Understanding Anxiety Disorders: Causes, Types, and Symptoms

A disorder of anxiety is a kind of mental health disorder. If you suffer from an anxiety-related disorder, you could react to certain events or situations with fear and anxiety. You may also experience physical anxiety symptoms, such as a pounding heart and sweating.

It's normal to experience anxiety. You might feel nervous or nervous when you have to solve an issue at work, take part in an interview, take an exam, or make some critical decisions. Anxiety can be helpful. For instance, stress can help us spot dangerous situations and concentrates our attention which helps us stay protected.

However, an anxiety disorder goes beyond the usual anxiety and slight fear you experience occasionally. An anxiety disorder can manifest when:

• Stress affects your capacity to function.
• The tendency is to overreact when encountering something that creates a reaction in you.
• It is impossible to control how you react to circumstances.

Anxiety issues may make it hard for people to make it through the day. However, there are many solutions for anxiety disorders that work.

 

Who is at risk of anxiety disorders?

A combination of environmental and genetic factors can increase the risk of developing anxiety disorders. There is a higher risk if you've experienced the following:

• Certain character traits like shyness or behavioural inhibition experience discomfort with and avoidance of strangers, people, or settings.
• Traumatic or stressful events occur in the early years of childhood or adulthood.
• Anxiety in the family history or mental health issues.
• Physical conditions include thyroid issues or cardiac arrhythmias (unusual heart rhythms).

Anxiety disorders are more common in women. Researchers are still figuring out the reason this occurs. It could be due to female hormones fluctuating during the month. The hormone testosterone could also play a part, as men tend to have higher testosterone levels, which can ease anxiety. Women are also less inclined to get treatment, and stress can increase.

 

How common are anxiety disorders?

Anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent mental diseases affecting nearly 30% of adults at one point during their life. However, anxiety disorders can be treated, and numerous effective treatment options are readily available. Treatment can help most people lead everyday, productive lives.

In India research, researchers reported between 5.6 percent and 16.5 percent prevalence rates.

 

What are the different types of disorders causing anxiety?

There are a variety of anxiety disorders. These include:

• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
• The panic disorder.
• Phobias.
• Separation anxiety.

Other mental health disorders have characteristics of anxiety disorders. They include Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

 

What's the definition of a generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)?

If you suffer from GAD and GAD, you might experience excessive and unrealized anxiety and stress -- even when nothing could create these thoughts. On a typical day, you could be anxious about many subjects, such as health and work, school, and relationships. You might feel like the anxiety is constant from one moment to another.

Physical symptoms of GAD may include anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and sleep problems.

 

What is a panic disorder?

You may experience highly rapid panic attacks if you have a panic disorder. The attacks typically have the most intense and intense feelings as opposed to other anxiety disorders.

The terror-induced feelings could be sudden and unintentional or be triggered by an event, such as facing an event you are afraid of. The panic attacks may resemble heart attacks. If you suspect you're suffering from an attack on the heart, you should go to an emergency room. It's always better to be in the direction of caution and ask a doctor to assess you.

In the event of a panic attack, you might suffer from the following:

• Sweating.
• Heart palpitations (feeling as if your heart beats).
• Chest pain.
• A feeling of being choked could make you believe you're suffering from a coronary heart attack (or "going crazy."

Anxiety attacks can be highly distressing. People with panic disorder typically spend their time thinking about the next episode. They also attempt to stay clear of situations that could cause attacks.

 

What are phobias?

Phobias are fearful and intense fear of specific situations or objects. Certain fears might be logical, like being afraid of snakes. But, in most cases, the intensity of fear isn't appropriate to the actual situation.

As with others, you could spend much time avoiding situations that might cause fear.

An individual or simple phobia is a fear of a specific thing or event. It could cause you to avoid certain situations. The fear characterizes particular phobias:

• Animals, such as spiders, dogs, or snakes.
• Blood.
• Flying.
• Heights.
• Injections (shots).

 

What is social anxiety disorder?

Healthcare professionals used to refer to this condition as social anxiety. It is possible to experience a lot of stress and self-consciousness about social interactions. There is a possibility of worrying about people being judgmental of you, or you might be concerned that you'll make yourself look embarrassed or expose yourself to criticism. Social anxiety sufferers might avoid social events altogether.

 

What is Agoraphobia?

If you have agoraphobia or phobia of heights, you might be terrified of feeling overwhelmed or unable to seek assistance. It is common to have one or more of the following environments:

• Spaces enclosed.
• Crowds or lines.
• Open spaces.
• Locations outside your house.
• Public transport.

In extreme situations, people who have agoraphobia might not ever leave the house. They're afraid of experiencing public panic attacks, so they stay home.

 

What is separation anxiety disorder?

The condition is most common among adolescents or children worried about being separated from their family members. Children suffering from separation anxiety disorder might fear that their parents could get hurt somehow or that they will not return in the manner they said. This is a common occurrence in preschoolers. However, older children and adults who have experienced a stressful situation could suffer from an anxiety disorder that causes separation.

 

What are the signs and symptoms of anxiety disorders?

The symptoms vary based on the kind of anxiety disorder you suffer from. The most common symptoms of anxiety disorder can be seen as follows:

Physical signs:

• Hands that sweat or are cold.
• Dry mouth.
• Heart palpitations.
• Nausea.
• The feeling of numbness or tingling sensations in feet or hands.
• Tension in the muscles.
• Breathlessness.

Psychological symptoms

• Feeling fear, panic, and a sense of unease.
• Nightmares.
• Flashbacks or repeated thoughts of painful events.
• Insane, obsessive, and uncontrollable thoughts.

Behaviour symptoms

• Inability to remain still and peaceful.
• Ritualistic behaviour, for example, washing hands often.
• Trouble sleeping.

 

When is the best time to visit a doctor?

See your doctor if:

• You're worried excessively that it's interfering with your relationships, work, or other areas of your life.
• Fear, worry, or anxiety can be a source of distress for you, and it is hard to manage.
• You are depressed, experience problems with your drug or alcohol usage, or suffer from other mental health issues and anxiety.
• If you think that your anxiety might be a result of physical health issues
• You are experiencing suicidal thoughts or behaviour. If you suspect this, get immediate medical attention.

Your anxiety might not disappear all on its own. They could become worse If you don't seek assistance. Consult your physician or a mental health professional before experiencing more anxiety. It's much easier to treat anxiety if you seek help earlier.

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