Anxiety Disorders Isn't As Difficult As You Think
Anxiety Disorders Symptoms
It's normal to feel anxiety and fear from time time. If these feelings persist and interfere with your daily life, you might have an anxiety disorder.
A health professional can assist you in locating a solution that matches your symptoms. This could include psychotherapy, antianxiety medications or natural remedies such as exercise, a healthy diet and sleep.
1. Worry and Fear
Every person experiences feelings of anxiety and fear from time time. It's a natural part of our body's "fight-or-flight" response to danger. If the fear or anxiety is intense and does not go away or is interfering with daily life, then you may have anxiety disorder. Your doctor can diagnose anxiety disorder s through a conversation with you, a physical examination as well as urine or blood tests, and inquires about your health history. You might also be asked to complete questionnaires that help your doctor determine if you have an anxiety disorder.
Symptoms of anxiety disorders vary according to the type. For example, people with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) suffer from persistent excessive and irrational anxiety about everyday situations, even though they are aware that there is no risk. They also have difficulty sleeping or relaxing. Other symptoms include a fast heartbeat, fluttering or pounding (heart palpitations) as well as sweating and trembling. People suffering from panic disorder experience repeated moments of intense terror or fear that reach the point of exhaustion in a matter of minutes, and they have difficulties controlling their emotions. They are advised to avoid certain activities and places to avoid attacks.
People who suffer from phobias are extremely scared of certain things, such as snakes or flying. Other signs include headaches or difficulty breathing. People with PTSD suffer from anxiety after experiencing or witnessing traumatizing events, such as an accident in a car or a war. They may also experience other symptoms, too, such as flashbacks and nightmares of the traumatizing incident.
Other types of anxiety disorders include ocd hoarding disorder and social anxiety disorder, which causes you feel anxious when you are in social situations. There's also anxiety over a specific health problem, called illness anxiety disorder (formerly known as hypochondria). Other causes of anxiety include stress and an imbalance in the chemical system of your brain. Sometimes, anxiety is a side effect of some medications.
2. Panic Attacks
Everyone is worried or anxious at some point, those with anxiety disorders have recurring sensations of fear and panic that are not in line with their situation. These feelings can cause severe physical reactions like a racing pulse, breathlessness, and nausea. It is also possible to feel disconnected or unreal.
Although anyone can experience panic disorder however, it is more common to experience it during childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood. Many factors can trigger it, including chronic or severe stress that causes chemical imbalances in your nervous system and brain. Traumas that are severe, especially during adolescence or childhood, can also increase the likelihood of developing an anxiety disorder.
Panic attacks can occur for no apparent reason or in response to a specific situation that makes you afraid like being in a large crowd. They're different from the normal anxiety-related symptoms because they involve much more intense symptoms and are usually unexpected. People suffering from anxiety disorders may also experience a mix of expected and unexpected panic attacks.
Therapy and talk therapy are the most popular treatments for panic attacks and anxiety. Talking therapies can help you manage your anxiety and help you eliminate the irrational thoughts that fuel your anxiety. They can help you learn relaxation techniques, like deep breathing and mindfulness. Some medications -- especially SSRIs (such as Prozac and Paxil) and SNRIs (such as duloxetine and venlafaxine) -- can reduce anxiety and make panic less severe.
It's important that you see your doctor right away if you suffer from frequent panic attacks. Your doctor will be able to check for any other health conditions that have similar symptoms and recommend other treatments.
3. Insomnia
People who are anxious may have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep. This is known as insomnia. This can be a short-term problem or a long-term one. Insomnia can make it difficult to function during the day, and can cause serious health issues. It is more prevalent in women than men and is more prevalent in older people. It is also more prevalent for those suffering from psychiatric disorders.
Insomnia can be caused by a variety of different things. Sleep is affected by illnesses that are temporary such as colds or headaches or chronic illnesses like acid reflux, Parkinson's disease or arthritis and medicines. Stressful life events can contribute to it. Around half of those who suffer from chronic insomnia suffer from mental health issues which is usually depression or anxiety.
The first thing a doctor will do is determine physical causes for the issue. They will ask you questions regarding your medical history, and the symptoms that make it difficult to sleep. They will also inquire if you are taking any medication that could be affecting your sleep. They might also do an overnight sleep study so that they can observe your breathing and heart rate at night.
Behavioral therapy is the most effective treatment for insomnia. It assists you in changing the negative thought patterns that are keeping you awake. It also teaches you ways to sleep more peacefully before you go to bed. There are a variety of methods to do this, like progressive muscle relaxation, biofeedback and meditation. Your doctor can help you find a therapist who can teach you the techniques. If you find that behavioral therapy does not work it is possible to try a variety of medications to help you sleep better. These include benzodiazepines that can be used to ease symptoms temporarily, as well as antidepressant and anxiety medication.
4. Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are characterized by preoccupations about body shape, weight and food, as well as eating habits like binge eating, purging vomiting, abuse of laxatives and exercising. A lot of people suffering from an eating disorder experience anxiety. The same holds true for those who also suffer from mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder or depression. Together, the two disorders can create a vicious circle where a person's mood problems increase the symptoms of their eating disorder.
There is a strong link between anxiety and eating disorders as higher levels of anxiety symptoms being linked to greater severity of the disorder. Anorexia nervosa sufferers tend to have high levels of anxiety-related symptoms. The same is true for binge-eating disorders, bulimia or bulimia. In some instances, anxiety can be the primary cause of an eating disorder. In other cases, it could be an additional manifestation of an eating disorder.
In one study, researchers found that comorbid anxiety and depression symptoms were significantly associated with more severe symptomatology of eating disorders among young females. The research team used the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4) as a four-item measure of core depression and anxiety symptoms. They also assessed the severity of an individual's eating disorder and asked participants to rate their coping strategies for anxiety.
The researchers of the study also examined three aspects that could explain the connection between eating disorders and anxiety: perfectionism, self-esteem and mood dysregulation. They discovered that these variables played a role in reducing the connection between anxiety/depression symptoms and symptomatology of eating disorders and did this in different ways for different subgroups of the sample. They hope that the findings will lead them to more precise and targeted treatment of eating disorders.
5. Anxiety-Related physical conditions
Most people suffer from anxiety at some moment in their lives but it could turn into a disorder if it is severe and causes problems in with daily activities. Some sufferers also experience physical symptoms, like chest pain or stomach upset, depending on the kind of anxiety they experience.
Finding the right treatment for anxiety disorders can make people feel better and lead happier lives. Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, can help many people. A common type is cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). CBT teaches how to identify and change negative thoughts which trigger anxiety and anxiety. It also teaches you how to confront the things that scare you and overcome your fears with small steps.
Medication can help. Benzodiazepines like diazepam or Valium, can ease anxiety and panic attacks. Antidepressants like SSRIs and tricyclic antidepressants can also be prescribed. These medications can be used to treat anxiety disorders by themselves or together with other treatments.
Certain medical conditions can trigger anxiety and may cause the same physical symptoms as those of an anxiety disorder. Traumas to the head can trigger anxiety and depression for instance. Other conditions that can elicit anxiety include chronic pain and fatigue disorders as well as rheumatologic disorders, such as lupus; and a variety of nutritional deficiencies, such as iron deficiency.
Certain factors increase the likelihood of developing anxiety disorders. These are known as risk factors. Certain risk factors are genetic, like a family history or anxiety disorders. Other factors, like childhood sexual abuse or the presence of depression or other mental health issues, and a buildup of stress over a long period of time, can increase the risk for anxiety disorders. If you suspect that you have anxiety issues it is crucial to have an examination of your body.