Comprehensive Guide To Type Of Anxiety Disorder
Types of Anxiety Disorders
Everyone experiences anxiety and fear at times, but when these feelings are extreme or ongoing and interfere with daily life, they could indicate an anxiety disorder. Treatments include medication, psychotherapy or talk therapy.
First, visit your doctor to rule out any physical ailments that could be the cause of your symptoms. A psychiatrist or mental health specialist will be able to diagnose the type of anxiety disorder you are suffering from.
Generalized anxiety disorder
Every person experiences anxiety from time to time There are good reasons to be concerned about things such as job responsibilities, health or money. If the worry is continuous and engulfs your life, it could be a more serious anxiety disorder, also known as generalized anxiety disorder. GAD sufferers experience fears that affect their whole lives and are often hard to control. They tend to assume the worst and that minor problems can turn into major catastrophes. GAD can affect anyone. It usually starts in adolescence or childhood, but it can happen at any point. It is twice as common among women and the newly born female.
panic anxiety disorder can cause physical problems like headaches and stomachaches. It can make it difficult to fall asleep. It can also cause people to feel depressed and self-esteem erode. It can affect work and social activities. People with severe, chronic GAD are at a higher risk of developing depression. However, treatment can help to manage both disorders.
Although the exact cause is unknown however, it is believed that anxiety disorders are linked to genetics and changes in brain structures that affect your body's response to stress. Some experts believe that an imbalance in neurotransmitters in the brain plays a role too.
While there is no cure for GAD however, it is manageable through psychotherapy (talk therapy) and medication. Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, is various methods that help you recognize and alter negative thoughts, emotions and behaviors. Cognitive behavior therapy is a form of therapy that can help you control your thoughts that are distorted and decrease your anxiety by challenging them. The use of medicines can ease some of the physical symptoms, such as dizziness and heart palpitations. They include antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and some medications that treat seizures, like hydroxyzine.
GAD isn't easy to identify and is therefore important to seek help if you are experiencing anxiety or other signs of the disorder. Early treatment is more effective because it helps you reduce the physical and emotional symptoms before they begin to take over your life.
Panic disorder
This kind of anxiety disorder is marked by repeated, extreme terror and fear that peak within minutes (panic attacks). The disorder can also trigger chest pain, shortness breath or the sensation that your heart is fluttering or beating (heart palpitations). They worry that the symptoms they are experiencing are symptoms of a heart attack. People with panic disorder may also be at risk of developing other anxiety disorders, such as depression and other health issues like hyperthyroidism or asthma.
Researchers believe that anxiety disorders are caused by a variety of factors. Some research suggests that they may be linked to malfunctioning circuits in the brain that regulate the emotions and fear. Other studies suggest that life experiences, genetics such as childhood abuse, or traumatizing events are typical causes of anxiety disorder. Many people with an anxiety disorder have a parent who suffers from the disorder.
Anxiety disorders can cause people to feel anxious all the time even though they know their fears are irrational. This can cause difficulties in social situations at work, or at school. People with anxiety disorders may are also unable to sleep or eating well. They may also have tension in their muscles, irritability and trouble concentrating.
A person suffering from generalized anxiety disorder may be worried about a variety of daily tasks, including job responsibilities and family problems. They may also feel restless and tired, or have trouble in concentrating. They might also worry about their safety or that of others.
The good news is that there are effective treatments for anxiety disorders. Treatments include psychotherapy, medicine and complementary health methods. A mental health professional can help you identify which disorder is causing your symptoms and recommend the appropriate treatment. Talk therapy or psychotherapy can help you deal with anxiety and decrease anxiety attacks. There are a variety of psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavior therapy and exposure reaction preventative. These therapies can be done individually or in groups.
Social anxiety disorder
Social anxiety disorder is a serious disorder that can affect everyday life. It causes intense anxiety, fear and avoidance of social situations. It can appear in the early years of adulthood, however it usually starts in childhood. It is usually manifested as anxiety about specific social situations, like speaking in class or going out on dates, or it may be more generalized and include avoiding any situation that might result in being perceived as a failure by other people.
The person with SAD might realize that their anxiety is unfounded however, they feel powerless. They attempt to control their symptoms by avoiding anxiety-provoking situations, but this makes them more anxious in the long term. They may also adopt "safety behavior" to lessen their anxiety. For example drinking alcohol, remain silent, or avoid eye contact.
In addition to the psychological treatments, a few patients with SAD 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 important to get treatment. If left untreated, the disorder can be debilitating and lead to other mental health issues, such as addiction or depression. If you or someone you know has suicidal thoughts, dial 911 or your local crisis line or text TALK to 741741 and speak with a trained 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 essential that your healthcare provider understands the different types anxiety disorders, to ensure you be properly diagnosed and treated. If you're not sure whether you suffer from an anxiety disorder, ask your doctor to refer you to an expert in mental health or utilize an online screening tool.
Specific Phobias
A person who has a specific phobia has a persistent and intense fear of one or more things, situations, animals or other people. The fear may be insignificant to the danger that the object or situation but they can cause severe distress and interfere with functioning in daily life. In contrast to other types of anxiety disorders, specific phobias are characterized by anxiety over only one stimulus instead of multiple stimuli. The feared situation or object could be anything from dogs to heights or flying, injections to flying and areas that are crowded. The condition is found worldwide and is more prevalent in women than men, and tends to begin in childhood or adolescence. Certain phobias aren't just irrational fears however, the fear is still very real.
Children with phobias that are specific to them usually overcome them. However in the event that the fear persists in 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 could exhibit similar symptoms, such as agoraphobia and social anxiety disorder before diagnosing a phobia. In past DSM editions, patients of adult age had to acknowledge their irrational fear as a part of the diagnosis, but the 2013 edition says this is no longer required for adults.
There are two kinds of treatment for specific phobias: cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on altering the way people react to their fears and helps them develop healthier ways to cope. Exposure-based therapy is the gradual and consistent exposure to the feared object or situation. The patient might begin by thinking about the object or situation, then move on to looking at photos of the subject. They may then take a step toward it (such as walking past an elevator), holding a toy snake, going to a zoo and looking at real snakes, and then taking a ride in an elevator that is crowded. This type of therapy may not eliminate fear, but it can reduce the intensity.
Other treatment options for specific fears include medication, such as antidepressants and anti-anxiety psychotherapy, as well as other medications. People with specific phobias who test these therapies often experience better outcomes.