Anxiety Disorder

 What's Anxiety Disorder? Causes, Treatment, and Medications

Have you been feeling anxious and worried? An anxiety disorder is a type of mental health condition. If you have an anxiety disorder, you may respond to certain things and situations with fear and dread.

A certain amount of anxiety is normal. But if you're feeling nervous, restless, or tense, have a sense that something bad is going to happen and the feeling doesn't go away, you may be suffering from an anxiety disorder. Common signs include but are not limited to: feeling anxious or worried most days, trouble relaxing and sleeping heart palpitations, and muscle tension. If you're concerned about yourself or someone close to you, visit our mental health page for more information about anxiety and treatment options.

An anxiety disorder happens when you can’t control your reactions to situations and end up feeling like you are overreacting or having panic attacks. An anxiety disorder goes beyond the regular nervousness and slight fear you may feel from time to time. It interferes with daily life when it gets in the way of living normally.

Finding peace of mind can be a challenge if you are suffering from an anxiety disorder. There are several types of anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, phobias, and more. Anxiety disorders can have devastating effects on your life. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness, affecting over 40 million adults in the United States.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is the most common type of anxiety disorder, affecting between 3 and 7 percent of people in the United States during any given year. GAD can cause a variety of symptoms, including "feeling restless or keyed up," "difficulty concentrating or thinking," and "irritability." It often starts during early adulthood and frequently occurs along with other mental disorders.

Panic Disorder

Panic disorder is a type of anxiety disorder. It is an intense fear or discomfort that suddenly comes over you and causes great distress; it reaches a peak within minutes and may lead to feelings of impending doom. You may have feelings of shortness of breath, chest pain, or rapid, fluttering, or pounding heart (heart palpitations). These panic attacks may lead to worrying about them happening again or avoiding situations in which they've occurred.

Phobias

Phobias are intense, irrational fears of certain objects or situations. They provoke panic attacks in some people, who may go to great lengths to avoid their triggers. There's no reason to live with a phobia. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is effective in helping people overcome their fear and anxiety.

Separation Anxiety Disorder

Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is a specific phobia that involves the excessive and persistent fear of being separated or away from home or the attachment figure(s). Symptoms of SAD are often present in childhood and may continue into adulthood. Some people with SAD display typical separation anxiety when they are separated from their caregiver(s), but others with Separation Anxiety Disorder go beyond what would be expected for their developmental level and age.

Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia is a type of anxiety disorder in which you fear and avoid places or situations that might cause you to panic and make you feel trapped, helpless, or embarrassed. Symptoms can range from mild to severe but tend to worsen over time if left untreated.

Anxiety Disorder Due To A Medical Condition

Anxiety Disorder Due To A Medical Condition is a type of anxiety that includes symptoms of intense anxiety or panic that are directly caused by a physical health problem. This can include infections, strokes, heart attacks, or even brain injuries.

Selective Mutism

Selective Mutism is a severe anxiety disorder that affects about 1 in 100 children. It causes an inability to speak (or communicate verbally) in certain social situations, such as at school or with relatives they do not see very often. It usually starts during childhood and, if left untreated, can persist into adulthood.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Social anxiety disorder (also known as social phobia) is a type of anxiety disorder that causes extreme fear in social settings. People with this disorder have trouble talking to people, meeting new people, and attending social gatherings. They fear being judged or scrutinized by others.

Substance-induced Anxiety Disorder

Substance-Induced Anxiety Disorder is a mental disorder that develops as a result of the over-consumption of drugs or alcohol, use of prescription medications, and exposure to heavy metals, toxic substances, and other toxins. This condition is diagnosed when panic attacks or other anxiety symptoms are brought on by the use of or withdrawal from alcohol or other drugs, taking medications or exposure to heavy metals or toxic substances.

Other Specified Anxiety Disorders and Unspecified Anxiety disorders

Other Specified Anxiety Disorder (OSAD) - The term for anxiety or phobias that don't meet the exact criteria for any other anxiety disorders but are significant enough to be distressing and disruptive.

Medical Problems and Causes

Anxiety disorders can cause physical symptoms such as headaches and stomachaches. There are also medical problems that can be linked to anxiety including heart disease, diabetes, thyroid problems, respiratory disorders, drug misuse or withdrawal, and withdrawal from alcohol or other medications.

If you were born with an anxiety disorder, it can run in your family. If you don't have any blood relatives (such as a parent or sibling) with an anxiety disorder, or if you did not have an anxiety disorder as a child, then it is likely that the cause is related to something happening in your brain. An underlying medical condition--such as a bad reaction to medications, thyroid disease or anemia--can often be treated and cured with medication or other treatment methods.

Anxiety disorders are a group of mental illnesses that cause people to feel stressed and frightened, with physical symptoms like a racing heart, being easily startled or upset, and trouble sleeping. There are many types of anxiety disorders—some occur when a person has an extreme reaction to stress anywhere from a bad day at work to a traumatic event like abuse. An anxiety disorder is not the same thing as normal worry—it's when anxiety becomes so severe that it disrupts your life. You may have anxiety if you experience the following:• Trauma. Children who endured abuse or trauma or witnessed traumatic events are at higher risk of developing an anxiety disorder at some point in life. • Stress due to an illness. Having a health condition or serious illness can cause significant worry about issues such as your treatment and your future. • Stress buildup. A big event or a buildup of smaller stressful life situations may trigger excessive anxiety • Personality. People with certain personality types are more prone to anxiety disorders than others are. • Other mental health disorders People with other mental health disorders, such as depression, often also have an anxiety disorder • Having blood relatives with an anxiety disorder

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States affecting 18.1% of the population or roughly one in five adults over their lifetime. However, due to the high prevalence of anxiety disorders, many people do not recognize that they have an anxiety disorder or may be unfamiliar with available treatment options. Anxiety disorders are treatable and frequently coexist with other mental health problems such as depression or substance use disorder/addiction. Most importantly, it is important to seek professional help if you think you might have an anxiety disorder so that you can get on track to living a full, healthy life.

If you're having symptoms of anxiety, there are many things you can do yourself to manage them. Here are some suggestions: Get Help Early, Stay Active and Avoid Alcohol or Drug Use.

This article is based on the writer's personal knowledge and in-depth research. It is for educational purposes only. You need to consult a qualified mental health professional before making any therapeutic decisions or for advice about any psychiatric condition.

Mental Health (Emergency) Hotlines:

• America: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
• Canada: 1-866-531-2600
• Australia: 13 11 14
• United Kingdom: +44 (0) 8457 90 90 90
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• Brazil: 55 11 31514109 or (91) 3223-0074
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• Russia: (495) 625 3101
• India: 91-22-27546669
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• Philippines: 0966-351-4518

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