Types of Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders can be diagnosed when fear or anxiety are excessive, persistent and interfere with your daily routine. Talk therapy or psychotherapy and medication are effective ways to treat anxiety.

First, see your doctor to rule out any physical conditions that might be the cause of your symptoms. A psychiatrist or mental health professional will diagnose the type anxiety disorder that you have.

Generalized anxiety disorder

Every person experiences anxiety now and then and there are good reasons to be concerned about things like job responsibility, health, or money. But when the anxieties become constant and take over your life, you could be suffering from a more serious anxiety disorder called generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). People suffering from GAD experience feelings of dread that affect their whole lives and can be difficult to manage. They tend to think that they are the worst and believe that minor issues can become major problems. GAD can be a problem for anyone. It typically begins in the adolescent years or early childhood but it can happen at any point. It is twice as prevalent in women and those born female.

GAD can cause physical problems such as headaches or stomachaches. It can also make it difficult to fall asleep. It can also cause people to withdraw and lose self-esteem. It can hinder work and social activities. People suffering from chronic and severe GAD are more likely to be depressed, but treatment can aid in managing both disorders.

The root of anxiety disorders is unclear however, they are related to genes and changes in brain structure that affect how your body responds to stress. Some experts believe that an imbalance in neurotransmitters in the brain may play a role as well.

While there is no cure for GAD it is manageable through psychotherapy (talk therapy) and medications. Psychotherapy or talk therapy includes a range of treatments that help you identify and change negative thoughts, emotions and behavior. Cognitive behavior therapy is a type of therapy that can help you control your distorted thoughts and reduce your anxiety by confronting them. The use of medicines can ease some of the physical symptoms, including heart palpitations and dizziness. They include benzodiazepines and antidepressants, as well as some medicines that treat seizures, like hydroxyzine.

GAD isn't easy to identify however it is crucial to seek help if you are experiencing anxiety and other symptoms of the disorder. It is easier to treat by seeking assistance early, before anxiety and physical symptoms begin to take over your life.

Panic disorder

This type of anxiety disorder is marked by repeated, extreme terror and fear that can reach their peak in a matter of minutes (panic attacks). This disorder can also cause chest pain, shortness breath or the sensation that your heart is fluttering or pounding (heart palpitations). They worry that the symptoms they are experiencing are signs of heart attacks. People with panic disorder may also be at risk of developing other anxiety disorder help near me disorders, including depression and other health problems like hyperthyroidism or asthma.

Researchers believe that anxiety disorders result 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 genetics, life experiences like childhood abuse or traumatizing events are typical causes of anxiety disorder. A large majority of people suffering from an anxiety disorder have a first-degree relative who suffers from the disorder.

People with anxiety disorders may be worried constantly even when they realize that their fears are unfounded. This can result in difficulties in social situations, work or at school. Some people with anxiety disorders also have difficulty sleeping or eating well. They may also experience tension in the muscles, irritability and trouble concentrating.

A person with generalized anxiety disorder is likely to have a variety of worries about routine tasks, like job responsibilities or family problems. They may also feel restless and fatigued, or have trouble in concentrating. They might also worry about their own safety or the safety of others.

There are effective treatments 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 most effective treatment. Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy can help you discover how to manage your anxieties and decrease the number of panic attacks you have. There are several types of psychotherapy that include cognitive behavior therapy and exposure reaction preventative. These treatments can be carried out individually or in groups.

Social anxiety disorder

While many people are shy or nervous in certain situations, a social anxiety disorders cause such extreme anxiety, fear, and avoidance of social interactions that it interferes with everyday life activities. It usually starts in the early years of childhood, but it can also appear in early adulthood. It often shows up as anxiety about specific social situations, such as talking in class or going on a date, or it may be more generalized, and include the avoidance of situations that could result in being considered unpopular by others.

While the person with SAD realizes that their fear is irrational, they still feel helpless to overcome it. They try to control their symptoms by avoiding the stressful situations, but this only increases their anxiety in the long run. They may also adopt "safety behaviours" to to reduce their anxiety, for example, drinking alcohol, staying silent and avoid eye contact.

In addition to the psychotherapy, some patients suffering from SAD benefit from medication. These medications, known as antidepressants, can aid in balancing the levels of some 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 important to seek treatment. The condition can be fatal when left untreated, and could result in other mental health issues, such as depression and substance misuse. If you or someone you know has suicidal thoughts, contact 911 or your local crisis line or text TALK (TALK) to 741741 to speak with a trained crisis counselor.

One in four sufferers of anxiety disorders receive treatment. Treatment is impeded due to the lack of awareness about anxiety disorders, the lack of funding for mental health services and stigma. It is also essential that your healthcare provider understands the various types of anxiety disorders to ensure you get the right diagnosis and treatment. If you're not sure if you suffer from an anxiety disorder consult your physician to refer you to an expert in mental health or make use of an online tool to screen.

Specific Phobias

A person with specific phobia has a persistent and a heightened fear of one or more things, situations, animals or other people. These fears may be insignificant to the threat that the object or situation but they can cause severe anxiety and hinder the ability to function in everyday life. Specific phobias are different from other anxiety disorders due to the fact that they involve anxiety disorder treatments at home about only one stimulus, rather than multiple stimuli. The feared object or situation could be anything from dogs to heights to flying to injections to crowds. The condition is widespread and occurs more often among women than men and usually begins in the adolescent years or early childhood. Certain phobias aren't just irrational fears but the fear remains real.

Children with specific phobias usually overcome them, but if a phobia persists in adults, it may be difficult to treat. Doctors diagnose the disorder based on the symptoms reported and their impact on everyday functioning. They are able to rule out other conditions that could be similar like agoraphobia and best social anxiety disorder medication anxiety disorder prior to diagnosing the fear. In previous editions of the DSM adults were required to acknowledge their fears that were irrational as part of the diagnostic process. However the 2013 edition states that this requirement is no longer necessary for adults.

Treatment options for certain phobias include cognitive behavior therapy and exposure-based therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses primarily on teaching people better coping mechanisms and changing their response to fear. The treatment is based on exposure, which involves gradual and systematic exposure to the feared object or circumstance. The patient may begin by thinking about the object or the situation. They can then proceed to seeing pictures of it, walking near an elevator, holding toys, going to the zoo, and looking at real snakes, and finally taking a ride in a crowded elevator. This kind of therapy might not be able to eliminate a fear, but it could decrease the intensity.

Psychotherapy and medicines like antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications are also options for treating specific fears. These treatments are frequently proven to be effective by people with phobias specific to them.