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Types of Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders can be identified when fear or anxiety are constant, chronic and affecting daily life. Treatments include medication and talk therapy or psychotherapy.

First, consult your doctor to rule any physical ailments out that might be causing symptoms. A psychiatrist or mental health specialist will diagnose the type 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 like job responsibility, health, or money. If the worry is constant and consumes your life, it could be a more severe anxiety disorder, also known as generalized anxiety disorder. People with GAD have anxiety-like feelings that can have a profound effect on their lives and are often hard to control. They tend to think that they are the worst, and that small issues can turn into major catastrophes. GAD can be affected by anyone. It typically begins in childhood or adolescence but can occur at any time. It is twice as common for women and in those who are born female.

GAD can cause physical symptoms, including headaches and stomachaches, and make it difficult to sleep. It can also interfere with work and social activities, leading people to avoid friends or family and cause a loss of self-esteem. People who suffer from chronic, severe GAD are at a higher chance of developing depression. However, treatment can help to manage both disorders.

The exact cause of anxiety disorders is unclear but they appear to be caused by genetics and changes in brain structure, which affect the way your body reacts to stress. Some experts believe that an imbalance of neurotransmitters within the brain also plays an important role.

Although there isn’t a cure for GAD, the condition can be managed by psychotherapy (talk therapy) and medications. Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, encompasses various therapies that help you identify and modify negative thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Cognitive behavior therapy is a type of therapy that can help you control your thoughts that are distorted and decrease your fear by challenging them. Some physical symptoms such as heart palpitations or dizziness can be relieved by medications. These include antidepressants and benzodiazepines and some medications that treat seizures, such as hydroxyzine.

GAD can be difficult to recognize however it is crucial to get assistance if you begin to notice worrying or other signs of the disorder. It is simpler to treat it when you seek help early, before the anxiety and physical symptoms take over your life.

Panic disorder

This kind of anxiety disorder is defined by repeated episodes of sudden feelings of extreme terror and fear that reach a peak within minutes (panic attacks). The sufferers may also experience chest discomfort, shortness of breath or feeling like their heart is beating or it is fluttering (“heart palpitations”). They are often concerned that their symptoms could be a sign of heart attacks. People who have panic disorder are at risk for developing other anxiety disorders, and may be at a higher risk of depression or other health problems such as asthma or hyperthyroidism.

The reason behind anxiety disorders isn’t known, but researchers believe that they arise from a mix of factors. Certain studies suggest that they could be related to faulty brain circuits that control emotion and fear. Other studies suggest that life experiences, genetics such as childhood abuse, or traumatic events are the most common causes of anxiety disorders. A large majority of people suffering from an anxiety disorder have a parent who suffers from the condition.

People who have anxiety disorders can be anxious constantly even when they realize that their fears are not rational. This can lead to difficulty when it comes to social situations, work or school. Some people with anxiety disorders are also unable to sleep or eating well. They might also experience tension in their muscles, irritability and difficulty concentrating.

A person with generalized anxious disorder might be concerned about a myriad of everyday tasks that include work-related responsibilities as well as family issues. They may also be irritable and fatigued, or have trouble concentrating. They might also worry about their own safety or the safety of others.

The good news is that there are effective treatments for anxiety disorders. Treatments include psychotherapy, medication and complementary health practices. A mental health professional can help you determine the cause of your symptoms and recommend the appropriate treatment. Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy can help you discover how to manage your anxiety and reduce the amount of panic attacks you experience. There are several types of psychotherapy, including cognitive behavior therapy as well as exposure response preventative. These treatments can be carried out individually or in groups.

Social anxiety disorder

Social anxiety disorder is a severe disorder that can affect everyday life. It causes extreme anxiety, fear and avoidance of social situations. It can be present in early adulthood, but it typically begins in the early years of childhood. It is usually manifested as anxiety over specific social situations, such as having a conversation in class or going on dates, or it may be more generalized and involve avoidance of any situation that could cause being perceived as a failure by other people.

panic anxiety disorder suffering from SAD may realize that their fear is irrational but feel helpless. They attempt to manage their symptoms by avoiding stressful situations, but this makes them more anxious in the long run. They may also develop “safety behaviors” to help lessen their anxiety, for example, drinking alcohol, avoiding conversation and avoid eye contact.

Certain people suffering from SAD might benefit from medication along with psychological therapy. 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).

It’s important that you or someone you love receives treatment if they have social anxiety disorder. If left untreated, the disorder can be debilitating, and can lead to other mental health issues like addiction or depression. If you or someone you know has suicidal thoughts, contact 911 or your local crisis line, or text TALK to 741741 and speak with a trained crisis counselor.

Anxiety disorders are extremely treatable, but only about 1 in 4 people who need care receive it. Treatment is impeded due to a lack of awareness about anxiety disorders, low funding for mental health services and stigma. It’s also important to ensure that your doctor is aware of the different types of anxiety disorders so that you can be treated and diagnosed appropriately. Your doctor should refer you to a mental health professional if you are unsure whether you suffer from anxiety disorders or use an online screening tool.

Specific Phobias

A person who is afflicted with a particular phobia experiences persistent and intense fear of one or more of the following: objects, situations animals, or other people. These fears are often out of proportion with the dangers that the object or situation poses, but they can cause distress and interfere in daily functioning. Specific phobias differ from other anxiety disorders due to the fact that they cause anxiety around a single stimulus, not multiple stimuli. The feared object or situation could range from heights to dogs to flying to injections to crowds. The condition is prevalent throughout the world and occurs more often among women than men and it tends to start in childhood or adolescence. People with specific phobias know their fears are not rational, but this knowledge doesn’t diminish the severity of their symptoms.

Children with specific phobias usually outgrow them, but if a anxiety persists in adults it can be extremely difficult to treat. Doctors diagnose the disorder by evaluating the symptoms and how they impact the way they function in their daily lives. They rule out other conditions that can exhibit similar symptoms like agoraphobia or social anxiety disorder before diagnosing the phobia. In earlier editions of the DSM adults were required to acknowledge their irrational fears as part of the diagnostic process. However, the 2013 edition states that this requirement is no longer required for 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 respond to their fears and teaches them better ways to cope. Exposure-based therapy is a gradual and consistent exposure to the feared object or circumstance. The patient might begin by thinking about the object, or situation. They may then move on to see images of it, stepping into an elevator, holding toys, going to the zoo, and looking at real snakes, and finally experiencing a busy lift. Although this type of therapy is not able to cure a phobia but it can dramatically decrease the severity of its symptoms.

Other options for treating certain phobias include medications, like antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, and psychotherapy. People suffering from specific phobias who try these therapies frequently have better results.