Types of Anxiety Disorders
Everyone experiences anxiety and fear at times, but when these feelings are severe or persistent and disrupt your daily routine, they could be a sign of an anxiety disorder. Psychotherapy or talk therapy and medication are effective treatments.
First, talk to your doctor to rule any physical ailments out which could be causing your symptoms. Then, a psychiatrist or other mental health professional can diagnose the kind of anxiety disorder you suffer from.
Generalized anxiety disorder
Everyone feels anxious now and then, and there can be good reasons to worry about things such as job obligations, health or financial. However, if the worries become constant and overtake your life, you may be suffering from a more serious disorder known as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). People with GAD have anxiety-like feelings that can affect their whole lives and are often hard to control. They are prone to believe that everything is worst and that minor problems can turn into major catastrophes. GAD can be a problem for anyone. It usually starts in childhood or adolescence but it can happen at any time. It is twice as prevalent in women and those deemed female at birth as in males.
GAD can cause physical symptoms, including stomachaches and headaches, as well as make it difficult to sleep. It can also affect social and work-related activities, leading people to withdraw from friends or family and lead to a loss of self-esteem. People who suffer from chronic, severe GAD are at a greater risk of depression. However, treatment can help to manage both conditions.
The exact cause of anxiety disorders is unknown, they appear to be caused by genetics and changes in brain structure that alter the way your body responds to stress. Certain experts believe that an imbalance in neurotransmitters in the brain also plays a part.
GAD is not curable, but it can be controlled with psychotherapy (talk-therapy) and medications. Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, encompasses a variety of therapies that help you recognize and alter unhealthy emotions, thoughts and behavior. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is a type of talk therapy that can help you to understand and control your thinking patterns that are unbalanced and decrease your fear by engaging them. Medicines can ease some physical symptoms, including heart palpitations and dizziness. They include antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and some medications that treat seizures, such as hydroxyzine.
GAD is a difficult condition to recognize and treat, but you should seek help when you are worried or if other symptoms of the disorder are noticeable. Early treatment is more effective because it helps you control the physical and emotional symptoms before they take over 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. People with this disorder may also experience chest pain, shortness of breath or a feeling that their heart is pounding or fluttering ("heart palpitations"). They are often concerned that their symptoms may be signs of heart attacks. People with panic disorder are at risk for developing other anxiety disorders, and may be at increased risk of depression and other health issues like asthma or hyperthyroidism.
Researchers believe that anxiety disorders result from a mix of factors. Some studies suggest that they may be related to faulty brain circuits that regulate emotion and fear. Other studies suggest that genetics and life experiences, such as traumatizing events in childhood are the most the most common causes of anxiety disorders. Many people with anxiety issues have a first degree family member who suffers from the condition.
People with anxiety disorders may be worried constantly even though they know that their fears are irrational. This can cause problems in social situations, at work or school. In addition, some sufferers of anxiety disorders have difficulty sleeping or eat well. They may also have muscle tension, irritability and difficulties in concentrating.
A person suffering from generalized anxiety disorder may be worried about a wide range of everyday tasks, including job responsibilities and family issues. They're also likely to feel restless or easily fatigued, have trouble concentrating and frequently worry about the safety of themselves or others.
There are effective treatments available for anxiety disorders. The treatments include medications psychotherapy, psychotherapy, and other complementary health techniques. A mental health professional can help you determine the problem that is causing your symptoms and suggest the best treatment. Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy can help you discover how to manage your worries and reduce the number of panic attacks that you suffer from. There are many types of psychotherapy that include cognitive behavior therapy as well as exposure response preventative. These therapies can be performed either in a group or on an individual basis.
Social anxiety disorder
While many people are nervous or shy in certain situations, a social anxiety disorders cause such extreme fear, anxiety and avoidance of social interactions that it interferes with daily life routines. It typically begins in childhood, but can be present in the early years of adulthood. It is usually manifested as anxiety over specific social situations, such as having a conversation in class or going out on dates, or it could be more generalized and involve the avoidance of situations that could result in being considered unpopular by others.
The person with SAD may realize that their fear is irrational but feel helpless. They try to manage the symptoms by avoiding situations that trigger anxiety, but this only makes them feel even more anxious. panic anxiety disorder might also develop "safety behavior" to ease their anxiety. For instance drinking alcohol, avoid talking to others or avoid eye contact.
In addition to the psychological treatments, a few patients with SAD benefit from medications. These drugs, also referred to as antidepressants, can help balance 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 important to get treatment. If not treated, the condition could be debilitating, and can lead to other mental health issues, such as depression or addiction to substances. If you or someone you know has suicidal thoughts, contact 911 or your local crisis line or text TALK to 741741 and speak to an experienced crisis counselor.
Only 1 in 4 people with anxiety disorders receive treatment. The main barriers to treatment are ignorance that anxiety disorders are real, a lack of investment in mental health services and stigma. It is also important that your healthcare provider is aware of the various forms of anxiety disorders so that you can receive proper diagnosis and treatment. Request your doctor to refer you to an expert in mental health when you're unsure if you suffer from anxiety disorders or use an online screening tool.
Specific phobias
A person with specific phobia experiences persistent and a heightened fear of one or more objects, situations, animals or even other people. These fears could be out of proportion to the danger posed by the object or situation however they can cause significant anxiety and can hinder functioning in everyday life. Specific phobias are different from other anxiety disorders due to the fact that they are triggered by only one stimulus, instead of multiple stimuli. The feared situation or object could be anything from dogs to heights or flying, injections to flying and areas that are crowded. This condition is prevalent throughout the world, more often in men than women, and tends to begin in childhood or early adolescence. People who suffer from specific phobias are aware that their fears are not rational but this does not diminish the severity of their symptoms.
Children with phobias that are specific to them usually get over them. However, if the phobia persists into adulthood it can be difficult to treat. Doctors identify the disorder by examining symptoms and how they affect the way they function in their daily lives. They rule out other conditions that could have similar symptoms, such as agoraphobia and social anxiety disorder before diagnosing the phobia. In previous DSM editions, patients of adult age needed to recognize their irrational fear as a part of the diagnosis, but the 2013 edition says this is no longer required for adults.
Treatment options for specific phobias include cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure-based therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy is focused on altering the way people react to their fears and teaches them healthier coping strategies. Exposure-based therapy is the gradual and systematic exposure to the feared subject or event. The patient may begin by imagining the object or the situation. They may then move on to seeing pictures of it, stepping into an elevator, playing with an object, visiting a zoo and looking at real snakes, before experiencing a busy lift. Although this type of therapy does not solve phobias however it can greatly reduce the intensity of its symptoms.
Psychotherapy and medication such as antidepressants or anti-anxiety medication are also options for treating certain phobias. These therapies are often considered to be effective by those with specific phobias.