Occasional anxiety is a normal part of life. However, Anxiety Disorders involve intense, excessive, and persistent worry about everyday situations. These feelings are difficult to control, out of proportion to the actual danger, and can interfere with daily life.
Often, anxiety disorders involve repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense fear or terror that reach a peak within minutes (panic attacks). Symptoms may start during childhood or the teen years and continue into adulthood.
Common Symptoms
While symptoms vary depending on the specific disorder, common signs include:
- Feeling nervous, restless, or tense.
- Having a sense of impending danger, panic, or doom.
- Physical signs: Increased heart rate, sweating, trembling, and feeling weak or tired.
- Hyperventilation: Breathing rapidly.
- Trouble concentrating or thinking about anything other than the present worry.
- Having trouble sleeping (Insomnia).
- Experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) problems.
Types of Anxiety Disorders
There are several specific types of anxiety disorders:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Persistent and excessive worry about ordinary, routine issues. The worry is out of proportion to the actual circumstance.
- Panic Disorder: Repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense anxiety and fear (panic attacks). You may feel shortness of breath, chest pain, or heart palpitations.
- Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia): High levels of fear and avoidance of social situations due to feelings of embarrassment or fear of being judged.
- Agoraphobia: Fear and avoidance of places or situations where you might feel trapped or helpless.
- Specific Phobias: Major anxiety when exposed to a specific object (like spiders or heights) and a desire to avoid it.
- Separation Anxiety Disorder: A childhood disorder characterized by excessive anxiety related to separation from parents.
- Selective Mutism: Consistent failure to speak in certain situations, such as school, despite speaking in other situations.
- If worrying is interfering with your work, relationships, or daily life.
- If you suspect your anxiety is linked to a physical health problem.
- Emergency: If you have suicidal thoughts or behaviors, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Causes & Risk Factors
The exact cause isn't fully understood, but life experiences (trauma) and inherited traits (genetics) appear to play a role.
Medical Causes
In some cases, anxiety is a side effect or symptom of an underlying medical condition, such as:
- Heart disease or Diabetes.
- Thyroid problems (Hyperthyroidism).
- Respiratory disorders (Asthma).
- Drug misuse or withdrawal.
- Withdrawal from alcohol or anti-anxiety medications.
- Rare tumors or Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).
Diagnosis
Doctors may perform a physical exam to rule out medical causes. To be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, you generally must meet criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), published by the American Psychiatric Association.
Treatment Options
The two main treatments are psychotherapy and medications. You may benefit most from a combination of the two.
1. Psychotherapy
Also known as "talk therapy." Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective forms. It focuses on teaching you specific skills to manage your worries and gradually return to the activities you've avoided because of anxiety.
2. Medications
Several types of medication are used to manage symptoms:
- Antidepressants: These influence brain chemicals (neurotransmitters). Examples include Fluoxetine (Prozac) and Sertraline (Zoloft).
- Buspirone: An anti-anxiety medication used for ongoing treatment.
- Benzodiazepines: Sedatives for short-term relief of acute anxiety symptoms. Note: These can be habit-forming and are generally not for long-term use.
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