15 Of The Best Pinterest Boards Of All Time About Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety Disorders Symptoms
It's normal to experience anxiety and apprehension from time to moment. But when these feelings are persistent and interfere with daily life, you may be suffering from an anxiety disorder.
A medical professional can assist you in locating a solution that matches your symptoms. This could include anti-anxiety medication, psychotherapy or natural remedies such as exercise, a healthy diet and sleep.
1. Worry and Fear
Everyone experiences feelings of anxiety and fear from time to time. It's a natural part of our body's "fight-or-flight" response to danger. But if the feeling is extreme, doesn't go away and interferes with your daily activities you could be suffering from an anxiety disorder. Your doctor can diagnose anxiety disorders by speaking with you and conducting physical examinations by taking urine or blood tests and asking about your health history. You could also be given questionnaires to complete to help your doctor determine whether you have a particular anxiety disorder.
The symptoms of anxiety disorders differ depending on the kind. For instance, people suffering from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) have persistent, excessive and irrational worry about everyday events even when they know there is no risk. They also have difficulty relaxing or falling to sleep. Other signs include a fast or fluttering heart (heart beating) as well as trembling and sweating. People suffering from panic disorder experience frequent periods of intense feelings of terror or fear that reach an extreme within minutes, and they experience difficulties managing their emotions. They stay clear of certain areas and activities to avoid attacks.
People who suffer from phobias are extremely scared of certain things, such as flying or snakes. Other symptoms may include headaches or breathing difficulties. People with PTSD are anxious when they witness or experience a traumatic incident, like a war or car accident. They might have other symptoms too, like flashbacks and nightmares of the traumatizing incident.
Other types of anxiety disorders include ocd hoarding disorder, and social anxiety disorder, which makes you feel anxious in social settings. You can also experience anxiety about a particular health issue, which is referred to as illness anxiety disorder. Stress and a chemical imbalance can also trigger anxiety. Sometimes, anxiety can be an effect of certain medicines.
2. Panic Attacks
People with anxiety disorders are prone to experiencing recurring sensations of extreme panic and fear that are out of proportion to their situation. These feelings can trigger intense physical reactions, including an increased heart rate as well as a shortness of breath and nausea. You might also feel disengaged or unreal.
Although anyone can experience panic disorder but it's more common to experience it during childhood, adolescence or in early adulthood. It can be caused by many factors, including severe or prolonged stress that causes an imbalance of chemicals in your brain and nervous system. A severe trauma, particularly during adolescence or childhood can also increase the likelihood of developing anxiety disorders.
Panic attacks can be triggered without explanation or in response to a particular circumstance that makes you feel anxious like being in large numbers of people. They differ from normal feelings of anxiety because they are more severe symptoms and are typically unexpected. People with anxiety disorders may also experience a mix of unanticipated and expected panic attacks.
The most common treatments for panic attacks and anxiety include medication and talking therapies. Talking therapies can help you understand how to manage your anxiety and overcome unfounded beliefs that cause anxiety. They can also teach you to relax through exercises like deep breathing and mindfulness. Certain medications, like duloxetine, SNRIs and SSRIs such as duloxetine and venlafaxine can help reduce anxiety and panic.
It is crucial to see your doctor right away if you experience recurrent panic attacks. Your doctor can check whether you have any other medical conditions that have similar symptoms, and may suggest alternative treatments.
3. Insomnia
People who are anxious may have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. This is known as insomnia. It could be a short-term issue or a longer-term one. Insomnia can make it hard to get through the day and can cause serious health issues. It is more prevalent among older adults and is more prevalent in women than men. It is more prevalent among people with psychiatric conditions.
Insomnia can be caused by many different causes. Sleep is affected by temporary illnesses such as headaches or colds and chronic conditions like acid reflux, Parkinson's disease or arthritis and medications. Stressful life situations could also be the cause. Around half of people suffering from chronic insomnia suffer from mental illness, most commonly depression or anxiety.
A doctor will first determine physical causes. They will check your medical history and ask you about the symptoms that are making it difficult to sleep. They will also ask whether you are taking any medications that might affect your sleep. They might also do an overnight sleep study so that they can monitor your breathing and heart rate at night.
Behavioral therapy is the most effective treatment for insomnia. It helps you to change the negative thoughts that are keeping you awake. It also shows you how to unwind before bed. There are a myriad of methods to help you relax, including progressive muscle relaxation meditation, biofeedback, and biofeedback. The doctor can assist you to locate a therapist who can teach you these methods. If you don't respond to behavioral therapy there are many medications that can help you to sleep better. These include benzodiazepines that can be used to alleviate symptoms temporarily and can also be used as an 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 as eating behaviors like restrictive eating, binge eating, purging (through vomiting or misuse of laxatives) and compulsive exercise. Many people with an eating disorder also suffer from anxiety and suffer from a mental illness that is co-occurring like bipolar or depression disorder. Combined, the two conditions can result in a vicious cycle where the person's mood disorders exacerbate the symptoms of their eating disorder.
There is a strong correlation between anxiety and severity of eating disorders. More anxiety symptoms are associated with the disorder. Anorexia nervosa patients are more likely to suffer from high levels of anxiety-related symptoms. Similar is the case 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 others, it may be an additional manifestation of an eating disorder.
Researchers found that the presence of anxiety and depression comorbid symptoms was strongly associated with more severe eating disorders among young females. The research team used a four-item scale known as the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 that assesses anxiety and depression symptoms. They also evaluated the severity of eating disorders and asked participants to rate their ability to deal with anxiety.
The authors also analyzed three factors that may be a reason for the connection between eating disorders and anxiety self-esteem, perfectionist tendencies and mood dysregulation. These factors influenced the relationship between depression and anxiety as well as eating disorders however in different ways, depending on the subgroups. They hope that the results will help them develop more precise and targeted treatment for eating disorders.
5. Anxiety-Related physical conditions
The majority of people suffer from anxiety at some point in their lives, but it can turn into a disorder if it is severe and interferes with daily activities. Some sufferers also experience physical symptoms, such as stomach discomfort or chest pain according to the kind of anxiety they experience.
The best treatment can allow people to live healthier and happier lives. Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, can help many people. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a very common type. CBT teaches how to identify and change negative thoughts which can trigger anxiety and fear. It also helps you face the things that make you anxious and conquer your fears in small steps.
Medication can help. Benzodiazepines like diazepam or Valium can reduce anxiety and panic attacks. Antidepressants, including tricyclic antidepressants and SSRIs can also be prescribed. These drugs increase levels of certain brain chemicals that regulate mood, and can be used alone or with other treatments for anxiety disorders.
Certain medical conditions can trigger anxiety and can cause physical symptoms as those of an anxiety disorder. Head trauma, for example can trigger anxiety and depression. Other conditions that can cause anxiety include chronic pain, fatigue disorders and rheumatologic conditions like Lupus, as well as some nutritional deficiencies.
Certain factors increase the risk of developing an anxiety disorder. These are known as risk factors. Some are genetic, like a family history of anxiety disorders. Other factors such as childhood abuse, depression or other mental disorders, as well as the accumulation of stress over time can increase the risk of anxiety disorders. This is why it is essential to undergo a thorough physical exam if you are suffering from anxiety.