What is Anxiety and what are Anxiety Disorders? 

Dr.Prabhat Sinha, 4 mins read

Anxiety Disorders:

Feeling anxious is normal, and a lot of us do feel a little anxiety before big events like an exam or a long trip abroad, a first date, or maybe the last, anxiety are quite normal. It’s basically our brains coping with stress and alerting us of possible harm ahead. You may feel you’ll fail an exam even though you have studied well enough for it, or you may worry about being on a flight when it’s taking off, anxiety can creep up on all of us every now and then. Experiencing some anxiety every now and then is normal and does not translate to anxiety disorders: which are not the same. 

There are different types of anxiety disorders; all of them are mental illnesses that can lead to extreme and constant anxiety and fear which can be overwhelming, to say the least. Extreme anxiety can cause people to stay away from society, school, even family, and other situations that could trigger symptoms of an anxiety attack. 

Many people have successfully learnt how to manage their condition with treatment for anxiety, what is important for you is knowing how to identify an anxiety disorder and get help before the situation worsens. 

Types- Anxiety Disorders

Many believe anxiety is a general affliction but there are in fact different types of anxiety disorders based on their onset and symptoms. 

For instance; if you have a generalised anxiety disorder- you may worry or take tension for next to no reason.

A Panic disorder leads to sudden and intense fear that can cause a full-blown panic attack, where the heart begins beating very fast with chest pain and palpitations; many confuse this with having a heart attack. 

Social phobia or social anxiety disorder symptoms are feeling extremely self-conscious about daily situations and interactions with others particularly. People tend to compulsively and obsessively keep worrying about being judged by others or embarrassing themselves in public.

Phobias or fears of specific things are also an anxiety disorder where people are gripped by extreme fear when faced with an object or situation, like spiders or heights. The fear is irrational and leads many to avoid otherwise safe and normal situations.

Other anxiety disorders include Agoraphobia- intense fear of being in places where it’s hard to get out. Usually, the panic or anxiety can come about in public transportation or on a flight, or standing in line with a crowd. 

Separation anxiety is feeling very anxious when a person you’re close with has to go away for a while, or even disappear from your sight for a few minutes. 

Kids, who don’t speak in public but at home have Selective mutism, while, people who get anxiety from using medications or drugs, or as withdrawal from certain drugs have a medication-induced anxiety disorder.

Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder:

Anxiety disorder symptoms primarily include excess fear or worrying. Other prominent Anxiety disorder symptoms include finding it hard to breathe properly or facing breathlessness, difficulty sleeping, keeping still, and concentrating. The symptoms an individual will experience depend on the type of anxiety disorder they have. 

The general symptoms are uneasiness, panic, fear, inability to keep calm, negative thoughts, feeling danger is around the corner, sleep issues, getting cold and sweating, shortness of breath, hyperventilating, heart palpitations, nausea, muscle tenseness, dry mouth, over thinking, difficulty concentrating, avoiding people or places. 

Understanding the symptoms of anxiety attack can help you better manage it in case you need to. 

Causes and Risk Factors of Anxiety Disorder

The medical community at large cannot come to an exact agreement on the causes of anxiety disorders. What is accepted instead is a host of factors that cause it and increase risk. 

Causes of Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders have been known to run in families, they may be down to faults in the areas of the brain that dictate fear and emotions. 

Having a rough childhood or being in a stressful environment with a superior or a parent are also contributing factors, childhood abuse, physical abuse, and sexual abuse are linked to anxiety disorders, even coping with the loss of a loved one can bring it about. 

Withdrawal or misuse of drugs, alcohol, or medications can also cause anxiety disorders. 

Certain medical conditions like thyroid or a heart condition can cause severe anxiety disorder symptoms or make them worse. 

Risk Factors 

Some situations and conditions can also make individuals prone to developing anxiety disorders, called risk factors. A mental health disorder like depression raise risk, childhood, sexual, emotional, and physical abuse or is linked to anxiety disorders. Trauma or negative life events, severe illness, chronic health conditions, substance abuse, alcohol, and drugs are risk factors too. Low self-esteem and being shy as a child can increase the risk of anxiety in teens and adults. 

Treatment for Anxiety Disorders 

Medication, psychotherapy, or cognitive behavioural therapy can all be used to treat anxiety disorders. A combination of one or two procedures is frequently the best course of treatment. Anxiety disorder treatment is time-consuming. In most cases, treatment is effective.

• Medication - Depending on the type of anxiety disorder you have and whether you also have other mental or physical health issues, various antidepressants, anti-anxiety, or sedative medications are used to help relieve symptoms.
• Psychotherapy - Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy or psychological counseling, entails working with a therapist to alleviate anxiety symptoms. It can prove to be an effective anxiety treatment. The most effective type of psychotherapy for anxiety disorders is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). CBT, which is typically a short-term treatment, focuses on teaching you specific skills to help you improve your symptoms and gradually return to activities you've avoided due to anxiety.