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, consult your physician to rule out any physical conditions that might be causing your symptoms. A psychiatrist or mental health professional will be able to diagnose the type of anxiety disorder you suffer from.

Generalized anxiety disorder

Everyone is anxious at times and there are many good reasons to worry about things like work responsibilities and financial obligations, as well as health. If the anxiety becomes continuous and engulfs your life, it could be a more severe anxiety disorder known as generalized anxiety disorder. People suffering from GAD experience feelings of dread that have a profound effect on their lives and are often hard to manage. They tend to anticipate the worst, or believe that minor problems will develop into major disasters. GAD can affect anyone. It usually begins in the adolescent years or early childhood but can occur at any point. It is twice as prevalent for women and in those who are born female.

GAD can cause physical problems like headaches and stomachaches. It can cause difficulty to sleep. It can also hinder social and work-related activities, cause people to withdraw from families or friends and cause an eroding of self-esteem. People with severe and chronic GAD are more likely to be depressed, but treatment can help manage both disorders.

While the exact cause is unknown however, it is believed that anxiety disorders are connected to genetics and changes in brain structures that alter the body's response to stress. Some experts believe that an imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain may play a role as well.

GAD is not curable, however it can be controlled with psychotherapy (talk-therapy) and medication. Psychotherapy or talk therapy includes various treatments that help you identify and modify unhealthy thoughts, emotions and behaviours. Cognitive behavior therapy is a kind of talk therapy which can help you manage your thoughts that are distorted and decrease your anxiety by challenging them. Medications can help relieve certain physical symptoms, like heart palpitations and dizziness. They include antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and some medications that treat seizures, like hydroxyzine.

GAD isn't easy to identify however it is crucial to seek assistance if you begin to notice worrying and other symptoms of the disorder. It is simpler to treat it when you seek help early, before the physical and emotional symptoms begin to affect your life.

Panic disorder

This anxiety disorder is characterized by sudden, intense sensations of fear and terror (panic attacks) that peak within minutes. The disorder can also trigger chest pain, shortness of breath or the sensation that your heart is racing or beating (heart palpitations). They often worry that their symptoms are signs of heart attacks. People suffering from panic disorder could be at risk of developing other anxiety disorders, as well as depression and other health issues like hyperthyroidism or asthma.

Researchers believe that anxiety disorders result from a mix of factors. Some studies suggest that they may be caused by brain circuits that control emotions and fear. Other studies suggest that genetics and life experiences, such as traumatizing events in childhood, are common Causes Of Anxiety Disorder of anxiety disorders. Many people with anxiety problems have a first-degree family member who suffers from the disorder.

Anxiety disorders can cause people to feel constantly stressed, even when they realize their fears are not rational. This can lead to difficulty when it comes to social situations, work or school. In addition, some people with anxiety disorders have difficulty sleeping or eating properly. They may also experience tension in their muscles, irritability and difficulty concentrating.

A person with generalized anxiety disorder is likely to have numerous worries regarding routine tasks, like work responsibilities or family issues. They might also feel anxious and fatigued, or have trouble in concentrating. They may also worry about their own security or that of others.

There are effective treatments available for anxiety disorders. The treatments include medications, psychotherapy, and complementary health practices. A mental health professional can help identify which disorder is causing your symptoms and recommend the best treatment. Talk therapy or psychotherapy can help you cope with your anxiety and reduce anxiety attacks. There are several types of psychotherapy that include cognitive behavior therapy as well as exposure response preventative. These therapies can be done either in a group or on an individual basis.

Social anxiety disorder

Social anxiety disorder is a serious condition that can interfere with everyday life. It can cause intense anxiety, fear and avoidance of social situations. It can be present in early adulthood, but it typically starts in childhood. It is usually manifested as anxiety about specific social situations, like speaking in class or going on a date, or it may be more generalized, and include the avoidance of situations that could cause being perceived as a failure by others.

When someone with SAD realizes that their fear is unfounded, they feel helpless to overcome it. They try to control their symptoms by avoiding anxiety-provoking situations, but this makes them more anxious in the long in the long run. They may also adopt "safety behavior" to reduce their anxiety. For instance drinking alcohol, stay silent or avoid eye contact.

In addition to the psychological treatments, some patients with SAD benefit from medications. These antidepressants can help regulate certain neurotransmitters in 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 suffers from social anxiety disorder, it's crucial 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 has suicidal thoughts, call 911 or your local crisis line, or text TALK to 741741 to speak to a trained crisis counselor.

One in four sufferers of anxiety disorders receive treatment. Treatment is impeded by a lack of awareness about anxiety disorders, a lack of investment in mental health services, and stigma. It's also crucial to make sure that your healthcare provider recognizes the various types of anxiety disorders so that you can be treated and diagnosed appropriately. If you're not sure whether you suffer from an anxiety disorder, ask your doctor to refer you to a mental health professional or utilize an online screening tool.

Specific phobias

A person with a particular phobia experiences a constant and intense fear of one or more objects or situations such as animals, objects, or people. These fears are usually not proportional to the danger that the object or circumstance creates, but they can cause anxiety and disrupt everyday functioning. Specific phobias differ from other anxiety disorders due to the fact that they involve anxiety about only one stimulus, not multiple stimuli. The target of the phobia may include anything from dogs to heights to flying, injections, or even crowded spaces. This condition is prevalent throughout the world, more often in men than women, and tends to start in adolescence or childhood. Specific phobias are not unreasonable fears but the fear remains real.

Children with specific fears usually outgrow them. However in the event that the fear persists as an adult it can be difficult to treat. Doctors identify the disorder by examining the symptoms and how they impact the daily activities. Before determining a phobia, doctors are able to rule out other disorders with similar symptoms, such as agoraphobia, or social anxiety disorder. In past DSM editions, adults were required to recognize their irrational fear as a part of the diagnosis. However, the 2013 edition says this is no longer required natural remedies for anxiety disorder adults.

There are two types of treatment for specific phobias: cognitive behavior therapy and exposure therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on changing the way that people react to their fears and helps them develop healthier coping strategies. The treatment is based on exposure, which involves gradual and systematic exposure of the subject or event that you are afraid of. The patient might begin by imagining the object or event. They may then move on to seeing pictures of it, walking in front of an elevator, holding a toy, visiting an animal park and viewing real snakes, and then experiencing a busy lift. This type of therapy may not be able to eliminate a fear, but it can reduce its intensity.

Other options for treating anxiety disorders certain fears include medications such as antidepressants and anxiety psychotherapy, as well as other medications. People suffering from specific phobias who test these therapies often report improved outcomes.