It's Time To Extend Your Type Of Anxiety Disorder Options Types of Anxiety Disorders

Everyone experiences anxiety and fears at times, but when the feelings are intense or persistent and disrupt daily life, they could indicate an anxiety disorder. Psychotherapy, talk therapy, and medication are effective treatments.

First, talk to your doctor to rule any physical conditions out which could be causing your symptoms. A psychiatrist or mental health specialist will be able to diagnose the type of anxiety disorder you suffer from.

Generalized anxiety disorder

Everybody feels anxious from time to time, and there are a variety of good reasons to worry about things like work responsibility, money, or health. When the worry becomes constant and takes over your life, it could be a more serious anxiety disorder known as generalized anxiety disorder. GAD is defined by feelings of dread and anxiety that can impact the entire life of a person. They tend to expect the worst and assume that minor issues will turn into major disasters. GAD can be affected by anyone. It usually starts in the adolescent years or early childhood but it can happen at any time. It is twice as common for women and in those who are born female.

GAD can cause physical symptoms, like headaches and stomachaches, and make it difficult to sleep. It can also affect social and work activities, causing people to isolate themselves from family or friends, and contribute to the loss of self-esteem. best medication for anxiety disorder suffering from severe, chronic GAD are at a greater chance of developing depression. However, treatment can help manage the two conditions.

The root of anxiety disorders is unknown however, they are linked to genetics and changes in brain structure that alter the way your body reacts to stress. Some experts believe that a lack of neurotransmitters in the brain may play a role in the cause.

While there is no cure for GAD it is manageable through psychotherapy (talk therapy) and medications. Talk therapy or psychotherapy includes various therapies that help you recognize and alter unhealthy thoughts, emotions and behavior. Cognitive behavior therapy is a kind of therapy that can help you control your thoughts that are untrue and lessen your anxiety by confronting them. Medications can help relieve certain physical symptoms, such as dizziness and heart palpitations. They include antidepressants, benzodiazepines as well as some medications that treat seizures, such as hydroxyzine.

GAD can be difficult to recognize, but it is important to seek assistance if you begin to notice worrying and other symptoms of the disorder. Early treatment is more effective as it allows you to control the physical and mental symptoms before they take over your life.

Panic disorder


This anxiety disorder is characterized by sudden, intense feelings of terror and fear (panic attacks) that peak within minutes. The disorder can also trigger chest pain, shortness breath or the feeling that your heart is racing or beating (heart palpitations). They often worry that their symptoms may be signs of a heart attack. People who have panic disorder are at risk of developing other anxiety disorders and could be more susceptible to depression and other health issues like hyperthyroidism or asthma.

The root cause of anxiety disorders isn't fully understood, but researchers believe that they develop from a combination of factors. Some studies suggest that they could be linked to the malfunctioning of circuits in our brain that regulate fear and emotions. Other studies suggest that life experiences, genetics such as childhood abuse or traumatic events are the most common causes of anxiety disorders. Many people who have an anxiety disorder have a first-degree relative who suffers from the condition.

People with anxiety disorders can feel worried all the time even though they know that their fears are unfounded. This can cause problems in social situations, work or school. In addition, many sufferers of anxiety disorders have difficulties sleeping or eating well. They may also have muscle tension, irritability, and difficulties concentrating.

A person with generalized anxiety disorder is likely to be plagued by a variety of worries about routine tasks, like work responsibilities or family issues. They may also feel tired or irritable and have difficulty concentrating. They also often worry about the safety of themselves and others.

The good news is that there are effective treatments for anxiety disorders. The treatments include medication psychotherapy, psychotherapy and other complementary health practices. A mental health professional will help you determine the problem that causes your symptoms, and suggest the most effective treatment. Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy can help you understand how to cope with your anxieties and decrease the amount of panic attacks you have. Several types of psychotherapy are available, including cognitive behavior therapy and exposure response prevention. These treatments can be carried out individually or in groups.

Social anxiety disorder

Social anxiety disorder is a severe disorder that can affect daily life. It causes extreme anxiety, anxiety and avoidance of social situations. It can appear in the early years of adulthood, but it usually starts in childhood. It often shows up as anxiety over specific social situations, such as talking in class or going out on dates, or it could be more generalized and include the avoidance of situations that could result in being considered unpopular by others.

Although the person suffering from SAD recognizes that their fear is unfounded, they feel powerless to overcome it. They attempt to manage the symptoms by avoiding situations that cause anxiety, but this only makes them feel even more anxious. They might also develop "safety behavior" to reduce their anxiety. For example, they might drink alcohol, avoid talking to others, or avoid eye contact.

Certain people with SAD might benefit from taking medication along with psychological therapy. These antidepressants can help regulate some neurotransmitters within the brain. Some examples of these medications are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).

It is essential that you or someone you love receives treatment if they have social anxiety disorder. Untreated, the condition can be debilitating and lead to other mental health issues like addiction or depression. If you or someone you know has suicidal feelings contact 911 or your local crisis line or text TALK (741741) to speak with a crisis counselor.

Anxiety disorders are highly treatable however, only 1 of 4 people who require care receive it. The main barriers to treatment are lack of awareness that anxiety conditions are real, inadequate investment in mental health services and stigma. It's also important to ensure that your healthcare provider recognizes the different kinds of anxiety disorders so that you can be treated and diagnosed appropriately. Your doctor should refer you to a mental health professional if you are unsure whether you suffer from anxiety disorders or utilize an online tool to screen.

Specific Phobias

A person who has a specific fear has a constant and a heightened fear of one or more of the following: objects, situations animals or even other people. These fears are usually not proportional to the risk that the object or circumstance presents, but they may cause distress and interfere in daily functioning. Contrary to other forms of anxiety disorders, specific phobias are characterized by anxiety over only one stimulus instead of multiple stimuli. The feared situation or object could be anything from heights to dogs, flying to injections and areas that are crowded. This condition is prevalent throughout the world, more often in men than women, and is more likely to begin in childhood or adolescence. People with specific phobias know their fears are irrational, but this knowledge does not diminish the intensity of their symptoms.

Children with specific phobias usually outgrow them, but if a anxiety persists in adults it may be difficult to treat. Doctors identify the disorder by examining symptoms and their impact on the way they function in their daily lives. They exclude other conditions that could be similar, such as agoraphobia and social anxiety disorder before diagnosing a fear. In past DSM editions, patients of adult age had to acknowledge their irrational fear as part of the diagnosis. However, the 2013 edition says it is no longer necessary for adults.

There are two kinds of treatment for specific phobias: cognitive behavior therapy and exposure therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on changing the way people respond to their fears and teaches them better coping strategies. Exposure-based therapy is a gradual and systematic exposure to the feared subject or event. Patients may begin by thinking about the object or circumstance and then move to looking at pictures of the subject, then taking an action towards it (such as walking by an elevator) or holding a toy snake, going to a zoo and looking at real snakes, and then being in a noisy elevator. This kind of therapy might not eliminate fear, but it could reduce its intensity.

Other options for treating specific fears include medication, such as antidepressants and anti-anxiety psychotherapy, as well as other medications. People with specific phobias who try these therapies frequently report improved outcomes.