Types of Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders can be identified when fear or anxiety are excessive, persistent and affecting daily life. Talk therapy or psychotherapy and medications are effective treatments.

First, you should consult your physician to rule any physical conditions out that could be causing symptoms. A psychiatrist or another mental health specialist can diagnose the kind of anxiety disorder you suffer from.

Generalized anxiety disorder

Everyone is anxious at times, and there are many good reasons to worry about things such as job responsibility or money, or health. If the worry is constant and consumes your life, it may be a more serious anxiety disorder referred to as generalized anxiety disorder. GAD sufferers experience anxiety-like feelings that can influence their lives for the rest of their lives and are often difficult to control. They are prone to anticipate the worst and assume that minor issues will turn into major problems. GAD can be experienced by anyone, and usually begins in adolescence or childhood however it can happen at any age. It is twice as prevalent for women and those who are assigned female at birth as in men.

GAD can lead to physical discomforts, such as headaches and stomachaches. It can also make it difficult to sleep. It can also interfere with social and work-related activities, cause people to isolate themselves from family or friends and lead to the loss of self-esteem. People who suffer from chronic, severe anxiety disorder medications GAD are at a greater risk of developing depression. However treatment can help manage both conditions.

Although the exact cause of anxiety isn't known but it is clear that anxiety disorders are connected to genetics and changes in brain structures that affect your body's response to stress. Some experts believe that an imbalance of neurotransmitters inside the brain may also play a part.

GAD is not curable, but it can be controlled by psychotherapy (talk-therapy) and medication. Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is a variety of therapies that help you identify and change negative thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. Cognitive behavior therapy is a type of therapy that can help you manage your distorted thoughts and reduce your fear by challenging them. Certain physical symptoms, such as dizziness or heart palpitations can be alleviated by medication. They include antidepressants, benzodiazepines as well as some medicines used to treat seizures, like hydroxyzine.

GAD isn't easy to identify and is therefore important to seek assistance if you begin to notice worrying or other signs of the disorder. Early treatment is more effective because it helps you manage your anxiety and physical symptoms before they become a major part of your life.

Panic disorder

This type of anxiety disorder is characterized by repeated, sudden feelings of intense terror and fear that peak within minutes (panic attacks). People with this disorder may also suffer from chest discomfort, breathlessness or a feeling that their heart is beating or it is fluttering ("heart palpitations"). They worry that the symptoms they are experiencing are signs of heart attack. People suffering from panic disorder could be at risk of developing other anxiety disorders, including depression and other health problems such as hyperthyroidism or asthma.

The cause of anxiety disorders isn't well understood, but researchers believe that they develop from a combination of factors. Certain studies suggest that they may be linked to faulty circuits in the brain that regulate fear and emotions. Other studies suggest that genetics and life experiences, like traumatizing events in childhood, are common causes of anxiety disorders. A large majority of people suffering from an anxiety disorder have a first-degree relative who suffers from the disorder.

Anxiety disorders can cause people to be constantly stressed, even though they know that their fears aren't rational. This can result in difficulties in social situations, work or at school. In addition, many sufferers of anxiety disorders have difficulties sleeping or eating well. They may also have muscle tension, irritability, and difficulties in concentrating.

A person suffering from generalized anxiety disorder may be worried about a myriad of daily tasks that include work-related responsibilities as well as family issues. They might also feel anxious, easily fatigued or have difficulty in concentrating. They might also worry about their safety or that of others.

The good news is that there are effective treatments for anxiety disorders. The treatments include medicine psychotherapy, psychotherapy, and other complementary health techniques. A mental health professional will help you determine the problem that is causing your symptoms and suggest the most effective treatment. Psychotherapy or talk therapy can help you deal with anxiety and lessen panic attacks. There are a variety of psychotherapy options available, including cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure response prevention. These therapies can be done either in a group or on an individual basis.

Social anxiety disorder

Social anxiety disorder is a severe condition that can interfere with everyday life. It causes intense anxiety, fear, and aversion to social situations. It can appear in the early years of adulthood, however it typically starts in childhood. It can manifest as anxiety in particular social situations, such as speaking in class or going out for dates. It can also be more widespread and involve the need to avoid situations that could result in being considered a failure.

When someone with SAD recognizes that their fear is irrational, they still feel powerless to overcome it. They try to manage their symptoms by avoiding the stressful situations, but this increases their anxiety in the long run. They may also develop "safety behavior" to lessen their anxiety. For example drinking alcohol, stay silent, or avoid eye contact.

In addition to the psychological treatments, a few patients suffering from SAD benefit from medications. These medications, also known as antidepressants, can help balance the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain. Some examples of these medications are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).

It is crucial that you or someone you love receives treatment if they suffer from social anxiety disorder. If not treated, the condition could be debilitating and lead to other mental health issues such as depression or addiction to substances. If you or someone you know has suicidal thoughts, call 911 or your local crisis line or text TALK (TALK) to 741741 to talk with a trained crisis counselor.

One in four people with anxiety disorders receive treatment. Some of the barriers to seeking treatment are lack of awareness that anxiety disorders are real, low investment in mental health services and stigma. It's also crucial to make sure that your healthcare provider recognizes the various types of anxiety disorders to ensure that you will be properly diagnosed and treated. If you're unsure if you suffer from an anxiety disorder medication list disorder, ask your doctor to refer you to a mental health professional or make use of an online tool to screen.

Specific phobias

A person with a specific fear has a consistent and intense fear for one or more objects, situations like animals, animals, or people. These fears could be unrelated to the danger that the object or situation but they can cause severe anxiety and hinder the ability to function in daily life. Unlike the other types of anxiety disorders, specific phobias cause fear of a single stimulus rather than multiple stimuli. The target of the phobia could be anything from dogs to heights, flying to injections and the crowded spaces. The condition is found worldwide and occurs more often for women than men, and usually begins in the adolescent years or early childhood. People who have phobias specific to them know their fears are not rational, but this knowledge does not diminish the severity of their symptoms.

Children who have specific fears typically overcome them. However when the fear persists in adulthood, it can be difficult to treat. Doctors identify the disorder by examining symptoms and their impact on daily functioning. They are able to rule out other conditions that can exhibit similar symptoms, such as agoraphobia and social anxiety disorder, before diagnosing a phobia. In previous editions of the DSM adult patients were required to recognize their irrational fears as part of the diagnostic process. However, the 2013 edition states that this requirement is no longer necessary for adults.

Treatment options for specific phobias include cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure-based therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy is primarily focused on teaching people healthier coping mechanisms and changing their reaction to fear. The treatment is based on exposure, which involves gradual and systematic exposure to the subject or event that you are afraid of. A patient may start with thinking about the object or event and then move to looking at images of the subject, then taking steps towards 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 type of therapy cannot solve phobias however it can greatly reduce the severity of its symptoms.

Psychotherapy and medications like antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs are also options best med for social anxiety disorder treating certain phobias. People with specific phobias that take these treatments often have better results.