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Foley Molloy posted an update 8 months ago
Anxiety Disorders Types
Anxiety is a real illness that can be treated. Treatment can include therapy and medication.
The majority of anxiety disorders are caused by a combination of factors, such as genetics and childhood experiences. Stress caused by health issues or work is also an element. There are many other risk factors.
Doctors can diagnose an anxiety disorder by performing an examination, interview and laboratory tests.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
GAD patients struggle to control their worry. They are consumed by worries regarding health, money and family, and they have trouble focusing their attention or imagining other things. Their anxiety can interfere with their daily activities and can cause anxiety as well as fatigue, discomfort and anger. They may seek comfort and avoid situations in which they may fail or disappoint others. They might also exhibit physical symptoms like headaches, muscle tension and restlessness, as well as heart palpitations. They tend to expect the worst, even if there isn’t any reason to expect it.
Everyone experiences anxiety from time to moment, such as before an exam or job interview. If these anxieties persist and affect your daily routine, they could be a sign of anxiety disorder. GAD is characterized by long-lasting anxiety, as opposed to the temporary fear that comes with anxiety disorder s.
GAD is more common in adolescents and children than adults. Kids who have GAD are often worried about school or sport performance, about socializing with friends, and about feeling safe in everyday events. They often seek reassurance from teachers, parents and other adults. They usually do not receive relief from their symptoms despite seeking assistance.
There are a variety of treatments for anxiety disorders, such as psychotherapy (talk therapy), medications and lifestyle adjustments. Psychotherapy, for instance, cognitive behavioral therapy, concentrates on teaching you relaxation techniques and teaching you how to limit your distorted thinking that leads to anxious feelings. Buspirone, antidepressants and benzodiazepines can ease anxiety symptoms. Changing your diet by avoiding caffeine and other stimulants, getting enough sleep and exercising regularly can be beneficial. It is important to educate yourself and those closest to you about the type of anxiety disorder that you have. This will make treatment more effective.
The reason for an anxiety disorder isn’t always obvious however, genetics and past experiences can play a part. Anxiety disorders are more common in people with a history or chronic traumatizing events, stress childhood, chronic illnesses, and other mental health conditions.
Panic Disorder
It’s normal to feel nervous or fearful at times, for instance when you’re about to attend an interview for a job or when your child is taking an important test. However, if the feelings are intense and persist for a long time or even longer you could be suffering from an anxiety disorder. These disorders include generalized anxiety disorder panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and specific phobias. These disorders are among the most common mental health disorders in the United States. Most begin in the adolescent years, early childhood or early adulthood. Some people who have anxiety issues will overcome them, whereas others will require treatment.
Your doctor will help you determine the best treatment for your anxiety symptoms. Your healthcare provider will begin with a physical examination and asking you about your symptoms. They will want to ensure there isn’t a physical cause, like heart disease or a thyroid problem. They will also ask you about the history of your family’s mental illness and any medications or supplements you are taking.
Risk factors are those that can increase the likelihood of suffering from anxiety disorders in certain people. This could include the family history of depression or other mental health issues or a chronic medical condition and a negative experience in childhood, such as physical, emotional or sexual abuse or neglect.
If you suffer from an anxiety disorder, you may require treatment through psychotherapy or medications. Psychotherapy is a form of counseling that helps you to learn new ways of thinking and behaving. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most researched form of psychotherapy used to treat anxiety disorders. It helps you identify and alter the thoughts that trigger negative emotions. Another type of psychotherapy is called exposure therapy, which helps you face the situations, people or places that cause anxiety.
Medication can relieve some of the most grueling symptoms of anxiety disorders, such as the rapid heart rate and shaking. Your provider will work closely with you to determine the most appropriate medication, dose and combination that is safe and has no adverse effects. Beta blockers, commonly used for high blood pressure, may reduce anxiety symptoms by blocking adrenaline that causes them.
Social Anxiety Disorder
People suffering from social anxiety disorder fear social situations that are commonplace, like meeting strangers or speaking to strangers. They are afraid of being judged or humiliated by their peers. These fears are not rational but they can impact your life in many ways. It is different than shyness, which could be an normal reaction to certain situations.
The healthcare providers use a variety of tools and tests to determine if you are suffering from this illness. They’ll ask you questions about your symptoms and how they have affected your life. They may also test your blood pressure as well as conduct an examination of your body. This will help them determine if your symptoms could be caused by a medication, or an illness.
It’s not entirely clear what causes this disorder. It is believed to be a family issue and there’s an association between this disorder and an overactive part of the brain called the amygdala. Inherited traits and environmental influences are both involved.
There are a variety of treatment options available for this condition. They include cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), and antidepressant medications. CBT helps you find new ways to manage and confront your fears. You could also try exposure therapy. This involves slowly being exposed to the situations that trigger anxiety, beginning with the most comfortable ones and then moving on to the ones that are most frightening. Medications can help reduce your anxiety and improve your mood however they will not alter your mental outlook.
Sometimes these treatments don’t take effect immediately. You should try again until you are successful. Talk to your doctor If your symptoms do not disappear after some weeks. They may recommend alternative treatments or prescribe different medication.
A support group for people who suffer from social anxiety is an ideal place to connect with others with this condition. You can receive objective honest feedback from others who have the same condition as you. You can also learn about how other people deal with their fears and what has helped them. Support groups are available in person and online. You should be cautious if you seek advice from a group of people who have had similar experiences to yours.
Specific Phobias
A specific phobia is a severe unfounded fear of a particular object or circumstance. It can cause extreme anxiety that is not proportional to the threat that the trigger poses and often results in people living their lives being afraid of the object or situations. To allow a particular phobia to be identified, the fear or anxiety must substantially hinder the functioning.
Fear can trigger when you think of or see the trigger. It can also be triggered by being in the presence of something that triggers it, such as when someone walks by a statue or watching a film which includes a scene featuring the object they fear. The most common phobias are fear of insects, spiders or animals (arachnophobia) or heights, flying, or blood, needles, or injections (trypanophobia or hemotophobia).
Specific phobias share many of the same symptoms similar to other anxiety disorders such as anxiety, fear, and avoidance. Some people with phobias also tend to over-react or have panic attacks when exposed to the object or situation they are afraid of. In some instances, the fear and anxiety is so great that it causes the person being uninterested in everyday activities.
The most popular treatment for phobias that are specific to you is exposure therapy, which consists of gradually exposing the person to a specific part of the object or situation until their reaction is less or completely eliminated. This kind of therapy typically involves cognitive behavioral therapy to assist the patient in learning new ways of thinking about and dealing with the fearful feelings.
Some people with phobias also have symptoms of other mental disorders like agoraphobia, depression, bipolar disorder or substance-related disorders. They may also have somatic symptoms and related disorders, and dependent personality disorder. It is essential to determine if these conditions exist prior to starting treatment for a phobia.
Some people need long-term psychotherapy to treat a particular phobia. There are many techniques used to treat phobias, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy. Other options include hypnosis as well as a method called modeling, where the person watches as a professional trained in the field interacts with the subject or event. Treatments such as short-acting sedatives/hypnotics (like alprazolam, Xanax) or beta blockers and benzodiazepines, or medications that are commonly used to treat depression or anxiety, can be taken as needed to lessen the anxiety that results from thinking about or being confronted with the thing or event.