Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders can be a form of mental illness. Anxiety can make it difficult to get through the day. Anxiety can cause panic attacks, anxiety, fear, and nervousness. It can also lead to rapid heartbeats and sweating. There are two options for treatment: medication and cognitive behavioural therapy. Your healthcare provider can help you design the best treatment plan.

OVERVIEW

What is anxiety disorder?

An anxiety disorder can be described as a mental illness. An anxiety disorder can cause you to react with fear and dread to certain situations and things. An anxiety disorder can also manifest as physical symptoms such as a pounding or sweaty heart.

Anxiety is normal. Anxiety can make you feel nervous or anxious if you are required to address a problem at work, interview, take a test, or make a decision. Anxiety can be beneficial. Anxiety can help us recognize dangerous situations and focus our attention on being safe.

An anxiety disorder is more than the normal nervousness and fear you feel from time to time. An anxiety disorder occurs when:

  • Anxiety can interfere with your ability for you to function.
  • When you feel triggered, you often react too strongly.
  • It is impossible to control how you respond to situations.

Anxiety disorders can make life difficult. There are many effective treatments available for anxiety disorders.

Who is at the greatest risk of anxiety disorders?

Environmental and genetic factors can increase an individual’s vulnerability to anxiety disorders. If you are a victim of:

  • Some personality traits, like shyness and behavioural inhibition, can feel uncomfortable around unfamiliar people, situations, or environments.
  • Stressful or traumatic events in childhood and adulthood.
  • Anxiety or mental disorders in the family history.
  • Some conditions may include thyroid problems or heart arrhythmias (unusual rhythms).

Women are more likely to suffer anxiety disorders. Researchers continue to investigate why this happens. This could be due to fluctuations in hormone levels throughout the month. It is possible that testosterone, more common in men, may also play a part. This hormone may help to ease anxiety. It is also possible that women are less likely than men to seek treatment, and anxiety worsens.

What are the different types of anxiety disorders?

There are many types of anxiety disorders.

  • Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
  • Panic disorder.
  • Phobias.
  • Separation anxiety.

Other mental disorders share some similarities with anxiety disorders. These include posttraumatic stress disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

What is generalized anxiety disorder?

GAD can cause extreme worry and tension, even when there is nothing to trigger them. You may worry about many things, such as your health, relationships, and school. It is possible to feel like the worry keeps on going.

GAD may manifest as restlessness, trouble concentrating and sleeping problems.

What is panic disorder?

Panic attacks can be intense and sudden if you have panic disorder. These panic attacks can be more intense than other anxiety disorders and cause stronger feelings.

Panic attacks can occur suddenly or unexpectedly. They may also be triggered by a trigger such as the fear of facing an unpleasant situation. Panic attacks may resemble heart attacks. Go to the emergency department if you think you might be having a heart attack. It is better to be safe than sorry and have a professional examine you.

You may feel the following symptoms during a panic attack:

  • Sweating.
  • Feeling like your heart is racing
  • Chest pain.
  • Feelings of choking can lead to the belief that you have a Heart Attack or are “going insane”.

Panic attacks can be very distressing. People living with Panic disorder often worry about their next panic attack and spend a lot of time worrying. People with panic disorder try to avoid situations that could trigger attacks.

What are phobias?

Phobias can be described as an extreme fear of certain objects or situations. Some fears, like the fear of snakes, may be understandable. Sometimes, however, the fear level doesn’t correspond to the situation.

As with other anxiety disorders, you might spend a lot of time trying to avoid situations that could trigger your phobia.

A specific phobia (or a simple fear) is an intense fear of one object or situation. This may make it difficult to deal with everyday situations. Fear of the following is some examples.

  • Animals such as dogs, spiders and snakes.
  • Blood.
  • Flying.
  • Heights.
  • Shots or injections

Social anxiety disorder

This condition was once called social phobia by healthcare providers. This condition can cause overwhelming worry and self-consciousness in daily social situations. You might worry about being judged by others or be afraid that you will embarrass or make a mockery of yourself. Social anxiety disorder can cause people to avoid social situations.

Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia is a fear that you will be overwhelmed or not be able to seek help. You may be afraid of one or more of the following environments.

  • Closed spaces
  • Crowds or lines
  • Open spaces.
  • You can find places outside of your home.
  • Public transport

A person who has agoraphobia might not be able to leave their home in extreme cases. They are so afraid of panic attacks in public that they will stay at home.

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