Types of Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders are diagnosed when fear or anxiety is constant, chronic and affecting daily life. Treatments include medication for social anxiety disorder and talk therapy or psychotherapy.

First, consult your doctor to determine if there are any physical issues 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

Everyone is anxious every now and then, and there can be legitimate reasons to worry about issues like work responsibility, health, or money. If the worry is continuous and engulfs your life, it may be a more serious anxiety disorder, also known as generalized anxiety disorder. GAD is characterised by feelings of dread and anxiety that can alter the entire life of a person. They tend to assume the worst and believe that minor issues can turn into major catastrophes. GAD can affect anyone, and it typically begins in childhood or adolescence, but can occur at any age. It is twice as prevalent for women and those who are assigned to females at birth as men.

GAD can lead to physical discomforts like headaches and stomachaches. It can cause difficulty to fall asleep. It can also cause people to feel depressed and self-esteem erode. It can hinder social and work activities. People who suffer from chronic and severe GAD are more likely to be depressed, but treatment can aid in managing both disorders.

While the root of anxiety disorders is unclear however, they are caused by genetics and changes in brain structure, which affect how your body responds to stress. Certain experts believe that an imbalance of neurotransmitters within the brain may also play an important role.

GAD is not curable, but it can be controlled with psychotherapy (talk-therapy) and medications. Talk therapy or psychotherapy includes a range of therapies that help you recognize and alter negative thoughts, emotions and behaviors. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is a type of talk therapy that will help you learn to control your thoughts and patterns of thinking that are distorted and lessen your anxiety by engaging them. Medicines can ease certain physical symptoms, such as heart palpitations and dizziness. They include benzodiazepines and antidepressants and some medicines that treat seizures, like hydroxyzine.

GAD can be difficult to recognize however, you should seek treatment when you are worried or if other symptoms of the disorder are noticeable. It is much easier to treat by seeking help early, before the anxiety and physical symptoms begin to affect your life.

Panic disorder

This type of anxiety disorder is characterized by repeated, sudden feelings of extreme terror and fear that reach a peak within minutes (panic attacks). People with this disorder may also feel chest discomfort, breathlessness or the sensation that their heart is beating or flaring ("heart palpitations"). They often worry that their symptoms are signs of an attack on their heart. People with panic disorder may also be at risk of developing other anxiety disorders, such as depression and other health problems like hyperthyroidism or asthma.

Researchers believe that anxiety disorders are caused by a combination factors. Some research suggests that they could be related to the malfunctioning of circuits in our brain that regulate emotion and fear. Other studies suggest that genetics and other life experiences, like trauma or abuse in childhood are the most typical causes of anxiety disorders. Many people who have an anxiety disorder have a first-degree family member who suffers from the condition.

Anxiety disorders can cause people to feel constantly anxious, even when they realize their fears are not rational. This can result in difficulties in social situations, work or at school. In addition, some sufferers of anxiety disorders experience difficulty sleeping or eating properly. They may also have muscle tension, irritability, and trouble concentrating.

A person suffering from generalized anxiety disorder symptoms anxiety disorder might be concerned about a variety of everyday tasks that include work-related responsibilities as well as family problems. They may also feel restless or easily fatigued, have trouble concentrating and often worry about the safety of themselves and others.

There are effective treatments available for anxiety disorders. Treatments include medicine, psychotherapy and complementary health methods. A mental health professional can help you determine the problem that is causing your symptoms, and suggest the best treatment. Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, can help you learn how to deal with your anxiety and reduce the number of panic attacks that you suffer from. There are many types of psychotherapy, including cognitive behavior therapy as well as exposure response preventative. These treatments can be carried out either in a group or on an individual basis.

Social anxiety disorder

Social anxiety disorder is a serious condition that can hinder everyday life. It causes of anxiety disorder intense anxiety, anxiety and avoidance of social situations. It typically begins in childhood, but can also manifest in the early years of adulthood. It can manifest as anxiety in certain social anxiety disorder symptoms situations such as speaking in class or going out on dates. Or it may be more widespread and include avoidance of all situations that could result in being assessed.

Although the person suffering from SAD realizes that their anxiety is irrational, they still are unable to overcome it. They try to manage the symptoms by avoiding situations that cause anxiety, but this only makes them even more anxious. They may also develop "safety behavior" to ease their anxiety. For instance they may drink alcohol, stay silent, or avoid eye contact.

In addition to the psychological treatments, some people suffering from SAD benefit from medications. These drugs, also referred to as antidepressants, may aid in balancing 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).

If you or someone you know has social anxiety disorder, it's essential to seek treatment. If not treated, the condition could be debilitating and lead to other mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety disorder or addiction to substances. If you or someone you know has suicidal thoughts, dial 911 or your local crisis line, or text TALK to 741741 and talk with a trained crisis counselor.

One in four people with anxiety disorders receive treatment. Treatment is hindered by an absence of awareness of anxiety disorders, the lack of funding for mental health services and stigma. It's also crucial to ensure that your healthcare provider recognizes the different kinds of anxiety disorders so that you can be properly diagnosed and treated. If you're not sure whether you have an anxiety disorder consult your physician to refer you to a mental health professional or make use of an online tool to screen.

Specific phobias

A person who has a specific phobia has a persistent and intense fear of one or more objects, situations, animals, or other people. These fears are often in contrast to the danger that the object or situation poses, but they can cause distress and interfere in everyday functioning. Particular phobias differ from other anxiety disorders in that they are triggered by a single stimulus, not multiple stimuli. The target of the phobia could be anything, from dogs to heights as well as injections, flying, and areas that are crowded. This condition occurs worldwide most often in men than women, and is more likely to start in adolescence or childhood. People with specific phobias know their fears are irrational however this does not diminish the severity of their symptoms.

Children who have specific fears typically get over them. However, if the phobia persists in adulthood it can be difficult to treat. Doctors diagnose the disorder by looking at symptoms and their impact on the daily activities. Before diagnosing a phobia doctors are able to rule out other disorders with similar symptoms like agoraphobia or social anxiety disorder. In earlier editions of the DSM adults were required to recognize their irrational fears as part of the diagnosis process. However, the 2013 edition states that this requirement is no longer needed for adults.

There are two kinds of treatment for specific phobias: cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy is primarily focused on teaching people better ways of coping and changing their reactions to fear. Exposure-based therapy involves gradual and constant exposure to the feared object or circumstance. A patient may start with thinking about the object or circumstance before moving on to looking at photos of the subject. They may then take a step toward it (such as walking through an elevator), holding an imaginary snake, going to a zoo for a look at real snakes and finally being in a noisy elevator. Although this kind of therapy cannot alleviate phobias but it can dramatically decrease the severity of the symptoms.

Other options for treating certain fears include medications such as antidepressants and anti-anxiety psychotherapy, as well as other medications. People with specific phobias that take these treatments often experience better outcomes.