Types of Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders are diagnosed when anxiety or fear are excessive, persistent and interfere with your daily routine. Psychotherapy, talk therapy, and medications are effective treatments.

First, visit your doctor to rule out any physical ailments that might be the cause of your symptoms. A psychiatrist or mental health specialist can diagnose the type anxiety disorder that you have.

Generalized anxiety disorder

Everyone experiences anxiety from time to time, and there are many good reasons for worrying about things like work responsibilities and financial obligations, as well as health. But when the worries become constant and overtake your life, you may have a more serious anxiety 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 manage. They tend to anticipate the worst and assume that minor problems will develop into major catastrophes. GAD can affect anyone. It typically begins in adolescence or childhood, but it can happen at any time. It is twice as prevalent for women and in those who are born female.

GAD can trigger physical symptoms, such as headaches and stomachaches, and make it difficult to sleep. It can cause people to feel depressed and self-esteem erode. It can hinder social and work activities. People who suffer from chronic and severe GAD are more likely to be depressed however treatment can help manage both disorders.

While the exact cause of anxiety isn't known, it appears that anxiety disorders are related to genetics and changes to brain structures that affect your body's response to stress. Some experts believe an imbalance of neurotransmitters within the brain also plays a part.

GAD is not curable, however it can be controlled by psychotherapy (talk-therapy) and medication. Psychotherapy, anxiety disorder stress management also known as talk therapy, is various therapies that help you identify and change negative thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Cognitive behavior therapy (cbt for social anxiety disorder) is a type of talk therapy that can assist you in overcoming your thinking patterns that are unbalanced and lessen your anxiety by confronting them. Certain physical symptoms like heart palpitations or dizziness can be cured by taking medications. These include benzodiazepines and antidepressants along with medicines to treat seizures, such as hydroxyzine.

GAD can be difficult to recognize and is therefore important to seek help if you are experiencing anxiety or other signs of the disorder. Early treatment is more effective because it helps you manage your anxiety and physical symptoms before they take over your life.

Panic disorder

This kind of anxiety disorder is defined by repeated episodes of intense fear and terror that peak within minutes (panic attacks). This disorder can also cause chest pain, shortness breath or the sensation that your heart is racing or beating (heart palpitations). They worry that the symptoms they're experiencing could be signs of a heart attack. People suffering from panic disorder could be at risk of developing other anxiety disorders, as well as depression and other health problems like hyperthyroidism or asthma.

Researchers believe that anxiety disorders result from a mix of factors. Certain studies suggest that they could be linked to faulty circuits in the brain that regulate fear and emotions. Other studies suggest that life experiences, genetics such as childhood abuse, or traumatizing events are typical causes of anxiety disorder home remedies disorders. Many people suffering from anxiety issues have a first degree relative who has the condition.

People who have anxiety disorders can be anxious constantly, even when they know that their fears are unfounded. This can lead to difficulty in social situations, at work or at school. Certain people suffering from anxiety disorders also have difficulty sleeping or eating well. They might also experience muscle tension, irritability and difficulties in concentrating.

A person with generalized anxious disorder may worry about a variety of everyday activities such as work responsibilities and family issues. They're also likely to be exhausted or restless as well as having trouble concentrating. They 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 methods. A mental health professional can assist you to identify which disorder is causing your symptoms and suggest the best treatment. Talk therapy or psychotherapy can help you cope with anxiety and decrease anxiety attacks. Several types of psychotherapy are available, including cognitive behavior therapy and exposure response prevention. These treatments can be carried out in groups or individually.

Social anxiety disorder

While many people are shy or nervous in certain situations, a social anxiety disorder stress management (Google link for more info) disorders cause such extreme fear, anxiety and avoidance of social interactions that it causes problems with daily life routines. It usually begins in childhood, but can be present in the early years of adulthood. It can manifest itself as anxiety in particular social situations, such as speaking in class or going out for date. Or it may be more widespread and include avoiding all situations that could result in being judged.

While the person with SAD realizes that their anxiety is unfounded, they feel powerless to overcome it. They try to manage their symptoms by avoiding anxiety-provoking situations, but this only makes them more anxious in the long run. They may also adopt "safety behavior" to lessen their anxiety. For instance, they might drink alcohol, remain silent or avoid eye contact.

Some people with SAD might benefit from taking medication in addition to psychotherapy. Antidepressants can help balance certain neurotransmitters inside 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 seek treatment. If not treated, the condition could be debilitating and lead to other mental health issues like depression or addiction to substances. If you or someone you know has suicidal thoughts, dial 911 or your local crisis line, or text TALK to 741741 to speak with an experienced crisis counselor.

Anxiety disorders can be treated but only one of 4 people who require treatment receive it. Treatment is impeded by the lack of awareness about anxiety disorders, low funding for mental health services and stigma. It is also essential to make sure that your healthcare provider recognizes the different anxiety disorders types of anxiety disorders to ensure that you will be treated and diagnosed appropriately. If you're not sure whether you suffer from an anxiety disorder consult your physician to refer you to a mental health professional or use an online screening tool.

Specific fears

A person who has a specific fear has a constant and intense fear of one or more of the following: objects, situations animals or other people. These fears are often in contrast to the risk that the object or circumstance presents, but they may cause distress and hinder daily functioning. Specific phobias differ from other anxiety disorders in that they cause anxiety around one stimulus, instead of multiple stimuli. The target of the phobia could be anything, from heights to dogs as well as injections, flying, and areas that are crowded. The condition is found worldwide and is more prevalent in women than men, and usually begins in childhood or adolescence. People with specific phobias know their fears are not rational but this does not diminish the intensity of their symptoms.

Children with specific phobias usually overcome them, however if a phobia persists in adults, it can be very difficult to treat. Doctors diagnose the disorder by looking at the symptoms and how they impact daily functioning. They rule out other conditions that could be similar, such as agoraphobia and social anxiety disorder prior to diagnosing a phobia. In earlier editions of DSM adult patients were required to recognize their irrational fears in the diagnostic process. However, the 2013 edition states that this requirement is no longer needed for adults.

Treatment options for specific phobias include cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure-based therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses primarily on educating people about healthier coping mechanisms and changing their response to fear. Exposure-based therapy is the gradual and constant exposure to the feared subject or event. The patient might begin by imagining the object or event. They may then go on to see images of it, walking in front of an elevator, holding an object, visiting the zoo, and looking at real snakes, and finally experiencing a busy lift. Although this type of therapy is not able to alleviate phobias, it can significantly decrease the severity of its symptoms.

Psychotherapy and medication such as antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications are also options for treating specific phobias. People suffering from specific phobias who try these therapies frequently have better results.