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Effects of Anxiety
Although anxiety is a feeling that many of us feel from time to time, some people suffer from more severe anxiety disorders. These anxiety disorders have such a powerful effect on your life that you are unable to function normally. An anxiety disorder is considered a mental illness. Anxiety causes overwhelming and constant fear and worry, which can be crippling to you. Many people who have anxiety are suffering alone. They are ashamed and embarrassed of their condition. Instead, they begin to isolate themselves in order to prevent embarrassment. Anxiety Disorders are actually very common. It is estimated that around 19 million adult Americans have anxiety disorders. They are more common in women than men, but occur at similar rates for Hispanics, African Americans, and Whites. There are several types of anxiety disorders. They include panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, social anxiety disorder, specific phobias, and generalized anxiety disorder. I will define these disorders, discuss the causes of the disorders, and explain how each disorder is treated.
Panic Disorder If you have panic disorder, you experience feelings of terror that strike suddenly and repeatedly without prior warning. Some of the symptoms that are present with a panic attack include chest pain, sweating, irregular heartbeat, and a feeling of choking. People experiencing a panic attack may feel like they are having a heart attack. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder People with Obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD have constant fears that require them to perform particular rituals or routines. The thoughts are called obsessions, and the rituals they perform are known as compulsions. One example of an obsessive compulsive disorder is a person who is unreasonably afraid of germs and will spend hours sanitizing and cleaning daily when the house is already clean.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder This condition develops after a terrifying or traumatic event. Some of these events may include witnessing a murder, a crime happen, a sexual or physical assault, and unexpected death of a loved one, or a natural disaster. Today we hear a lot about soldiers coming home from war and suffering post-traumatic stress disaster. People with this condition are often emotionally numb and suffer from lasting thoughts and memories of the event that will not subside.
Social Anxiety Disorder Social Anxiety Disorder involves overwhelming worry and self-consciousness in social situations. The worry often is based on being fearful of how others will judge you, or worrying that you will embarrass yourself or be ridiculed by others.
Specific Phobias A specific phobia is one in which a particular event or thing causes a fearful reaction. Some of these phobias can be flying, heights, public speaking, or snakes. This fear may cause a person to avoid the situation.
Some people are deathly afraid of shots or needles. Generalized Anxiety Disorder Generalized Anxiety Disorder includes excessive and unrealistic tension and worry, even if there is absolutely nothing to instigate the worry.
There are a number of symptoms involved with anxiety disorders. These symptoms vary based on the type of anxiety disorder, but here are a few of the common symptoms.
Causes of Anxiety Disorders It is unclear what exactly causes anxiety disorders, but doctors believe that it may be a combination of factors, such as changes in the brain as well as environmental stress. Anxiety disorders may be caused by chemical imbalances. Doctors now know that severe or long-lasting stress can adjust the balance of chemicals you have in the brain that control your mood. People with certain anxiety disorders have changes in certain brain structures that control memory and mood. Anxiety disorders also run in families, so there is a genetic link. A trauma or significant event can also trigger anxiety disorder in people. Treatment of Anxiety Disorders Before a doctor will treat you, it must be determined that you do have an anxiety disorder. Your doctor will need to evaluate you. A physical exam will take place in order for your doctor to determine that it is not a physical illness that is causing your feelings of anxiety. If a physical illness is not present, your doctor may refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist, who There are several treatments that may be given to you to help you with anxiety disorder. One treatment is medication. There are anti-depressants and anxiety-reducing drugs to help you. Psychotherapy is a type of counseling which deals with the way you respond emotionally to anxiety. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a form of psychotherapy that teaches the patient how to recognize and change thought patterns that lead to the troublesome feelings that are being experienced. Anxiety disorders cannot be prevented, but there are some things you can do to control or lessen your symptoms of anxiety disorders. One is to see a counselor to help you talk about your feelings. Second, you should reduce the amount of caffeine that you are consuming. Third, be sure to speak to your doctor about over the counter medications, as some of these may actually enhance your anxiety symptoms. Some additional suggestions for avoiding anxiety include the following:
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are specially trained to diagnose and treat people with mental illnesses. The doctor will need to know the intensity of your symptoms, the duration of your symptoms, as well as how it impacts your daily functioning.
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