Anxiety Disorders Explained In Less Than 140 Characters

Anxiety Disorders Symptoms

Everyone experiences anxiety and fears at times - it's a natural part of being human. If these feelings persist and interfere with your daily life, then you may have anxiety disorder.

A health professional can assist you in finding an appropriate treatment that matches your symptoms. This can include psychotherapy or antianxiety medication and natural remedies like exercise and a healthy diet and sleeping.

1. Worry and Fear

Everyone experiences anxiety and fears at times. It's part of the body's "fight or fight" response to danger. However, if the fear or anxiety is extreme, doesn't disappear, and it interferes with your daily life you could be suffering from an anxiety disorder. Your doctor can diagnose anxiety disorders by speaking with you and doing an examination and urine or blood tests and asking about your previous health. You might also be asked to complete questionnaires that help your doctor determine if you have an anxiety disorder.

Symptoms of anxiety disorders vary by type. For instance, people suffering from generalized anxiety disorder causes anxiety disorder (GAD) have persistent excessive and irrational worries about everyday situations, even though they know there is no real danger. They also have difficulty getting comfortable or falling asleep. Other symptoms 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 can reach a peak within minutes, and they have difficulties managing their emotions. They are advised to avoid certain activities and places to avoid attacks.

People who suffer from phobias are extremely scared of certain things, such as flying or snakes. They might have other symptoms as well like breathing problems or headaches. People with PTSD are anxious after witnessing or experiencing traumatizing events such as a war or car accident. Other symptoms include flashbacks or nightmares that reminisce about the traumatizing event.

Other anxiety disorders include OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) hoarding disorder, and social anxiety disorder. These disorders cause you to feel anxious in social situations. There's also anxiety about a specific health problem, called illness anxiety disorder (formerly known as hypochondria). Other causes of anxiety are stress and a chemical imbalance in your brain. Sometimes, anxiety is a side effect of some medications.

2. Panic Attacks

People with anxiety disorders have recurring feelings of extreme panic and fear that are insignificant to the situation. These feelings can trigger extreme physical reactions, such as an increased heart rate or a shortness of breath, as well as nausea. You may also feel detached or numb.

While anyone can suffer from a panic disorder but it's more common to develop it during childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood. Many factors can cause it, such as prolonged or extreme stress that triggers chemical imbalances in your nervous system and brain. Trauma, especially during teenage or adolescence, can increase the risk of anxiety disorders.

Panic attacks can occur for no reason or in response to a situation that makes you feel afraid, like being around an entire group. They are distinct from the usual anxiety-related symptoms because they are more intense symptoms and are usually unexpected. People with anxiety disorders can also experience a mix of sudden and anticipated panic attacks.

Therapy and talk therapy are the most common treatments for anxiety and panic attacks. Talking therapies can help you learn to manage your anxiety and overcome the irrational beliefs that fuel your anxiety. They can teach relaxation techniques such as mindfulness and deep breathing. Some medications -- especially SSRIs (such as Prozac and Paxil) and SNRIs (such as duloxetine and venlafaxine) can help to make anxiety and panic less intense.

If you have a recurrent panic attack, it's important to consult your doctor and seek treatment immediately. Your doctor will be able to check for other medical conditions that exhibit similar symptoms and recommend other treatments.

3. Insomnia

If people are stressed they may have difficulty sleeping or staying asleep during the night. This is known as insomnia. It can last best med for generalized anxiety disorder an indefinite period of time, or it can last a long time. Insomnia can make it difficult to get through the day and could lead to serious health problems. It is more common among older adults and is more prevalent in women than men. It is more common among people with psychiatric conditions.

Many different factors can trigger insomnia. Many different things can trigger it. Sleep is affected by a variety of temporary illnesses such as headaches or colds, chronic conditions such as acid reflux, Parkinson's disease, arthritis and medicines. Stressful life events can trigger it. About half of those suffering from chronic insomnia suffer from mental illness, the most common being depression or anxiety.

The first thing the doctor will do is to look for physical causes of the issue. They will ask you questions about your medical history and the symptoms that make it difficult to sleep. They will also inquire whether you are taking any medication that may be affecting your sleep. They may also perform a sleep study to monitor your breathing and heart rate during the night.

Behavioral therapy is the most effective treatment for insomnia. It assists you in changing the negative thoughts that keep you awake. It also teaches ways to unwind before going to sleep. There are techniques for doing this, such as biofeedback, progressive muscle relaxation and meditation. Your doctor can help you locate a therapist that can teach you the techniques. If the behavioral therapy doesn't work it is possible to explore a range of medications to aid in sleeping better. They include benzodiazepines, which can be used to treat symptoms for a short period of time as well as antidepressant or antianxiety medications.

4. Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are defined by a preoccupation with weight, body shape and food choices as well as eating habits like eating excessively, purging frequently or vomiting, or the use of laxatives or exercising. Many people with an eating disorder also suffer from anxiety, as do those who suffer from a mental illness that is co-occurring such as depression or bipolar disorder. Both conditions can lead to an unhealthy cycle where eating disorder symptoms are exacerbated by a person's mood issues.

There is anxiety a disorder a strong link between anxiety and eating disorders, with more anxiety-related symptoms being associated with higher severity of the disorder. In fact those suffering from anorexia nervosa tends to endorse the presence of anxiety-related symptoms at a high level and the same is the case for people suffering from the disorder of binge eating known as bulimia nervosa. In certain cases, anxiety may be the main reason behind an eating disorder. In certain instances anxiety could be a secondary indication of an eating disorder.

In one study, researchers discovered that depression and anxiety symptoms were significantly associated with more severe symptoms of eating disorders in young females. The team of researchers used the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4), a 4-item measurement of anxiety and depression symptoms. They also analyzed the severity of an individual's eating disorder and asked participants to rate their strategies for coping for anxiety.

The authors also analyzed three variables that could 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 disorder symptoms, but in different ways based 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 that can be linked to anxiety

The majority of people experience anxiety at some moment in their lives but it could turn into a disorder if it is severe and interferes daily life. Certain people may also experience physical symptoms such as stomach pain or chest pain in relation to the kind of anxiety they're experiencing.

Finding the right treatment for anxiety disorders can help people feel better and lead happier lives. Many people benefit from psychotherapy or talk therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a very common type. CBT teaches you to recognize and overcome negative thoughts that trigger anxiety and fear. It also helps you confront the things that scare you and overcome your fears through small steps.

Medication can also help. Benzodiazepines, such as diazepam or Valium, can ease anxiety and panic attacks. Antidepressants, such as SSRIs or tricyclic antidepressants, can also be prescribed. These drugs increase levels of certain brain chemicals that regulate mood, and they are able to be used in conjunction with other treatments for anxiety disorders.

anxiety disorder quitting smoking-related medical conditions can be caused by medical conditions, and they may even have the same symptoms as anxiety disorders. Head trauma can trigger anxiety and depression, for example. Other conditions that can cause anxiety include chronic fatigue, chronic pain and rheumatologic conditions such as Lupus, and a few nutritional deficiencies.

Certain factors increase the risk of developing anxiety disorders. These are referred to as risk factors. Some are genetic, like an ancestral history of anxiety disorder brain disorders. Other factors, such as sexual abuse in childhood, the presence of depression or other mental health issues, and a buildup of stress over a long time, may increase the risk of suffering from anxiety disorders. If you suspect you are suffering from anxiety it is essential to have an examination for physical health.