From Wikipedia,
the free encyclopedia
Anxiety
disorder is a blanket
term covering several different forms of abnormal
and pathological fears and anxieties
which only came under the aegis of psychiatry at the
very end of the 19th century. Current psychiatric
diagnostic criteria recognize a wide variety of
anxiety disorders. Recent surveys have found that as
many as 18% of Americans may be affected by one or
more of them.
Types
Generalized Anxiety Disorder:
Generalized anxiety
disorder is a common chronic disorder characterized
by long-lasting anxiety that is not focused on any
one object or situation. Those suffering from
generalized anxiety experience non-specific
persistent fear and worry and become overly
concerned with everyday matters. Generalized anxiety
disorder is the most common anxiety disorder to
affect older adults.
Panic Disorder:
In panic disorder, a
person suffers from brief attacks of intense terror
and apprehension, often marked by trembling,
shaking, confusion, dizziness, nausea, difficulty
breathing. These panic attacks,
defined by the APA as fear or discomfort that
abruptly arises and peaks in less than ten minutes,
can last for several hours and can be triggered by
stress, fear, or even exercise; although the
specific cause is not always apparent.
In addition to recurrent
unexpected panic attacks, a diagnosis of panic
disorder also requires that said attacks have
chronic consequences: either worry over the attacks'
potential implications, persistent fear of future
attacks, or significant changes in behavior related
to the attacks. Accordingly, those suffering from
panic disorder experience symptoms even outside of
specific panic episodes. Often, normal changes in
heartbeat are noticed by a panic sufferer, leading
them to think something is wrong with their heart or
they are about to have another panic attack. In some
cases, a heightened awareness (hypervigilance)
of body functioning occurs during panic attacks,
wherein any perceived physiological change is
interpreted as a possible life threatening illness
(i.e. extreme hypochondriasia.).
Phobias:
The single largest
category of anxiety disorders is that of Phobia,
which includes all cases in which fear and anxiety
is triggered by a specific stimulus or situation.
Sufferers typically anticipate terrifying
consequences from encountering the object of their
fear, which can be anything from an animal to a
location to a bodily fluid.
Agoraphobia:
Agoraphobia is the
specific anxiety about being in a place or situation
where escape is difficult or embarrassing.
Agoraphobia is strongly linked with panic disorder
and is often precipitated by the fear of having a
panic attack. A common manifestation involves
needing to be in constant view of a door or other
escape route. In addition to the fears themselves,
the term agoraphobia is often used to refer to
avoidance behaviors that sufferers often develop.
For example, following a panic attack while driving,
someone suffering from agoraphobia may develop
anxiety over driving and will therefore avoid
driving in the future. These avoidance behaviors can
often have serious consequences; in severe cases,
one can even be confined to one's home.
Social anxiety
disorder:
Social anxiety disorder (also
known as social phobia) describes an intense fear of
negative public scrutiny or of public embarrassment
or humiliation. This fear can be specific to
particular social situations (such as public
speaking) or, more typically, is experienced in most
(or all) social interactions. Social anxiety often
manifests specific physical symptoms, including
blushing, sweating, and difficulty speaking. Like
with all phobic disorders, those suffering from
social anxiety will attempt to avoid the source of
their anxiety; in the case of social anxiety this is
particularly problematic, and in severe cases can
lead to complete social isolation.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder:
Obsessive compulsive disorder is
a type of anxiety disorder primarily characterized
by repetitive obsessions (distressing, persistent,
and intrusive thoughts or images) and compulsions
(urges to perform specific acts or rituals). The OCD
thought pattern may be likened to superstitions
insofar as it involves a belief in a causative
relationship where, in reality, one does not exist.
Often the process is entirely illogical; for
example, the compulsion of walking in a certain
pattern may be employed to alleviate the obsession
of impending harm. And in many cases, the compulsion
is entirely inexplicable, simply an urge to complete
a ritual triggered by nervousness.
In a minority of cases,
sufferers of OCD may only experience obsessions,
with no overt compulsions; a much smaller number of
sufferers experience only compulsions.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder:
Post-traumatic stress
disorder or PTSD is an anxiety disorder which
results from a traumatic experience. Post-traumatic
stress can result from an extreme situation, such as
combat, rape, hostage situations, or even serious
accident. It can also result from long term
(chronic) exposure to a severe stressor,
for example soldiers who endure individual battles
but cannot cope with continuous combat. Common
symptoms include flashbacks, avoidant behaviors, and
depression.
Separation Anxiety:
Separation anxiety
disorder is the feeling of excessive and
inappropriate levels of anxiety over being separated
from a person or place. Separation anxiety itself is
a normal part of development in babies or children,
and it is only when this feeling is excessive or
inappropriate that it can be considered a disorder.
Separation anxiety disorder affects roughly 7% of
adults and 4% of children, but the childhood cases
tend to be more severe, in some instances even a
brief separation can produce panic.
Treatment:
Treatment options
available include lifestyle changes; psychotherapy,
especially cognitive -behavioral therapy and
pharmaceutical therapy. Education, reassurance and
some form of cognitive-behavioral therapy should
almost always be used in treatment.
When medication is
indicated SSRIs, SNRI's,
Benzodiazepines
are sometimes indicated for use. They are usually
considered as a second line treatment due to
disadvantages such as cognitive impairment and due
to their risks of dependence and withdrawal
problems. There are other medications commonly
prescribed for anxiety disorders.
These
medications need to be used with extreme care among
older adults, who are more likely to suffer side
effects because of coexisting physical disorders.
Treatment
controversy arises because while some studies
indicate that a combination of medication and
psychotherapy can be more effective than either one
alone; others suggest pharmacological interventions
are largely palliative, and can actually interfere
with the mechanisms of successful therapy. In
general psychotherapeutic interventions have
superior long-term efficacy when compared to
pharmacotherapy.
However, the right treatment may very much depend on
the individual patient's genetics and environmental
factors.
Regular aerobic
exercise, improving sleep hygiene and reducing
caffeine are often useful in treating anxiety.
Again, We first need to know and
understand the kind of anxiety or stress you're suffering from and then
we can begin a program of Relief.
If you can relate to, or feel comfortable with, some of the
feelings, thoughts and treatment options listed above, and you'd like to
make some changes and get relief, You can contact me through our
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