About Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders are among the more common health disorders experienced nationwide. Though anxiety is a usual reaction to a number of situations in life, those with an anxiety disorder will experience emotions of fear, anxiety and panic that can severely disrupt their lives. When this occurs, the sooner treatment is found the better. Some of the most common anxiety disorders and their symptoms include the following:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
This condition takes place when a patient experiences tension and fear for no apparent reason. Someone with Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) may be consistently bothered by family dilemmas, concerns about money or other such occurrences even when there is no reason to worry. Stressful life events may cause the likelihood of these signs to increase.
A person with panic disorder will often experience panic disorders spontaneously for no apparent reasons. Around six million American experience this disorder each year. When someone experiences a panic attack they will encounter a range of symptoms including an increased heart rate, increased sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, nausea, feeling faint, numbness and other symptoms.
Social Anxiety Disorder
Social anxiety disorder is also known as a social phobia. Those with this disorder will be hesitant to interact with others in a social environment or will experience extreme anxiety when in a social situation. Many often become worried they will be the focus of ridicule at the hands of others. These people often have few close connections with others as a result of their condition. The symptoms may also get in the way of treatment with a professional.
A phobia is a particular fear of an object or situation that causes alarm or panic for an individual. Some may have a fear of traveling by airplane, of heights, of spiders etc. People with a specific phobia or phobias will often avoid the object of their fear even if it is to the detriment of their daily life.
Obsessive compulsive disorder
People with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) are faced with frequent upsetting thoughts, obsessions and the need to repeat certain rituals or behaviors, known as compulsions. For example, individuals may have obsessions about dirt or germs leading to a compulsion to constantly wash their hands. According to other obsessive thoughts people with OCD may repeated check things, touch things, count things and so on to assuage the anxiety caused by their thoughts. The thoughts and rituals that come with OCD interfere with a person’s daily life and can be distressing but those with this disorder are unable to stop without suffering severe anxiety.
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD is triggered when a person experiences a traumatic event. This can range from a car crash to abuse or any situation in which an individual’s life was put in danger. After experiencing a traumatic event many people may have trouble coping and processing through said event, normally leading to the development of PTSD. Those dealing with PTSD will sometimes flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety.
Finding help for anxiety disorders
While an anxiety disorder can be a serious issue that can take over someone’s life, there is help available for those looking to gain control of this mental health disorder. Treatment programs are available for those with anxiety disorders that will determine the best approach to treatment based on the needs of the individual.
One form of therapy that has been shown to be repeatedly effective in helping with anxiety disorders is cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT. This allows the individual with anxiety to learn new behaviors and thought processes that help them better manage the symptoms. Treatment may also include other forms of psychotherapy to teach the individual how to better handle their symptoms. Anti-anxiety and antidepressant medication may also be used as a part of a recovery regimen.
Whatever treatment program works best for you, we can find it. The Texas Mental Health Helpline is a wonderful resource for those looking for information and treatment for mental health disorders. If you or a loved one is in need of help with a mental illness please don’t hesitate to call us at any time. Get started on your recovery today.