Types of Anxiety Disorders
Everyone experiences anxiety and fears at times, but when these feelings are severe or persistent and disrupt everyday life they may indicate an anxiety disorder. Psychotherapy or talk therapy and medications are effective treatments.
First, consult your doctor to rule out any physical ailments that could be the cause of your symptoms. Then, a psychiatrist or another mental health specialist can determine the kind of anxiety disorder you suffer from.
Generalized anxiety disorder
Everyone is anxious from time to time, and there are a variety of good reasons to be worried about things like job responsibility, money, or health. But when the anxiety becomes constant and consumes your life, you may be suffering from a more serious anxiety disorder known as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). People with GAD have anxiety-like feelings that can influence their lives for the rest of their lives and are often hard to manage. They tend to think that they are the worst and that minor problems can turn into major catastrophes. GAD can be a problem for anyone, and it typically begins in adolescence or childhood, but can occur at any time. It is twice as common for women and those who are assigned female at birth as in men.
GAD can cause physical symptoms, such as stomachaches and headaches, as well as make it difficult to sleep. It can cause people to withdraw and lose confidence in themselves. It can interfere with social and work activities. People suffering from severe, chronic GAD are at greater risk of depression. However, treatment can help to manage both disorders.
While the exact cause of anxiety isn't known, it appears that anxiety disorders are connected to genetics and changes in brain structures that affect the body's response to stress. Some experts believe an imbalance of neurotransmitters within the brain also plays in.
GAD is not curable, however it can be controlled with psychotherapy (talk-therapy) and medications. Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is a variety of therapies that help you identify and modify unhealthy emotions, thoughts and behaviours. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is a kind of therapy that can assist you in overcoming your distorted thinking patterns and lessen your anxiety by challenging them. Medications can help relieve certain physical symptoms, like heart palpitations and dizziness. They include antidepressants, benzodiazepines as well as certain medications used to treat seizures, like hydroxyzine.
GAD can be difficult to identify, but it is important to seek help if your worrying or other symptoms of the condition are apparent. Early treatment is more effective as it allows you to control the anxiety and physical symptoms before they become a major part of your life.
Panic disorder
The anxiety disorder is characterized by sudden, intense sensations of terror and fear (panic attacks) that peak within minutes. This disorder can also cause chest pain, shortness of breath or the feeling that your heart is fluttering or pounding (heart palpitations). They worry that the symptoms they are experiencing are signs of heart attack. People with panic disorder are at risk for developing other anxiety disorders, and may 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, but researchers believe that they arise from a mix of factors. Some studies suggest that they may be due to brain circuits that control fear and emotion. Other studies suggest that life experiences, genetics such as childhood abuse, or traumatic events are the most common causes of anxiety disorders. Many people who have an anxiety disorder have a first-degree family member who suffers from the condition.
Anxiety disorders can cause people to feel constantly stressed, even though they know that their fears are not rational. This can cause problems in social situations, at work or school. Certain people suffering from anxiety disorders are also unable to sleep or eating well. They may also experience tension in their muscles, irritability and trouble concentrating.
A person suffering from https://penzu.com/p/752e4c40744bb1e5 may be worried about a variety of daily tasks such as work responsibilities and family problems. They're also likely to feel exhausted or restless as well as having trouble concentrating. They often worry about their safety or that of others.
There are effective treatments available for anxiety disorders. Treatments include medicine, psychotherapy and complementary health methods. A mental health professional can assist you to identify which disorder is causing your symptoms and suggest the appropriate treatment. Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy can help you understand how to manage your worries and reduce the number of panic attacks you have. Different types of psychotherapy are available, including cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure response prevention. These therapies can be performed individually or in group.
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 causes problems with daily life routines. It usually starts in childhood, but can also manifest in the early years of adulthood. It usually manifests as anxiety over specific social situations, like speaking in class or going out on date, but it could be more generalized and include avoiding any situation that might cause being considered unpopular by others.
The person suffering from SAD may realize that their anxiety is unfounded but still feel powerless. They attempt to manage their symptoms by avoiding anxiety-provoking situations, but this makes them more anxious in the long in the long run. They may also develop "safety behaviours" to to reduce their anxiety, for example, drinking alcohol, being quiet and avoiding eye contact.
In addition to the psychological treatments, some sufferers who suffer from SAD can benefit from medication. 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 crucial to get treatment. If left untreated, the disorder can be debilitating, and can lead to other mental health issues such as depression or substance abuse. If you or someone else you know has suicidal feelings call 911 or your local crisis line or text TALK (741741) to talk to a crisis counselor.
One in four people with anxiety disorders receive treatment. Treatment is impeded by an absence of awareness of anxiety disorders, the lack of investment in mental services, and stigma. It is also essential to make sure that your doctor is aware of the various types of anxiety disorders to ensure that you will be treated and diagnosed appropriately. If you're not sure whether you suffer from an https://anotepad.com/notes/nyqf9ie8 consult your physician to refer you to a mental health professional or use an online screening tool.
Specific Phobias
A person who is afflicted with a particular phobia has a persistent and intense fear of one or more objects, situations, animals, or other people. These fears could be unrelated to the threat that the object or situation, but they cause marked distress and interfere with functioning in everyday life. In contrast to other types of anxiety disorders, specific phobias are characterized by fear of one stimulus, rather than multiple stimuli. The object or event that is feared may include anything from dogs to heights to flying, injections, or overcrowded spaces. This condition occurs worldwide, more often in men than women, and is more likely to begin in childhood or adolescence. People who have phobias specific to them know their fears are irrational, but this knowledge does not diminish the intensity of their symptoms.
Children who have phobias that are specific usually overcome them, but if a phobia persists in adults, it can be extremely difficult to treat. Doctors diagnose the disorder based on the symptoms reported and their impact on daily function. Before diagnosing a phobia, doctors are able to rule out other disorders with similar symptoms, such as agoraphobia, or social anxiety disorder. In the past DSM editions, adults needed to recognize their irrational fear as a part of the diagnosis. However, the 2013 edition states that it is no longer necessary for adults.
There are two kinds of treatment for particular phobias: cognitive therapy and exposure therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on educating people about healthier coping mechanisms and changing their reactions to fear. The treatment is based on exposure, which involves gradual and systematic exposure of the object or situation that is feared. The patient might begin by thinking about the object or the situation. They may then move on to look at pictures of it, walking in front of an elevator, holding toys, going to a zoo and looking at real snakes, and then riding a crowded lift. Although this kind of therapy cannot alleviate phobias but it can dramatically reduce the intensity of the symptoms.
Other treatment options for specific phobias include medications, such as antidepressants and anxiety psychotherapy and other drugs. These therapies are often reported to be effective by those with specific phobias.