Types of anxiety disorders
Dr. Nawa Raj Subba presents:
2 Types of anxiety disorders
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
is chronic condition with excessive anxiety but we cannot find out any specific
cause. We see that some people with this disorder often worry about everyday
things like money, health, work, or relationships.
Symptoms:
● Feel Excessive anxiety and fear.
● Complain about insomnia,
weariness, and muscle strain.
● Difficulty concentrating.
Treatment:
GAD that involves treatment (e.g.,
cognitive behavioral therapy), medication, and lifestyle changes (also in the
case of people) can be treated (NIMH, 2021). We are aware that Generalized
Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a mental health disorder, which is associated with
constant anxiety and overstress. Its mode of treatment does not entirely depend
on a single mode of treatment but is founded on a multifaceted approach.
National Institute of Mental Health (2021) states that GAD can be treated with
the use of a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), medication, and
lifestyle change.
Experts indicate that CBT is able to assist
the patient to recognize and address negative or unreasonable thought
processes. Different research studies have revealed that CBT is an effective
and long-term psychotherapeutic tool in GAD therapy. Cognitive Behavioral
Therapy (CBT) is regarded as quite effective in the generalized anxiety
disorder (GAD). In this, the therapist teaches the individual to learn to
identify his negative thoughts (eg, I always fail) and to argue against them in
a rational manner. Behavioral exercises are also part of the therapy and they
help in reducing anxiety. Consequently, therapy enables the patient to
recognize negative or magnified thinking models and transform them with the
assistance of realistic practices.
Antidepressants, SSRIs, and SNRIs
are usually prescribed by doctors. It
reduces anxiety by increasing brain chemicals.
In addition to this, we must alter
our lifestyle changes, including adequate sleep, physical activity, nutritious
food, meditation or yoga, and limits on alcohol and caffeine consumption, are
also significant in making the treatment process more effective. We have been
guided by evidence that a combination of all these measures can ultimately
result in long term improvement.
Thus, literature on the studies out
there is pointing to the fact that GAD treatment is not simple and that
psychotherapy, medication and lifestyle alteration are applied to complement
each other in order to increase the chances of long-term benefits.
Social Anxiety Disorder
Social anxiety disorder is the fear
of social circumstances. It makes people have a phobia of talking in front of
others, interacting with others, or talking with people.
Symptoms:
Anxiety to be condemned by other individuals.
Having difficulty in large groups.
Shame, fear or insecurity.
Treatment:
Exposure therapy, as well as behavior therapy,
is believed to be highly effective in treating social anxiety (Mayo Clinic,
2020).
Panic Disorder
Individuals who have panic disorder
develop panic attacks quite often. Panic attack is an abrupt period of great
fright, which is characterized by the shortness of breath, chest aches, or
dizziness.
Symptoms:
Pain in the chest or feeling of
breathlessness.
Shortness of breath.
Feeling cold or hot.
Treatment:
The symptoms of this disorder are usually
treated with medications and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
Specific Phobias
In certain phobias, people are
afraid of some object or circumstance, e.g. heights, snakes or flying.
Symptoms:
A phobia of a certain object.
Intense stress or fear.
Avoid such things as much as possible.
Treatment:
Specific phobias can be treated using exposure
therapy. It is the skill of overcoming fear (APA, 2019).
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
PTSD normally manifests following a
drastic experience in life like an accident, calamity, or a violent incidence.
Symptoms:
Flashbacks or nightmares from a traumatic
encounter.
Fear or insomnia.
Problems with other people.
Treatment:
It is believed that a mixture of therapy and
medication is helpful in the treatment of PTSD.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
The Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
(OCD) is a compulsive condition characterized by obsessions, compulsive
actions, worries, and anxiety.
Individuals who have OCD undergo
repetitive undesired thoughts (anxieties) and actions (compulsions).
Symptoms:
Monotonous behavior like washing hands or
checking hands.
Finding yourself focusing on an idea which is
unnecessary.
Treatment:
OCD is treated by a combination of medicine
and therapy.
Separation Anxiety Disorder
This disorder is prevalent among
children but it can also be found in adults. It is characterized by anxiety of
being deprived of people they love.
Symptoms:
Being stressed when away form a loved one.
Trouble sleeping.
Treatment:
It is subjected to treatment and support in
trying to relieve it.
Conclusion
Though there exist various forms of
anxiety disorders, they strongly impact on the mental health of people. Anxiety
disorders can be treated by identifying them and treating the disorder. In case
of anxiety problems affecting, you or a loved one, seek help of a qualified
health care provider or mental health provider.
References
● American Psychiatric Association. (2019). What are
anxiety disorders?
● Mayo Clinic. (2020). Anxiety disorders: Diagnosis and
treatment.
● National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). (2021).
Anxiety disorders overview.
● National Institute of Mental Health. (2021). Generalized
anxiety disorder: When worry gets out of control. U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services, National Institutes of Health.
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/generalized-anxiety-disorder-gad
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