ANXIETY DISORDER

Overview

A normal part of life is experiencing occasional anxiety. People with anxiety disorders, however, often have intense, excessive, and persistent worries about everyday situations and fears. Often, anxiety disorders involve repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense anxiety and fear or terror that reach a peak within minutes (panic attacks).

These feelings of anxiety and panic interfere with everyday activities, are hard to control, are out of proportion to the actual danger, and can last for a long time. To prevent these feelings, you can avoid places or situations. During childhood or teen years, symptoms may begin and proceed into adulthood.

Examples of anxiety disorders include widespread anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder (social phobia), particular phobias, and anxiety disorder separation. You may have more than one disorder of anxiety. Anxiety is sometimes the result of a medical condition requiring therapy.

Whatever anxiety you may have, therapy may be helpful.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of common anxiety include:

  • Feeling nervous, restless or tense

  • Having an impending feeling of risk, panic or doom

  • Increased heart rate

  • Rapid breathing (hyperventilation)

  • Sweating

  • Trembling

  • Feeling weak or tired

  • Concentrating or thinking about anything other than the current concern

  • Sleeping difficulty

  • Gastrointestinal (GI) issues.

  • Having trouble controlling anxiety

  • Having the urge to prevent anxiety-causing stuff

There are several types of anxiety disorders:

  • Agoraphobia (ag-uh-ruh-FOE-be-uh) is a type of anxiety disorder that you are afraid of and often avoid places or situations that may cause you to panic and make you feel trapped, helpless or embarrassed.

  • Medical anxiety disorder involves symptoms of severe anxiety or panic that are triggered directly by a physical health issue.

  • Generalized anxiety disorder involves constant and excessive anxiety and concerns about operations or events— including common routine problems. The concern is out of proportion to the real situation, is hard to regulate and impacts your physical feeling. It often occurs along with other anxiety disorders or depression.

  • Panic disorder includes repeated episodes of intense anxiety and fear or terror that reach a peak in a matter of minutes (panic attacks). You may have impending doom emotions, shortness of breath, chest pain, or a quick, fluttering or pounding heart (heart palpitations).

  • Children’s selective mutism is a continuous failure to talk in certain circumstances, such as college, even when they can talk in other circumstances, such as at home with close relatives. This may interfere with the functioning of college, work and society.

  • Separation anxiety disorder is a childhood disease defined by anxiety that is excessive to the developmental stage of the child and is linked to separation from the parent or other parent.

  • Social anxiety disorder (social phobia) involves a elevated level of anxiety, fear and avoidance of social circumstances owing to emotions of embarrassment, self-awareness and concern about being judged or negatively regarded by others.

  • Specific phobias are characterized by great anxiety when you are exposed to a particular object or situation and want to avoid it. In some individuals, phobias cause panic attacks.

  • Substance-induced anxiety disorder is associated by symptoms of severe anxiety or panic resulting directly from drug misuse, drug use, exposure to a poisonous substance or drug withdrawal.

  • Other designated anxiety disorders and unknown anxiety disorder are conditions for anxiety or phobias that do not fulfill the precise requirements for any other anxiety disorders but are sufficiently important to be distressing and disruptive.

When to see a physician See your physician if:

  • You feel too worried and it interferes with your job, interactions or other areas of your life

  • You are upset by your fear, worry or anxiety and hard to regulate

  • You feel depressed, have alcohol or substance use problems or have other mental health issues along with depression.

  • You believe that your anxiety may be associated with a physical health issue

  • You have suicidal ideas or behaviors — seek emergency therapy instantly if this is the case

Causes

It is not fully understood the causes of anxiety disorders. Life experiences such as traumatic events in people who are already prone to anxiety seem to trigger anxiety disorders. Hereditary traits can also be a factor.

Medical causes of Anxiety may be associated with an underlying health problem for some individuals. Signs and symptoms of anxiety are the first indicators of a medical condition in some instances. If your doctor suspects you may have a medical cause for your anxiety, he or she may order tests to seek indications of an issue.

Examples of medical problems that may be associated with anxiety include:

  • Heart disease

  • Diabetes

  • Thyroid problems such as hyperthyroidism

  • Respiratory disorders such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma

  • Drug abuse or withdrawal

  • withdrawal from alcohol, anti-anxiety medications (benzodiazepines) or other medications.

Anxiety can sometimes be a side effect of some medicines.

Your anxiety may be due to an inherent medical condition if:

  • You have no blood relatives (such as a parent or sibling) with an anxiety disorder

  • As a kid you have no anxiety disorder

  • Because of anxiety you do not prevent certain stuff or circumstances.

Risk variables These variables may improve your risk of creating an anxiety disorder: • Children who have experienced violence or trauma or have experienced trauma at some stage in their lives are at greater risk of creating an anxiety disorder. Adults experiencing a traumatic event may also develop disorders of anxiety.

Complications

It is more than worrying to have an anxiety disorder. It may also lead to other mental and physical circumstances, such as:

  • Depression (often with an anxiety disorder) or other mental health illnesses

  • Substance abuse• Sleeping disorder (insomnia)

  • Digestive or intestinal issues

  • Headaches and chronic pain

Prevention

There is no way to predict for certain what will cause an anxiety disorder to evolve, but if you are anxious you can take measures to decrease the effect of symptoms:

  • Get assistance soon. Anxiety can be difficult to treat, like many other mental health circumstances, if you wait.

  • Do not use alcohol or drugs. The consumption of alcohol and drugs can trigger anxiety or worsen it. If you are addicted to any of these drugs, you may be nervous about quitting. If you are unable to leave alone, see your doctor or find a support group to assist you.