Types of Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders can be identified when fear or anxiety is excessive, persistent and interfere with daily life. Psychotherapy, talk therapy, and medications are effective treatments.

First, see your doctor to rule out any physical conditions that might be causing your symptoms. Then, a psychiatrist or another mental health professional can diagnose the kind of anxiety disorder you have.

Generalized anxiety disorder

Every person experiences anxiety from time to time and there are legitimate reasons to worry about issues like work responsibilities, health or money. If the worry is continuous and engulfs your life, it may be a more serious anxiety disorder, also known as generalized anxiety disorder. GAD is characterized by dread and anxiety that can alter the whole life of a person. They tend to expect the worst or assume that minor issues will turn into major catastrophes. GAD can be affected by anyone. It typically begins in adolescence or childhood, but it can happen at any point. It is twice as prevalent among women and the newly born female.

GAD can cause physical problems, such as headaches and stomachaches. It can make it difficult to sleep. It can also affect social and work activities, causing people to avoid families or friends and cause an eroding of self-esteem. People with severe and chronic GAD are more likely to experience depression However, treatment can help manage both disorders.

Although the exact cause of anxiety isn't known but it is clear that anxiety disorders are connected to genetics and changes in brain structures that affect your body's response to stress. Some experts believe that a lack of neurotransmitters in the brain may play a role as well.

GAD is not curable, but it can be controlled by psychotherapy (talk-therapy) and medication. Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is different anxiety disorders therapies that help you identify and modify unhealthy emotions, thoughts and behavior. Cognitive behavior therapy is a type of therapy that can help you control your distorted thoughts and reduce your anxiety by confronting them. Medicines can ease certain physical symptoms, including heart palpitations and dizziness. They include antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and some medicines used to treat seizures, such as hydroxyzine.

GAD can be difficult to recognize, but it is important to seek help if you notice worrying and other signs of the disorder. Early treatment is more effective since it lets you control the physical and emotional symptoms before they take over your life.

Panic disorder

This anxiety disorder is characterised by sudden, intense sensations of terror and fear (panic attacks) that peak within a matter of minutes. People who have this disorder may also suffer from chest pain, shortness of breath or a feeling that their heart beats or is it is fluttering ("heart palpitations"). They often worry that their symptoms could be a sign of a heart attack. People who have panic disorder are at risk for developing other anxiety disorders, and may be more susceptible to depression and other health issues, such as asthma or hyperthyroidism.

Researchers believe that anxiety disorders are caused by a variety of factors. Some research suggests that they may be linked to faulty circuits in the brain that control the emotions and fear. Other studies suggest that genetics and life experiences, like traumatizing events in childhood are the most the most common causes of anxiety disorders. A large number of people with anxiety disorders have a first degree relative who has the disorder.

Anxiety disorders can cause people to be anxious all the time even when they realize their fears are irrational. This can result in difficulties in social situations, at work or at school. In addition, some people with anxiety disorders have difficulty sleeping or eating properly. They may also experience tension in their muscles, irritability and trouble concentrating.

A person suffering from generalized anxiety disorder is likely to experience a variety of worries about routine tasks, like job responsibilities or family problems. They might also feel anxious, easily fatigued or have difficulty in concentrating. They may also worry about their security or that of others.

The good news is that there are effective treatments for anxiety disorders. Treatments include psychotherapy, medication and complementary health techniques. A mental health professional can help you determine the problem that what is severe anxiety disorder causing your symptoms and suggest the best med for social anxiety disorder treatment. Psychotherapy, or talk therapy can help you understand how to reduce anxiety disorder to deal with your anxieties and decrease the number of panic attacks that you suffer from. There are many types of psychotherapy, including cognitive behavior therapy and exposure response preventative. These treatments can be carried out either in a group or on an individual basis.

Social anxiety disorder

While many people are nervous or shy in certain situations, social anxiety disorders cause such extreme anxiety, fear and avoidance of social interactions that it causes problems with everyday life activities. It usually starts in childhood, but may also manifest in the early years of adulthood. It can manifest itself as anxiety in certain social situations like speaking in class or going out on date. It can also be more widespread and include avoidance of all situations that could result in being considered a failure.

The person with SAD might realize that their anxiety is unfounded however, they feel powerless. They attempt to manage the symptoms by avoiding situations that trigger anxiety, but this only makes them feel even more anxious. They may also adopt "safety behaviours" to try to lessen their anxiety, for example, drinking alcohol, avoiding conversation and avoiding eye contact.

In addition to the psychological treatments, a few sufferers with SAD can benefit from medication. 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 has social anxiety disorder, it's essential to seek treatment. The condition can be fatal when left untreated, and could result in other mental health issues like depression and substance misuse. If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, contact 911 or your local crisis line, or text TALK to 741741 to talk with an experienced crisis counselor.

Anxiety disorders can be treated however, only 1 out of four people who require care receive it. Some of the barriers to seeking treatment are lack of awareness that anxiety disorders are real, low investment in mental health services, and stigma. It is also essential to ensure that your healthcare provider recognizes the various types of anxiety disorders so that you can be appropriately diagnosed and treated. Ask your doctor to refer to an expert in mental health in case you're not sure if you have an anxiety disorder. You can also use an online screening tool.

Specific fears

A person with a specific phobia has a persistent and intense fear for one or more objects, situations such as animals, objects, or people. These fears are usually in contrast to the risk that the object or event creates, but they can cause distress and interfere in daily functioning. Contrary to other forms of anxiety disorders, specific phobias cause anxiety disorder home remedies over one stimulus, rather than multiple stimuli. The object or situation that is feared could be anything, from dogs to heights or flying, injections to flying and crowded spaces. This is a common occurrence and is more common in males than women, and is more likely to start in adolescence or childhood. Certain phobias aren't unfounded fears but the fear remains real.

Children with specific fears usually outgrow them. However, if the phobia persists into adulthood it can be difficult to treat. Doctors diagnose the disorder based upon the reported symptoms and their impact on daily functioning. Before determining a phobia, doctors rule out other conditions with similar symptoms like agoraphobia or social anxiety disorders. In past DSM editions, adult patients needed to recognize their irrational fear as part of the diagnosis. However, the 2013 edition states that this is no longer necessary for adults.

Treatment options for specific phobias include cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure-based therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on teaching people better ways of coping and changing their response to fear. The treatment is based on exposure, which involves gradual and systematic exposure of the subject or event that you are afraid of. Patients may begin by thinking about the object or circumstance and then move to looking at images of the subject, then taking a step toward it (such as walking by an elevator) or holding an imaginary snake, going to a zoo and looking at real snakes and finally riding in a crowded elevator. This kind of therapy might not cure a fear, but it can reduce its intensity.

Psychotherapy and medicines like antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs are also options for treating specific phobias. People with specific phobias that try these therapies frequently report improved outcomes.