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Anxiety Disorders

What are Anxiety Disorders?

Difficulty managing anxiety is a common experience. Before important events, such as exams, business presentations, or first dates, Most people experience feelings of anxiety. 

 

Anxiety disorders, however, may cause people to experience intense fright, excessive worry and fear. Left untreated, anxiety disorders can be debilitating, dramatically reducing productivity and significantly diminishing a person's quality of life.

Did you know? 
Over 21% of adults (42.5 million) are affected by these anxiety disorders each year. (MHA)

What causes Anxiety Disorders?

  • Distress is a normal, proportional reaction to a stressful situation or external pressures. It’s normal to feel stressed about a final exam or job interview. 

  • While most individuals will experience some form of anxiety in their lives, there is still research being done on the causes of anxiety disorders. New research shows that anxiety disorders run in families, and that they may have a biological basis, much like allergies or diabetes and other disorders. Anxiety disorders may develop from a complex set of risk factors, including genetics, brain chemistry, personality, and life events.

    • For people who experience trauma, anxiety is a way that the brain and body has reacted to the traumatic experience – sometimes as a protective measure. When we’re feeling attacked it makes sense to be on guard and not trust others. Subsequently, those thoughts and protective behaviors continue even when danger is gone. Finding ways to feel safe, re-teach your body and mind to readjust to feelings of safety, and working through bad experiences can help.

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Types of Anxiety Disorders

There are many types of known anxiety disorders.

 

Separation Anxiety Disorder, Selective Mutism, "Specific" Phobia, Panic Attack Specifier, Agoraphobia, Substance-Medication Induced Anxiety Disorder, Anxiety Disorder due to another medical condition, Other Specified Anxiety Disorder. 

 

  • Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Chronic, exaggerated worry about everyday routine life events and activities, lasting at least six months; almost always anticipating the worst even though there is little reason to expect it. Accompanied by physical symptoms, such as fatigue, trembling, muscle tension, headache, or nausea.

  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Repeated, intrusive and unwanted thoughts or rituals that seem impossible to control.

  • Panic Disorder: Characterized by panic attacks, sudden feelings of terror that strike repeatedly and without warning. Physical symptoms include chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, abdominal discomfort, feelings of unreality, and fear of dying.

  • Phobia: Extreme, disabling and irrational fear of something that really poses little or no actual danger; the fear leads to avoidance of objects or situations and can cause people to limit their lives.

  • Selective Mutism: Consistent failure to speak in specific social situations in which there is an expectation for speaking (e.g., at school) despite speaking in other situations. The disturbance interferes with educational or occupational achievement or with social communication.

  • Social Anxiety Disorder: Fear of social situations in which the person is exposed to unfamiliar people or to possible scrutiny by others. The individual fears that he or she will act in a way (or show anxiety symptoms) that will be embarrassing and humiliating, often times leading to avoidance of social situations and severe distress when participation in social situations can't be avoided.

  • Specific Phobia: Marked fear or anxiety about a specific object or situation (e.g., flying, heights, animals, receiving an injection, seeing blood).

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What are symptoms of Anxiety Disorders?

Symptoms may vary depending on the disorder.

 

  • Feeling restless

  • Feeling tired

  • Difficulty concentrating or losing their train of thought

  • Irritability

  • Muscle pain, tightness, or soreness

  • Difficulty sleeping – both falling asleep or staying asleep or being rested

  • You feel like you're worrying too much and it's interfering with your work, relationships or other parts of your life

  • Your fear, worry or anxiety is upsetting to you and difficult to control

  • You feel depressed, have trouble with alcohol or drug use, or have other mental health concerns along with anxiety

  • You think your anxiety could be linked to a physical health problem

  • You have suicidal thoughts or behaviors — if this is the case, seek emergency treatment immediately​

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If you need Support

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. Text MHA to 741741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor from Crisis Text Line. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

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If you need support but are not in crisis

Consider reaching out to a warmline. Warmlines offer a place to call when you just need to talk to someone. Speaking to someone on these calls is typically free, confidential, and run by people who understand what it’s like to struggle with mental health problems. Find a warmline at mhanational.org/warmlines.

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At Wise Mind Counseling, PLLC

We are committed to helping you work successfully through complex mental health challenges such as Anxiety Disorders. We have a dedicated and experienced staff who can provide a wide range of therapeutic options to enable you to deal with challenges and live your best life. Reach out to us today for more information or a consultation.

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Sources/Resources

https://mhanational.org/conditions/anxiety
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anxiety/symptoms-causes/syc-20350961

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