15 Type Of Anxiety Disorder Benefits Everybody Must Be Able To
Types of Anxiety Disorders
Everyone experiences anxiety and fears at times, but when these feelings are extreme or ongoing and interfere with daily life, they could indicate an anxiety disorder. Treatments include medication and talk therapy or psychotherapy.
First, talk to your doctor to rule any physical ailments out that might be causing symptoms. A psychiatrist or another mental health specialist can diagnose the type of anxiety disorder you suffer from.
Generalized anxiety disorder
Everyone is anxious at times and there are many valid reasons to be worried about things like work obligations or money, or health. If the worry is constant and takes over your life, it may be a more serious anxiety disorder known as generalized anxiety disorder. People suffering from GAD experience feelings of dread that influence their lives for the rest of their lives and are often difficult to control. They are prone to anticipate the worst, or believe that minor problems will turn into major disasters. GAD can be affected by anyone. It typically begins in the adolescent years or early childhood but can occur at any point. It is twice as prevalent in women and those assigned to be female at birth, as it is in men.
GAD can trigger physical symptoms, including headaches and stomachaches, and make it difficult to sleep. It can also interfere with social and work-related activities, causing people to avoid families or friends and cause a loss of self-esteem. People with severe, chronic GAD are at a higher chance of developing depression. However, treatment can help manage the two conditions.
While the exact cause of anxiety isn't known, it appears that anxiety disorders are connected to genetics and changes to brain structures that impact the body's response to stress. Some experts believe that a lack of neurotransmitters in the brain is involved as well.
While there is no cure for GAD, the condition can be managed through psychotherapy (talk therapy) and medications. Psychotherapy or talk therapy comprises a range of therapies that help you recognize and modify negative thoughts, emotions and behaviors. Cognitive behavior therapy is a kind of talk therapy which can help you manage your thoughts that are untrue and lessen your fear by challenging them. The use of medicines can ease some of the physical symptoms, such as heart palpitations and dizziness. They include antidepressants, benzodiazepines and some medicines used to treat seizures, such as hydroxyzine.
GAD is a difficult condition to identify, but it is important to seek help if your worrying or other symptoms of the disorder are evident. It is easier to treat if you seek assistance early, before anxiety and physical symptoms begin to affect your life.
Panic disorder
This type of anxiety disorder is characterized by repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense terror and fear that peak within minutes (panic attacks). The sufferers may also experience chest pain, shortness of breath or a feeling that their heart is pounding or it is fluttering ("heart palpitations"). They often worry that their symptoms may be signs of a heart attack. People who have panic disorder are at risk for developing other anxiety disorders and could be more susceptible to depression or other health problems like asthma or hyperthyroidism.
Researchers believe that anxiety disorders are caused by a combination factors. Some studies suggest that they could be linked to the malfunctioning of circuits in our brain that control emotion and fear. Other studies suggest that genetics, life experiences such as childhood abuse, or traumatic events are common causes of anxiety disorder. Many people who have an anxiety disorder have a parent who suffers from the disorder.
People suffering from anxiety disorders can be anxious all the time even though they know that their fears are not rational. This can create issues in social settings at work, at home or in school. In addition, many sufferers of anxiety disorders experience difficulties sleeping or eating well. They may also have tension in the muscles, irritability and trouble concentrating.
A person with generalized anxious disorder may be worried about a myriad of everyday activities such as work responsibilities and family problems. They may also feel tired or irritable and have difficulty concentrating. They also often worry about the safety of themselves or others.
The good news is that there are effective treatments for anxiety disorders. Treatments include psychotherapy, medication and complementary health methods. A mental health professional can help you identify which disorder is causing your symptoms and recommend the right treatment. Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy can help you understand how to deal with your worries and reduce the number of panic attacks you experience. There are many types of psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavior therapy and exposure reaction preventative. These therapies can be done either in a group or on an individual basis.
Social anxiety disorder
While many people are shy or nervous in certain situations, social anxiety disorder can cause such intense anxiety, fear and avoidance of social interactions that it causes problems with everyday life activities. It usually begins in the early years of childhood, but it can also appear in early adulthood. It often shows up as anxiety about specific social situations, such as talking in class or going out on a date, or it could be more generalized and involve avoidance of any situation that could result in being perceived as a failure by other people.
The person with SAD may recognize that their fear is irrational but still feel powerless. They try to manage their symptoms by avoiding situations that trigger anxiety, but this only makes them feel even more anxious. They may also adopt "safety behaviors" to try to lessen their anxiety, such as drinking alcohol, staying silent and avoid eye contact.
Some people with SAD might benefit from medication in addition to psychotherapy. These drugs, also referred to as antidepressants, help balance 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 suffer from social anxiety. The condition can be fatal if not treated and may cause mental health issues like depression and substance misuse. If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, call 911 or your local crisis line or text TALK (TALK) to 741741 to speak with a trained crisis counselor.
Only 1 in 4 people with anxiety disorders receive treatment. Treatment is impeded by a lack of awareness about anxiety disorders, the lack of investment in mental services, and stigma. It is also essential to make sure that your healthcare provider is aware of the various types of anxiety disorders to ensure that you will be appropriately diagnosed and treated. If you're unsure if you suffer from an anxiety disorder, ask your doctor to refer you to a mental health professional or use an online screening tool.
Specific phobias
A person with specific phobia experiences persistent and intense fear of one or more of the following: objects, situations animals, or other people. These fears are often in contrast to the dangers that the object or circumstance presents, but they may cause distress and interfere in the daily activities of. Specific phobias differ from other anxiety disorders because they cause anxiety around only one stimulus, not multiple stimuli. The feared object or situation could range from heights, dogs, flying to injections to crowds. This condition occurs worldwide and is more common in males than women, and can begin in childhood or adolescence. Certain phobias aren't irrational fears but the fear is still very real.
Children with specific fears usually overcome them. However when the fear persists into adulthood, it can be difficult to treat. Doctors diagnose the disorder based on reported symptoms and their impact on daily function. They are able to rule out other conditions that can exhibit similar symptoms like agoraphobia and social anxiety disorder prior to diagnosing the fear. In previous editions of the DSM, adult patients were required to recognize their fears that were irrational as part of the diagnosis process. However the 2013 edition says that this requirement is no longer needed for adults.
There are two kinds of treatment for particular phobias: cognitive therapy and exposure therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on teaching people better strategies for coping and altering 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 event and then move to looking at pictures of the subject, taking steps towards it (such as walking by an elevator), holding a toy snake, going to a zoo to look at real snakes, and then taking a ride in an elevator that is crowded. While this type of therapy cannot cure a phobia however it can greatly reduce the intensity of its symptoms.
Other options for treating specific fears include medications such as antidepressants and anxiety drugs, and psychotherapy. People with specific phobias that try these therapies frequently report improved outcomes.