Anxiety Disorders Symptoms
It's normal to experience anxiety and apprehension from time to the time. If these feelings are constant and interfere with your daily routine, then you may have anxiety disorder.
A healthcare professional can help you find a treatment that fits your symptoms. This may include antianxiety or psychotherapy and natural remedies such as exercise, a healthy diet, and sleeping.
1. Worry and Fear
Everyone experiences feelings of anxiety and fear from time to time -- it's normal to experience our body's "fight-or-flight" response to danger. But if the feeling is extreme, doesn't disappear, and it interferes with your daily activities it could be an indication of anxiety disorder. Your doctor can identify anxiety disorders by speaking to you and performing a physical exam by taking urine or blood tests and asking about your past health. You may also be asked to fill out questionnaires to aid your doctor in determining whether you suffer from anxiety disorders.
The different types of anxiety disorders have different symptoms. For instance, those with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) suffer from constant, excessive and irrational worry about everyday events even when they are aware that there is no real danger. They also have difficulty sleeping or relaxing. Other symptoms include a fast heartbeat, fluttering or pounding (heart palpitations), trembling and sweating. People suffering from panic disorders are prone to experiencing frequent periods of fear or terror that are intense that can reach a high within a matter of minutes. They also have difficulty controlling their emotions. They tend to avoid certain activities or places to prevent these attacks from occurring.
People who suffer from phobias have strong fears about certain things, like snakes or flying. They may also have other symptoms such as breathing difficulties or a headache. People with PTSD have anxiety after experiencing or witnessing an event that is traumatic like an accident in a car or a war. Other symptoms could include nightmares and flashbacks to the traumatic event.
Other anxiety disorders include the ocd (obsessive compulsive disorder) as well as hoarding disorder and social anxiety disorder. These disorders make you feel anxious when in social situations. You may also experience anxiety about a particular health issue, which is known as illness anxiety disorder. Other causes of anxiety are stress and an imbalance of chemicals in your brain. Certain medications can cause anxiety as a side effect.
2. Panic Attacks
People suffering from anxiety disorders experience recurring feelings of fear and panic that are out of proportion to their circumstances. These feelings can trigger severe physical reactions such as an intense pulse, a shortness in breath and nausea. It is also possible to feel disconnected or unreal.
Although anyone can experience a panic disorder but it's more common to experience it during childhood, adolescence or in the early years of adulthood. It can be caused by many factors that include prolonged or severe stress that creates an imbalance in the chemical system of your brain and nervous system. Trauma, especially in teenage or adolescence, can increase the chances of developing anxiety disorders.
Panic attacks can be triggered without explanation or in response to a specific event that causes you to be afraid like being in large numbers of people. They're different from the normal anxiety symptoms since they involve much more intense symptoms and are often unexpected. People with anxiety disorders can also experience a combination of sudden and anticipated panic attacks.
The most commonly used treatments for anxiety and panic attacks include talking therapies and medication. Talking therapies can help you understand how to manage your fears and get rid of unfounded beliefs that cause anxiety. They can help you learn relaxation exercises like deep breathing and mindfulness. Certain medications, particularly SSRIs (such as Prozac and Paxil) and SNRIs (such as duloxetine and venlafaxine) -- can make anxiety and panic less intense.
It is crucial to see your physician immediately if experience recurrent panic attacks. Your doctor will be able to check for other medical conditions that have similar symptoms, and may recommend alternative treatments.
3. Insomnia
People who are anxious could be unable to fall asleep or staying asleep. This is referred to as insomnia. This can be a short-term problem or a long-term one. Sleep deprivation can make it difficult to function during the day and can cause serious health issues. It is more prevalent among older adults and is more prevalent in women than men. It is also more common in those with psychiatric issues.
A variety of things can cause insomnia. Temporary illnesses like colds or headaches, as well as chronic ailments like arthritis, acid reflux or Parkinson's disease; and medication can affect your sleep. Stressful life events can also trigger. About half of the people who have chronic insomnia also have a mental health condition that is most often depression or anxiety.
A doctor will first determine physical causes. They will ask you questions regarding your medical history, as well as the symptoms that make it difficult to sleep. They will also ask if 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.
The most effective method of treating insomnia is a form of behavioral therapy. It helps you to change the negative thoughts that keep you awake. It also shows you how to sleep more peacefully before bed. There are a variety of methods to do this, including progressive muscle relaxation, biofeedback and meditation. The doctor can assist you to locate a therapist who can teach you these methods. If you do not respond to behavioral therapy There are a variety of medications that can help to sleep better. They include benzodiazepines, that can be employed for short-term relief of symptoms and antidepressant or antianxiety medications.
4. Eating Disorders
An eating disorder is characterized by a preoccupation with body shape, weight and food as well as eating habits such as restrictive eating, binge eating, purging (through vomiting or laxative misuse) and obsessive exercise. Many people with an eating disorder have anxiety. The same holds applicable to those who suffer from mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder or depression. Combined, the two conditions can create a vicious cycle in which a person's mood issues exacerbate the symptoms of their eating disorder.
There is a strong connection between anxiety and eating disorder severity. More anxiety symptoms are linked to the disorder. Patients with anorexia nervosa are more likely to suffer from high levels of anxiety-related symptoms. The same holds true for binge-eating disorders, bulimia, or the condition known as bulimia. In certain cases, anxiety may be the direct reason behind an eating disorder. In certain instances, anxiety may be a indicator of an eating disorder.
Researchers discovered that the presence of comorbid depression and anxiety symptoms was significantly associated with more severe eating disorders among young females. The research team used an assessment of four items called the Patient Health Questionnaire-4, which measures depression and anxiety symptoms. They also assessed the severity of a person's eating disorder and asked participants to rate their strategies for anxiety.
The authors also examined three factors that may help explain the relationship between eating disorders and anxiety: self-esteem, perfectionism and mood dysregulation. They found that these three factors affected the relationship between depression and anxiety symptoms and eating disorder symptomatology and did differently for different subgroups of the sample. They hope the findings will lead to more precise and targeted treatment of eating disorders.
5. Anxiety-Related physical conditions
A majority of people have anxiety at some moment in their lives but it could turn into a disorder if it is severe and interferes with daily activities. Some sufferers also experience physical symptoms, such as stomach pain or chest pain, depending on the type of anxiety they have.
The best treatment can help people live more healthy and happier lives. Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, helps many people. The most common kind is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT helps you identify and overcome negative thoughts that cause anxiety and anxiety. It also teaches you to confront the fears that scare you and overcome your fears in small steps.
The use of medication can be beneficial. 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 are used to treat anxiety disorders on their own or together with other treatments.
Certain medical conditions can trigger anxiety and sometimes have the same physical symptoms as an anxiety disorder. Head trauma, for instance can cause depression and anxiety. Other conditions that can trigger anxiety include chronic fatigue, pain and rheumatologic conditions such as Lupus, as well as some nutritional deficiencies.
Certain circumstances make someone more likely to develop an anxiety disorder. These are referred to as risk factors. Some are genetic, like the family history of anxiety disorders. Other factors, like childhood sexual abuse or a history of depression or other mental health issues and the accumulation of stress over a long time, can increase the risk of suffering from anxiety disorders. For these reasons, it is essential to undergo a thorough physical exam if you have anxiety.