5 Common Myths About Anxiety Disorders You Should Stay Clear Of
Anxiety Disorders Symptoms Everyone experiences anxiety and fear at times. It's an inevitable part of our human condition. If these feelings persist and interfere with your daily life, you might be suffering from anxiety disorder. A health professional can assist you in locating a treatment that matches your symptoms. This may include psychotherapy, antianxiety medications or natural remedies like exercise, healthy diet, and sleep. 1. Fear and Worry Everyone experiences anxiety and fear at times. It's part of the body's “fight or flight” response to danger. If the anxiety is severe and doesn't go away, or if it interferes with your daily routine and activities, then you could be suffering from anxiety disorder. Your doctor can determine whether you suffer from anxiety disorders by speaking with you and conducting an examination and urine or blood tests and asking about your previous health. You could also be asked to complete questionnaires to aid your doctor in determining if you suffer from anxiety disorders. Symptoms of anxiety disorders vary by type. For example, people with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) suffer from persistent excessive and irrational worries about their daily routines even when they are aware that there is no danger. They also have trouble sleeping or relaxing. Other symptoms include a fast or fast heart (heart beating), trembling, and sweating. People suffering from panic disorders experience repeated episodes of fear or terror that are intense that reach their peak in minutes. They also have difficulty managing their emotions. They often try to avoid certain places or activities to prevent these attacks from happening. People who have phobias are terrified of certain things such as flying or snakes. They may also experience other symptoms as well such as breathing difficulties or a headache. People suffering from PTSD suffer from anxiety after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event like a car accident or war. Other symptoms could include nightmares and flashbacks to the traumatic 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 is also anxiety about a particular health issue, which is referred to as illness anxiety disorder. Other causes of anxiety are stress and an imbalance in the chemical system of your brain. Some medicines can cause anxiety as a result of a side effect. 2. Panic Attacks Everyone is anxious or scared at some point, people with anxiety disorders have recurring sensations of fear and panic that are in contrast to their circumstances. These feelings can trigger intense physical reactions, such as a racing heartbeat as well as a shortness of breath and nausea. You might also feel disengaged or numb. Although anyone can experience panic disorder, it's more common to develop it in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood. There are many factors that can trigger it, including prolonged or extreme stress that triggers chemical imbalances in your brain and nervous system. Trauma, especially in the adolescent years or childhood, can increase the chances of developing anxiety disorders. Panic attacks may occur for no reason or in response to a situation that makes you feel anxious, for example, being in a large number of people. They are different from normal anxiety symptoms since they have more intense symptoms, and are often unexpected. People with anxiety disorders can also experience a combination of unexpected and expected panic attacks. Therapy and talk therapy are the most common treatments for anxiety and panic attacks. Talking therapies can help you understand how to manage your fears and get rid of irrational beliefs that feed your anxiety. They can also teach you to relax with exercises such as deep breathing and mindfulness. Certain medications, particularly SSRIs (such as Prozac and Paxil) and SNRIs (such as duloxetine and venlafaxine) can help make anxiety and panic less severe. If you experience a frequent panic attack, you need to consult your doctor and get immediate treatment. Your doctor can check for other health illnesses that share similar symptoms and recommend other treatments. 3. Insomnia People who are anxious could have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. This is referred to as insomnia. This can happen for an indefinite period of time, or it may last for a long time. Insomnia can make it difficult to function during the day, and can cause serious health issues. It is more prevalent in older adults and is more prevalent in women than men. It is more common among people with psychiatric conditions. Insomnia can be caused by a variety of different things. Temporary illnesses like colds or headaches, as well as chronic illnesses such as arthritis, acid reflux or Parkinson's disease; and medications can affect your sleep. Stressful life circumstances can also be a cause. Around half of people who have chronic insomnia also suffer from mental health issues, most often depression or anxiety. The first thing a doctor will do is to look for physical causes of the issue. They will review your medical history and ask about the symptoms making it harder to sleep. They'll also want know if any of the medications you are taking affect it. They could also conduct an examination of your sleep to check your breathing and heart rate at night. The most effective way to treat insomnia is to use behavioral therapy. It assists you in changing the negative thought patterns that keep you awake. It also teaches ways to relax before going to bed. There are methods for doing this, including biofeedback, progressive relaxation and meditation. Your doctor can help find a therapist who can teach you the techniques. If behavioral therapy does not work, you can explore a range of medications to help you sleep better. These include benzodiazepines that can be used to relieve symptoms temporarily and also anti-anxiety and antidepressant medication. 4. Eating Disorders The most common symptoms of eating disorders are obsessions with body shape, weight and food, as well eating behaviors like restricted eating, binge eating purging (through vomiting or misuse of laxatives) and compulsive exercise. Many people who suffer from an eating disorder suffer from anxiety. This is also the case for those who suffer from mental illness such as depression or bipolar disorder. Combined, the two conditions can create a vicious circle where the person's mood disorders can exacerbate the symptoms of their eating disorder. There is a strong correlation between anxiety and the severity of eating disorders. Anxiety levels that are higher symptoms are linked to the disorder. Patients with anorexia nervosa tend to have higher levels of anxiety-related symptoms. The same is true for binge-eating disorders, bulimia or the condition known as bulimia. In some cases anxiety can be the direct cause of an eating disorder. In certain instances anxiety can be a secondary sign of an eating disorder. In one study, researchers discovered that depression and anxiety symptoms were significantly related to more severe eating disorder symptomatology among young females. The research team used an assessment of four items called the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 that evaluates the symptoms of anxiety and depression. They also measured the severity of a person's eating disorder and asked participants to rate their coping strategies for anxiety. The researchers of the study also examined three factors that could help explain the relationship between eating disorders and anxiety: perfectionism, self-esteem and mood dysregulation. They found that these factors moderated the link between anxiety/depression symptoms and symptomatology of eating disorders and did differently for different subgroups of the sample. They hope that the findings will enable more specific and targeted treatment for eating disorders. 5. Physical conditions that are a result of anxiety Most people suffer from anxiety at some moment in their lives but it can become a disorder if it is severe and causes problems in daily life. Some sufferers also experience physical symptoms, such as chest pain or stomach upset, depending on the kind of anxiety they experience. The appropriate treatment can help people lead happier and healthier lives. Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is beneficial to many people. The most popular kind is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT helps you recognize and overcome negative thoughts that cause anxiety and fear. It also teaches you how to face the things that make you anxious and conquer your fears with small steps. Medication can also help. Benzodiazepines like diazepam and Valium can help reduce anxiety or panic attacks. Antidepressants, including SSRIs or tricyclic antidepressants, are also available for prescription. These drugs increase levels of certain brain chemicals that control mood and can be used on their own or in conjunction with other treatments for anxiety disorders. Anxiety-producing medical conditions can be caused by medical conditions and may cause the same physical symptoms as those of an anxiety disorder. Head trauma, for instance can cause anxiety and depression. Other conditions that can elicit anxiety include chronic pain and fatigue disorders; some rheumatologic diseases like lupus and some nutritional deficiencies, like iron deficiency. Certain factors make a person more likely to develop an anxiety disorder. These are referred to as risk factors. Certain risk factors are genetic, such as the family history or anxiety disorders . Other factors, such as childhood sexual abuse, the presence of depression or other mental health issues, and a buildup of stress over a long time, may increase the risk of developing anxiety disorders. If you suspect you are suffering from anxiety, it is important to get an examination for physical health.