Types of Anxiety Disorders

Everyone experiences anxiety and fears at times, but when the feelings are intense or ongoing and interfere with your daily routine, they could be a sign of an anxiety disorder. Treatments include medication and psychotherapy or talk therapy.

First, talk to your doctor to rule any physical conditions out that could be causing symptoms. A psychiatrist or mental health specialist can diagnose the type anxiety disorder you suffer from.

Generalized anxiety disorder

Everyone feels anxious from time to time, and there can be good reasons to be concerned about issues like work obligations, health or money. When the worry becomes continuous and engulfs your life, it may be a more serious anxiety disorder known as generalized anxiety disorder. GAD is characterised by fear and anxiety that can alter the whole life of a person. They are prone to anticipate the worst or assume that minor problems will develop into major problems. GAD can be experienced by anyone, and typically begins in childhood or adolescence, but can occur at any time. It is twice as common in women and those born female.

GAD can trigger physical symptoms, including stomachaches and headaches, as well as make it difficult to sleep. It can also interfere with work and social activities, leading people to isolate themselves from friends or family and lead to the loss of self-esteem. People with severe, chronic GAD are at a greater risk of depression. However treatment can help manage the two disorders.

While the specific cause of anxiety disorders is unknown however, they are linked to genetics and changes in brain structure, which affect how your body responds to stress. Some experts believe that a lack of neurotransmitters in the brain may play a role too.

GAD is not curable, but it can be controlled by psychotherapy (talk-therapy) and medications. Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, encompasses various methods that help you recognize and alter negative thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is a type of talk therapy that can help you learn to control your distorted thinking patterns and decrease your fear by challenging them. The use of medicines can ease certain physical symptoms, like heart palpitations and dizziness. These include benzodiazepines and antidepressants, as well as some medications that treat seizures, like hydroxyzine.

GAD can be difficult to recognize and is therefore important to get help if you are experiencing anxiety or other signs of the disorder. Early treatment is more effective as it allows you to reduce the anxiety and physical symptoms before they become a major part of your life.

Panic disorder

This anxiety disorder is characterized by sudden, intense sensations of terror and fear (panic attacks) which peak within minutes. This disorder can also cause chest pain, shortness breath or the sensation that your heart is fluttering or pounding (heart palpitations). They often worry that their symptoms could be a sign of heart attacks. People with panic disorder may also be at risk of developing other anxiety disorders, including depression and other health problems such as hyperthyroidism or asthma.

Researchers believe that anxiety disorders are caused by a combination factors. Some research suggests that they could be linked to malfunctioning circuits in the brain that regulate emotion and fear. Other studies suggest that genetics as well as life experiences, like childhood abuse or traumatic events, are the most common causes of anxiety disorders. Many people with anxiety issues have a first degree relative with the condition.

People suffering from anxiety disorders can be anxious all the time even though they know that their fears are irrational. This can cause issues in social settings at work, or at school. People with anxiety disorders may also have difficulty sleeping or eating well. They might also have muscle tension, irritability and difficulty concentrating.

A person suffering from generalized anxiety disorder is likely to have many worries about everyday tasks, such as work responsibilities or family issues. They might also feel anxious and fatigued, or have difficulty in concentrating. They may also worry about their own safety or that of others.

The good news is that there are effective treatments for anxiety disorders. Treatments include medicine, psychotherapy and complementary health practices. A mental health professional will help you determine the problem that is causing your symptoms, and suggest the best treatment. Psychotherapy, or talk therapy can help you discover how to deal with your worries and reduce the amount of panic attacks you experience. There are a variety of psychotherapy, such as 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

Social anxiety disorder is a serious disorder that can affect daily life. It causes extreme anxiety, fear and avoidance of social situations. It usually begins in the early years of childhood, but it can also manifest in the early years of adulthood. It usually manifests as anxiety about specific social situations, such as speaking in class or going out on date, but it could be more generalized and include the avoidance of situations that could cause being judged by others.

The person suffering from SAD might realize that their fear is irrational however, they feel powerless. They attempt to manage their symptoms by avoiding stressful situations, but this makes them more anxious in the long term. They may also develop “safety behavior” to lessen their anxiety. For instance, they might drink alcohol, remain silent or avoid eye contact.

In addition to the psychotherapy, some sufferers who suffer from SAD can benefit from medication. These drugs, also referred to as antidepressants, help to regulate the levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain. Some examples of these medications are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).

It is crucial that you or someone you love receives treatment if they have social anxiety disorder. If not treated, the condition could be debilitating, and can lead to other mental health issues such as addiction or depression. If you or someone you know is suffering from suicidal thoughts, call 911 or your local crisis hotline or text TALK (741741) to speak with a crisis counselor.

Anxiety disorders are extremely treatable, but only about 1 of 4 people who require treatment receive it. Some of the barriers to seeking treatment are ignorance that anxiety conditions are real, inadequate investment in mental health services, and stigma. It’s also crucial to ensure that your doctor is aware of the different types of anxiety disorders so that you can be appropriately diagnosed and treated. Request your doctor to refer you to a mental health professional if you are unsure whether you have an anxiety disorder. You can also utilize an online tool to screen.

Specific Phobias

A person who suffers from a particular fear has a consistent and intense fear for one or more objects or situations such as animals, objects, or people. The fear may be insignificant to the threat posed by the object or circumstance, but they can cause severe anxiety and can hinder functioning in daily life. Particular phobias differ from other anxiety disorders due to the fact that they are triggered by only one stimulus, not multiple stimuli. The feared situation or object could be anything, from dogs to heights, flying to injections and the crowded spaces. The condition is found worldwide and occurs more often in women than men, and tends to begin in adolescence or childhood. Specific phobias are not unreasonable fears however, the fear is real.

Children who suffer from specific phobias typically outgrow them, but if the anxiety persists in adults it may be difficult to treat. Doctors diagnose the disorder based upon the reported symptoms and their impact on daily function. Before diagnosing a phobia, doctors rule out other conditions with similar symptoms, such as agoraphobia, or social anxiety disorder. In previous editions of the 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 required for adults.

Treatment options for specific phobias are cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure-based therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on educating people about healthier ways of coping and changing their response to fear. Exposure-based treatment involves gradual and systematic exposure of the object or situation that is feared. A patient may start with thinking about the object or situation, then move on to looking at images of the subject, taking steps towards it (such as walking by an elevator), holding the toy snake, taking it to a zoo to look at real snakes, and then riding in a crowded elevator. While this type of therapy is not able to alleviate phobias but it can dramatically reduce the severity of its symptoms.

Other treatment options for specific phobias include medications, such as antidepressants and anxiety drugs, and psychotherapy. People suffering from specific phobias who try these therapies frequently experience better outcomes.