5 Myths About Anxiety Disorders That You Should Stay Clear Of

Anxiety Disorders Symptoms Everyone feels anxiety and fear at times – it's a natural part of human nature. But when these feelings are persistent and interfere with the daily routine, you could suffer from an anxiety disorder. A healthcare professional can assist you in finding a treatment that fits your symptoms. This could include psychotherapy, antianxiety medications or natural remedies such as exercise, healthy eating, and sleep. 1. Worry and Fear Every person feels anxiety and fear from time to time — it's normal to experience our body's “fight-or-flight” response to danger. However, if the fear or anxiety is intense, does not disappear, and it interferes with your daily activities you could be suffering from an anxiety disorder. Your doctor can identify anxiety disorders by talking with you and conducting an examination, taking blood or urine tests and asking about your past health. You could also be asked to complete questionnaires to aid your doctor in determining whether you have an anxiety disorder. The symptoms of anxiety disorders can vary by type. People with generalized anxiety disorder, for example are constantly worried and irrationally about everyday events even though there isn't any real threat. They also have trouble relaxing or falling to sleep. Other symptoms include a fast and pounding heart, fluttering, or a thumping (heart palpitations) as well as sweating and trembling. People suffering from panic disorder experience frequent episodes of intense feelings of terror or fear that reach a peak within minutes, and they have difficulty managing their emotions. They are advised to avoid certain activities and places to avoid attacks. People who have phobias have extreme fears of certain things, such as snakes or flying. They may also experience other symptoms, such as difficulty breathing or a headache. People suffering from PTSD experience anxiety after experiencing or witnessing traumatizing events, such as a war or car crash. They may also experience other symptoms, too, such as flashbacks and nightmares of the traumatic incident. Other anxiety disorders include OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), hoarding disorder, and social anxiety disorder. These disorders make you feel anxious when you are in social situations. There is also anxiety over a specific health issue, which is referred to as illness anxiety disorder. Stress and chemical imbalances can also cause anxiety. Certain medications can cause anxiety as a side-effect. 2. Panic Attacks While everyone feels nervous or scared at some point, people with anxiety disorders have recurring feelings of extreme anxiety and fear that are in contrast to their situation. These feelings can trigger severe physical reactions, such as an intense pulse, a breathing problems, and nausea. They can cause you to feel unreal or detached from reality. While anyone can suffer from a panic disorder however, it is more common to experience it in childhood, adolescence or in the early years of adulthood. Many factors can cause it, such as prolonged or severe stress that causes chemical imbalances in the brain and nervous system. Trauma, especially in teenage or adolescence, can increase the risk of developing anxiety disorders. Panic attacks can occur for no apparent reason or in response to a particular situation that makes you afraid like being in an en masse. They are distinct from the usual feelings of anxiety because they involve much more intense symptoms and are usually unexpected. People with anxiety disorders may also experience a mix of expected and unanticipated panic attacks. The most commonly used treatments for anxiety and panic attacks include medication and talk therapy. Talking therapies help you manage your anxiety and reduce the irrational thoughts that fuel your anxiety. They can teach relaxation techniques, like deep breathing and mindfulness. Certain medications, especially SSRIs (such as Prozac and Paxil) and SNRIs (such as duloxetine and venlafaxine) can help to make your anxiety and panic less severe. It is essential to consult your physician immediately if have frequent panic attacks. Your doctor will determine whether you have any other health conditions with similar symptoms and recommend other treatments. 3. Insomnia People who are anxious might be unable to fall asleep or staying asleep. This is referred to as insomnia. This can be a short-term issue or a long-term. Insomnia can make it difficult to make it through the day and can cause serious health issues. It is more common among older adults and affects more women than men. It is more common among people suffering from psychiatric issues. Insomnia can be caused by many different factors. Sleep is affected by a variety of temporary illnesses such as colds or headaches or chronic illnesses like acid reflux, Parkinson's disease, arthritis and medication. Stressful life circumstances can also contribute to it. Around half of people suffering from chronic insomnia suffer from mental illness, which is most often depression or anxiety. The first thing a doctor will do is determine physical causes for the problem. They will ask you questions regarding your medical history and the symptoms that make it difficult to sleep. They will also ask whether you are taking any medications that could be affecting your sleep. They could also conduct a sleep study to observe your heart rate and breathing at night. The most effective treatment of insomnia is a form of behavioral therapy. It helps you to change the negative thoughts that keep you awake. It also teaches you ways to relax before bed. There are methods for doing this, such as biofeedback, progressive muscle relaxation and meditation. The doctor can help you locate a therapist who can teach you these methods. If the behavioral therapy doesn't work it is possible to try a variety of drugs to aid in sleeping better. These include benzodiazepines that can be used to alleviate symptoms temporarily, as well as antidepressant and anxiety medication. 4. Eating Disorders Eating disorders are characterised by anxiety about weight, body shape and food, as well as eating habits like purging, binge eating vomiting, abuse of laxatives, and compulsive exercise. A lot of people suffering from an eating disorder experience anxiety. The same is true for those who also suffer from mental illness such as depression or bipolar disorder. When they are combined, these two conditions can create a vicious cycle where a person's mood problems increase the symptoms of their eating disorder. There is a strong connection between anxiety and severity of eating disorders. Higher levels of anxiety symptoms are associated with the disorder. In reality the person suffering from anorexia tends to exhibit high levels of anxiety symptoms, and the same is true for those with an eating disorder called bulimia, also known as binge eating disorder. In some instances, anxiety can be the primary cause of an eating disorder. In certain instances anxiety can be a indication of an eating disorder. Researchers found that the presence of comorbid depression and anxiety symptoms was strongly associated with more severe eating disorders in young females. The team of researchers used the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4) as a four-item measure of core depression and anxiety symptoms. They also measured the severity of a person's eating disorder and asked participants to rate their strategies for anxiety. The study's authors also examined three variables that could aid in understanding the relationship between anxiety and eating disorders self-esteem, perfectionist tendencies and mood dysregulation. They found that these factors moderated the link between anxiety/depression symptoms and eating disorder symptomatology and that they did differently for different subgroups of the sample. They hope that their findings will lead to more precise and specific treatment for eating disorders. 5. Anxiety-Related Physical Conditions A majority of people have anxiety at some moment in their lives but it can become a disorder if it is extreme and affects your with daily activities. Some people also have specific physical symptoms, like stomach pain or chest pain according to the type of anxiety they suffer from. The best treatment can help people lead healthier and happier lives. Many people benefit from psychotherapy or talk therapy. The most common kind is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT is a method of helping you identify and alter negative thoughts that cause anxiety and anxiety. It also teaches how to face your fears and take small steps to overcome them. It is also possible to get medication. Benzodiazepines, such as diazepam and Valium can ease anxiety or panic attacks. Antidepressants, such as tricyclic antidepressants and SSRIs are also available for prescription. These medications boost levels of certain brain chemicals that control mood and are able to be used in conjunction together with other treatments to treat anxiety disorders. Anxiety-related medical conditions can be caused by medical conditions and can have the same symptoms as anxiety disorders. Head trauma, for example can trigger depression and anxiety. Other conditions that can trigger anxiety include chronic fatigue, pain, some rheumatologic illnesses, such as Lupus, as well as some nutritional deficiencies. Certain circumstances make someone more likely to develop anxiety disorders. These are known as risk factors. Some are genetic, such as an ancestral history of anxiety disorders. Other factors, such as childhood addiction, depression or other mental disorders, and the accumulation of stress over time can increase the risk of anxiety disorders. For these reasons, it is essential to undergo an extensive physical exam if you think you suffer from anxiety.