Anxiety Disorders of All Kinds

Anxiety is a common stress reaction, and it can be beneficial in some situations. It can warn us of potential dangers and assist us in planning and paying attention. When anxiety disorders are prevalent, there is excessive fear or anxiety as opposed to normal sensations of apprehension or concern. Nearly 30% of adults experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives, making it the most prevalent of all mental disorders. There are, however, several effective therapies for anxiety disorders. Most people who undergo treatment can live normal, fulfilling lives.

Anxiety Disorders: How Common Are They?

The following percentage of adults in the United States are estimated to have anxiety disorders:

Phobia specific: 8% to 12%
Disorder of Social Anxiety: 7%
Anxiety disorders: 2% to 3%
Agoraphobia: 1.9% to 2.9% in Adults and Adolescents
Disorder of generalized anxiety: 2%
Separation Disorder of anxiety: 0.9% to 1.9%

Anxiety disorders afflict women more commonly than men.

Muscle tension and avoidance behavior are more commonly linked to anxiety, which is defined as the anticipation of a future worry.

Fear is an emotional reaction to an impending threat and is more often related to a fight-or-flight response when one either stays to fight or flees from danger.

People with anxiety disorders may attempt to avoid circumstances that worsen or trigger their symptoms. Work performance, academic progress, and interpersonal relationships may all be impacted. To be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, a person’s dread or anxiety typically must:

be inappropriate in the context or out of proportion to the situation
hinder the capacity to conduct normal activities.
Anxiety disorders are classified into numerous kinds, including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, specific phobias, agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder, and separation anxiety disorder.

Types of Anxiety Disorders

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

A symptom of generalized anxiety disorder is an excessive quantity of persistent worry that interferes with daily tasks. Along with this continual stress and tension, physical symptoms such as agitation, a tense or quickly exhausted sensation, difficulty concentrating, muscle tension or sleeping difficulties may be present. Worries typically revolve around mundane issues such as work commitments, family health, or trivial matters such as chores, auto upkeep, or appointments.

Panic Disorder

The primary symptom of panic disorder is recurrent panic attacks, a severe complication of both physical and psychological anguish. Several of these symptoms, when present together, suggest an attack:

Palpitations, chest discomfort, or a speeding heart.
shaking or trembling
feeling of suffocation or shortness of breath.
chest pain
feeling faint, woozy, or light-headed.
choking sensation
tingling or numbness.
flashes of heat or chills.
abdominal discomfort or nausea.
feeling remote.
dread of letting go of control.
fear of death

Because the symptoms of a panic attack are so severe, many individuals mistake it for a heart attack or another serious illness. They might visit a hospital’s emergency room. Panic attacks can be anticipated, such as a reaction to a feared object, or unexpected, appearing to occur for no apparent reason. Panic disorder is most common between the ages of 20 and 24. The occurrence of panic attacks can coexist with other mental illnesses like depression or PTSD.

Phobias, Specifically Phobias

A specific phobia is an excessive and continuous fear of a single thing, condition, or activity that is usually not dangerous. Patients are aware of their intense fear, yet they are powerless to overcome it. Because their fears are so upsetting, some people may go to considerable lengths to avoid them. Fears such as public speaking, flying, and spiders are examples.

Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia is the fear of being in situations where leaving would be awkward or difficult, or where getting help in the event of a panic attack would be difficult. The anxiety is out of proportion to the situation, lasts at least six months, and interferes with daily functioning. A person suffering from agoraphobia experiences fear in two or more of the following situations:
use public transport.
being in an open setting.
being in small spaces
Getting in line or being surrounded by people.
being alone outside of the house.

The individual actively avoids the interaction, requires company, or bears it while suffering intense fear or anxiety. If agoraphobia is not treated, a person may be unable to leave the house. A person is diagnosed with agoraphobia only if the fear significantly interferes with daily activities or is severely disturbing.

Social Anxiety Disorder (previously called social phobia)

When a person with a social anxiety disorder is around other people, they suffer tremendous stress and discomfort because they are afraid of being rejected, looked down upon, rejected, or embarrassed. People with this disease will try to escape the situation or will cope with it anxiously. Examples include extreme fears of public speaking, meeting new people, and eating or drinking in front of others. Worry or anxiety lasts at least six months and disrupts daily functioning.

Separation Anxiety Disorder

Individuals suffering from separation anxiety disorder are too concerned or anxious about being separated from someone to whom they are emotionally attached. The emotion lasts at least four weeks in children and six months in adults, is excessive for the person’s age, and interferes with daily functioning. A person suffering from separation anxiety disorder may constantly worry about losing the person they love the most, hesitate to leave the house or refuse to spend the night apart from them, or experience dreams about being separated from them. Although physical signs of discomfort are common in childhood, symptoms can last into adulthood.

Risk Factors

Although the precise causes of anxiety disorders are unknown, they are most likely the result of a combination of genetic, environmental, psychological, and developmental factors. There is evidence that anxiety disorders can run in families, implying that the diseases may be caused by a genetic predisposition as well as environmental stress.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible to confirm that there is no physical issue causing the symptoms. If an anxiety condition is discovered, a mental health professional can work with you to establish the best course of action. Unfortunately, many people who suffer from anxiety difficulties do not seek help. They are ignorant that they have an illness for which there are effective treatments.

While every anxiety disorder is unique, two treatment options—psychotherapy, or “talk therapy,” and medications—seem to work well in the majority of cases. Both of these treatments are available. To feel less apprehensive, one could learn new ways of thinking, responding, and acting in cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), a type of talk therapy. While drugs cannot cure anxiety disorders, they can greatly lessen their symptoms. Antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications are the most commonly prescribed drugs, and they are usually only used temporarily. Beta-blockers, which are prescribed for heart problems, are sometimes used to treat the physical symptoms of anxiety.

Self-Help, Coping, and Managing

People participate in a range of actions to alleviate anxiety disorder symptoms and increase therapy efficacy. Meditation and stress-reduction techniques can be useful. Support groups, whether in person or online, provide an opportunity to share experiences and coping techniques. Learning more about the complexities of a disorder and assisting relatives and friends in better understanding the disease can both be beneficial. Coffee should be avoided because it can aggravate symptoms, and before taking any medications, consult your doctor.

Related Conditions

Selective Mutism

Children with selective mutism, while they communicate in other situations, do not communicate in specific social settings where it is expected that they do, such as school. They will converse while their own family is around, but they will often remain silent when others, such as close friends or grandparents, are there.

Although children with this illness may use nonverbal or non spoken modes of communication, their lack of speech may make social interaction difficult (e.g., grunting, pointing, writing). Silence, in addition to impairing communication skills, can lead to social isolation and intellectual difficulties in the classroom. Many children with selective mutism also have high levels of social anxiety, social shame dread, and excessive shyness. They do, however, frequently have typical verbal abilities.

Selective mutism, which usually begins before the age of five, may not be effectively recognized until the kid begins school. Selective mutism is a disorder that many children grow out of. Selective mutism in children with a social anxiety disorder may resolve, but the symptoms of social anxiety disorder may persist.

When to see a doctor

Consult a doctor if:

You believe that your excessive anxiety is interfering with other elements of your life, such as your profession and relationships.
Your dread, concern, or anxiety bothers you and is difficult to manage.
You have anxiety and depression, problems with alcohol or drugs, or other mental health disorders.
You suspect there is a link between your anxiety and a medical problem.
You have suicidal thoughts or behaviors; if this is the case, seek emergency care immediately.

If you do not seek help, your anxieties may not go away on their own and may worsen over time. Consult a medical or mental health professional before your anxiety escalates. If you do, treatment will be easier.