cure for GAD, the condition can be managed by psychotherapy (talk therapy) and medication. Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, encompasses different therapies that help you identify and change unhealthy emotions, thoughts and behavior. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is a type of therapy that can help you to understand and control your distorted thinking patterns and lessen your anxiety by confronting them. The use of medicines can ease some physical symptoms, such as dizziness and heart palpitations. They include antidepressants, benzodiazepines and some medications that treat seizures, such as hydroxyzine.
GAD is difficult to recognize and treat, but it is important to seek help in the event that your anxiety or other symptoms of the condition are apparent. It is simpler to treat it if you seek help early, before the physical and emotional symptoms take over your life.
Panic disorder
This type of anxiety disorder is marked by repeated, intense terror and fear that peak within minutes (panic attacks). This disorder can also cause chest pain, shortness of breath or the sensation that your heart is fluttering or pounding (heart palpitations). They are concerned that the symptoms they are experiencing are symptoms of a heart attacks. People who have panic disorder are at risk of developing other anxiety disorders and could be at increased risk of depression or other health problems, such as hyperthyroidism or asthma.
The root cause of anxiety disorders isn't fully understood however, experts believe that they develop from a combination of factors. Certain studies suggest that they may be linked to the malfunctioning of circuits in our brain that control emotion and fear. Other studies suggest that genetics and life experiences, such as trauma or abuse in childhood, are common causes of anxiety disorders. Many people with an anxiety disorder have a parent who suffers from the condition.
Anxiety disorders can cause people to be constantly stressed, even though they know their fears are not rational. This can lead to difficulty when it comes to social situations, work or at school. Certain people suffering from anxiety disorders also have trouble sleeping or eating well. They may also experience tension in the muscles, irritability and difficulties concentrating.
A person suffering from generalized anxiety disorder is likely to be plagued by numerous worries regarding everyday tasks, such as work responsibilities or family issues. They may also feel tired or irritable, have trouble concentrating and frequently worry about the safety of themselves or others.
The good news is that there are effective treatments for anxiety disorders. Treatments include medicine, psychotherapy and complementary health techniques. A mental health professional can help you identify which disorder is causing your symptoms and recommend the right treatment. Psychotherapy, or talk therapy can help you understand how to deal with your worries and reduce the number of panic attacks you have. Different types of psychotherapy are available, including cognitive behavior therapy and exposure response prevention. These therapies can be done in groups or individually.
Social anxiety disorder
While many people are shy or nervous in certain situations, social anxiety disorder can cause such intense anxiety, fear, and avoidance of social interactions that it interferes with normal life activities. It can manifest in early adulthood, but it usually starts in childhood. It usually manifests as anxiety over specific social situations, such as having a conversation in class or going out on a date, or it may be more generalized and include avoiding any situation that might result in being perceived as a failure by others.
While the person with SAD realizes that their anxiety is not rational, they feel powerless to overcome it. They try to manage their symptoms by avoiding stressful situations, but this only makes them more anxious in the long run. They may also develop "safety behavior" to reduce their anxiety. For example they may drink alcohol, stay silent or avoid eye contact.
Some people with SAD may benefit from medication along with psychological therapy. These drugs, also referred to as antidepressants, can help to regulate the levels of neurotransmitters in 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 seek treatment. If left untreated, the disorder can be debilitating and lead to other mental health issues, such as depression or addiction to substances. If you or someone who you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts contact 911 or your local crisis line or text TALK (741741) to speak with a crisis counselor.
One in four sufferers of anxiety disorders receive treatment. The main barriers to treatment are lack of awareness that anxiety disorders are real, a lack of investment in mental health services, and stigma. It's also important to ensure that your healthcare provider recognizes the various types of anxiety disorders so that you can be treated and diagnosed appropriately. If you're not sure if you suffer from an anxiety disorder, ask your doctor to refer you to a mental health professional or make use of an online tool to screen.
Specific Phobias
A person with specific fear has a constant and intense fear of one or more objects, situations, animals, or other people. These fears are often in contrast to the dangers that the object or circumstance poses, but they can cause distress and hinder everyday functioning. Particular phobias differ from other anxiety disorders because they involve anxiety about one stimulus, not multiple stimuli. The object or situation that is feared could be anything from heights to dogs as well as injections, flying, and areas that are crowded. The condition is widespread and occurs more often among women than men and usually begins in adolescence or childhood. People who have phobias specific to them know their fears are unfounded however this doesn't diminish the severity of their symptoms.
Children who have phobias that are specific usually get over them, but if a phobia persists in adults, it can be extremely difficult to treat. Doctors diagnose the disorder by evaluating the symptoms and how they impact the way they function in their daily lives. They exclude other conditions that can be similar like agoraphobia and social anxiety disorder, before diagnosing a phobia. In past DSM editions, adults needed to recognize their irrational fear as a part of the diagnosis, but the 2013 edition says it is no longer necessary for adults.
Treatment options for specific phobias include cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure-based therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy concentrates on altering the way people respond to their fears and teaches them better strategies for coping. Exposure-based therapy is a gradual and constant exposure to the feared subject or event. Patients may begin by thinking about the object or situation, then move on to looking at photos of the subject, then taking an action towards it (such as walking past an elevator) or holding the toy snake, taking it to a zoo for a look at real snakes, and then riding in a crowded elevator. Although this kind of therapy does not alleviate phobias but it can dramatically decrease the severity of the symptoms.
Other treatment options for specific fears include medications such as antidepressants and anxiety psychotherapy, as well as other medications. These treatments are frequently reported to be effective for people with phobias specific to them.
