Anxiety Disorders Explained In Less Than 140 Characters
Anxiety Disorders Symptoms
Everyone feels anxiety and fear at times - it's a natural part of being human. If these feelings are persistent and are affecting your daily life, then you may have anxiety disorder.
A health professional can help you find a treatment that fits your symptoms. This may include psychotherapy or antianxiety medication and natural remedies like exercise as well as a healthy diet and sleeping.
1. Worry and Fear
Everyone experiences anxiety and fear at times. It's part of the body's "fight or fight" response to danger. If the feeling is extreme and doesn't go away or is interfering with daily life it could be a sign that you have anxiety disorder. Your doctor can determine whether you suffer from anxiety disorders by speaking with you and performing a physical exam, taking blood or urine tests and asking about your past health. You could also be given questionnaires to fill out to help your doctor determine whether you have a specific anxiety disorder.
The different types of anxiety disorders have distinct symptoms. People suffering from generalized anxiety disorder, like are constantly worried and irrationally about everyday situations even though there isn't any real threat. They also have trouble relaxing or falling to sleep. Other symptoms include a rapid and pounding heart, fluttering, or a thumping (heart palpitations), sweating and trembling. People with panic disorders have frequent moments of intense terror or fear that can reach a high within minutes. They also have trouble managing their emotions. They usually try to avoid certain locations or activities to avoid these attacks occurring.
People who have phobias are afraid of certain things like flying or snakes. They may also have other symptoms like breathing problems or headaches. People with PTSD are anxious after experiencing or witnessing traumatizing events, like a war, or car crash. They may experience other symptoms, too, such as nightmares and flashbacks of the traumatic incident.
Other forms of anxiety disorders include ocd, hoarding disorder, and social anxiety disorder, which causes you feel anxious in social situations. You can also experience anxiety over a specific health issue, which is referred to as illness anxiety disorder. Stress and a chemical imbalance may also cause anxiety. Certain medications can cause anxiety as a side effect.
2. Panic Attacks
Individuals with anxiety disorders experience recurring feelings of extreme panic and fear that are insignificant to their circumstances. These feelings can trigger severe physical reactions, such as an intense pulse, a breathing problems and nausea. You might also feel disengaged or numb.
While anyone can have an anxiety attack but you're more likely to develop this mental health issue in your the adolescent years, childhood or early adulthood. Many factors can cause it, such as prolonged or severe stress that causes chemical imbalances in your nervous system and brain. A severe trauma, particularly in the adolescent years, can also increase the likelihood of developing anxiety disorders.
Panic attacks may occur for no reason or in response to a circumstance that causes you to feel anxious, for example, being in a large group. They're different from the normal feelings of anxiety because they involve much more intense symptoms and are often unexpected. People suffering from anxiety disorders may also experience a combination of unexpected and expected panic attacks.
The most popular treatments for panic attacks and anxiety include medication and talk therapy. Talking therapies can help you understand how to manage your anxiety and overcome unfounded beliefs that cause anxiety. They can teach relaxation exercises such as deep breathing and mindfulness. Some medications -- especially SSRIs (such as Prozac and Paxil) and SNRIs (such as duloxetine and venlafaxine) -- can make your anxiety and panic less severe.
It is essential to consult your physician immediately if experience recurrent panic attacks. Your doctor can check if you have other health conditions with similar symptoms and recommend other treatments.
3. Insomnia
When people are stressed they may have trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep during the night. This is called insomnia. It could be a short-term problem or a long-term one. Insomnia can make it hard to get through the day and could lead to serious health problems. It affects women more than men and is more common among older adults. It is more common among people with psychiatric conditions.
Insomnia can be caused by a myriad of different factors. Sleep is affected by temporary illnesses like colds or headaches, chronic conditions such as acid reflux, Parkinson's disease or arthritis and medications. Stressful life situations can also trigger it. About half of those suffering from chronic insomnia have a mental illness, which is most often depression or anxiety.
A doctor will first investigate physical causes. They will examine your medical history and inquire about the symptoms that are making it difficult to sleep. They'll also want to know if any of the medications you are taking affect it. They may also conduct a sleep study to ensure they can observe your heart rate and breathing at night.
The most effective way to treat insomnia is behavioral therapy. It helps you change the negative thoughts that keep you awake. It also teaches ways to relax before bed. There are many techniques to help you relax, including progressive muscle relaxation meditation, biofeedback and biofeedback. The doctor can help you locate a therapist who can teach you these methods. If you don't respond to behavioral therapies There are a variety of drugs that can help you improve your sleep. These include benzodiazepines, which can be used to ease symptoms temporarily and also anti-anxiety and antidepressant medication.
4. Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are characterised by anxiety about body shape, weight, and food and eating habits like eating excessively, purging frequently, vomiting, or misuse of laxatives and exercising. Many people with an eating disorder also suffer from anxiety as do those who have a mental illness co-occurring with it such as depression or bipolar disorder. When they are combined, these two conditions can create a vicious cycle where a person's mood problems increase the symptoms of their eating disorder.
There is a strong correlation between anxiety and eating disorder severity. Higher levels of anxiety symptoms are associated with the disorder. Anorexia nervosa sufferers tend to have higher levels of anxiety-related symptoms. The same holds true for bulimia, binge-eating disorders, or bulimia. In some instances anxiety may be the primary cause of an eating disorder. In some cases anxiety could be a secondary indicator of an eating disorder.
Researchers found that the presence of comorbid depression and anxiety symptoms was significantly associated with more severe eating disorders among young females. The study team utilized the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4) which is a four-item measure of core anxiety and depression symptoms. They also evaluated the extent of an eating disorder, and asked participants to rate their ability to cope with anxiety.
The authors of the study also looked at three aspects that could explain the relationship between eating disorders and anxiety: perfectionism, self-esteem and mood dysregulation. These factors influenced the relationship between anxiety/depression and eating disorder symptoms however in different ways, depending on the subgroups. They hope that the results will help them develop more precise and focused treatment for eating disorders.
5. Anxiety-related physical conditions that can be linked to anxiety
Most people have feelings of anxiety at one point in moment, but it turns into an illness when it becomes severe and affects daily life. Certain people also experience specific physical symptoms, such as chest pain or stomach upset according to the type of anxiety they have.
Finding the best treatment for anxiety disorders can make people feel better and live happier lives. Many people benefit from psychotherapy or talk therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a very common type. CBT is a method of helping you identify and overcome negative thoughts that trigger anxiety and fear. It also teaches you to confront the fears that scare you and overcome your fears in small steps.
Medication can be helpful. Benzodiazepines, such as diazepam and Valium can help reduce anxiety or panic attacks. Antidepressants, such as SSRIs or tricyclic antidepressants may also be prescribed. These medications are used to treat anxiety disorders alone or in conjunction with other treatments.
Anxiety-related medical conditions can be caused by medical conditions, and they may even exhibit the same symptoms as anxiety disorders. Head trauma, for instance, can lead to depression and anxiety. Other conditions that can cause anxiety include chronic pain, fatigue disorders, some rheumatologic illnesses, like Lupus, as well as some nutritional deficiencies.
Certain circumstances make someone more likely to develop an anxiety disorder. These are known as risk factors. Certain risk factors are genetic, such as the family history or anxiety disorders. Other factors like childhood addiction, depression or other mental disorders, and an accumulation of stress for a long time can increase the risk of suffering from anxiety disorders. If you suspect that you suffer from anxiety it is essential to get a physical exam.