Anxiety Disorders Symptoms
It's normal to feel anxiety and fear from time moment. But if these feelings become constant and cause problems in your everyday life, you could be suffering from an anxiety disorder.
A medical professional can assist you in locating a treatment that is compatible with your symptoms. This could include anti-anxiety medication, psychotherapy or natural remedies such as exercise, a healthy diet and sleep.
1. Fear and Worry
Every person experiences anxiety and fear at times. It's part of the body's "fight or flight" response to danger. But if the feeling is severe, doesn't disappear, and it interferes with your daily activities it could be an indication of anxiety disorder. Your doctor can diagnose anxiety disorders by having a discussion with you, a physical exam, blood or urine tests, and inquires about your health history. You could also be given questionnaires to fill out to help your doctor determine whether you have a specific anxiety disorder.
Symptoms of anxiety disorders vary according to the kind. People suffering from generalized anxiety disorder, for example are constantly worried and irrationally about everyday situations even though there isn't any real threat. They also have difficulty relaxing or falling to sleep. Other signs include a rapid or racing heart (heart beating) and trembling. They also experience sweating. People with panic disorder have regular moments of intense terror or fear that reach the point of exhaustion in a matter of minutes. They also have difficulties managing their emotions. They often try to avoid certain activities or places to avoid these attacks occurring.
People who have phobias are scared of certain things, such as flying or snakes. Other symptoms could include headaches or difficulty breathing. People suffering from PTSD have anxiety after experiencing or witnessing traumatizing events, such as a war or car crash. They may also experience other symptoms too, like flashbacks and nightmares about the traumatizing incident.
Other forms of anxiety disorders include ocd hoarding disorder, and social anxiety disorder that makes you feel anxious when you are in social situations. You can also experience anxiety over a specific health issue, which is referred to as illness anxiety disorder. Other causes of anxiety include stress and an imbalance in the chemical system of your brain. Some medicines can cause anxiety as a side-effect.
2. Panic Attacks
Everyone is anxious or scared at some point, those suffering from anxiety disorders are prone to recurring sensations of fear and panic that are disproportionate to their circumstances. These feelings can trigger severe physical reactions, including rapid heartbeat as well as a shortness of breath and nausea. They may cause you to feel disoriented or disconnected from reality.
Although anyone can suffer from an anxiety attack, you're more likely to develop this type of mental health condition in childhood, adolescence or early adulthood. There are many factors that can trigger it, such as prolonged or severe stress that causes chemical imbalances in your brain and nervous system. A severe trauma, particularly during adolescence or childhood can also increase the risk of developing anxiety disorders.
Panic attacks can happen without explanation or in response to a specific event that causes you to be afraid for example, being in large numbers of people. They are different from normal anxiety symptoms since they have more intense symptoms, and are often unexpected. Individuals with anxiety disorders may also experience a mix of expected and unanticipated panic attacks.
Therapy and talk therapy are the most commonly used treatments for anxiety and panic attacks. Talking therapies help you manage your anxiety and reduce the irrational thoughts that fuel your anxiety. They can teach you relaxation exercises like deep breathing and mindfulness. Some medications -- especially SSRIs (such as Prozac and Paxil) and SNRIs (such as duloxetine and venlafaxine) can help make anxiety and panic less severe.
It is crucial to see your doctor immediately if you experience recurrent panic attacks. Your doctor will be able to check for any other health conditions that have similar symptoms and recommend other treatments.
3. Insomnia
People who are anxious could have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. This is called insomnia. It can last for an indefinite period of time, or it can last for a long period. Insomnia makes it difficult to get through the day, and can cause serious health issues. It affects women more than men and is more common in older people. It is more common among those with psychiatric disorders.
Many different factors can trigger insomnia. It can be caused by 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 cause it. About half of those suffering from chronic insomnia suffer from a mental illness, the most common being anxiety or depression.
The first thing doctors will do is determine physical causes for the problem. They will ask you questions regarding your medical history, as well as the symptoms that make it difficult to sleep. They will also ask whether you are taking any medication that might affect your sleep. They could also conduct an examination of your sleep to check your breathing and heart rate during the night.
The most effective treatment of insomnia is to use behavioral therapy. It helps you change the negative thoughts that keep you awake. It also teaches ways to unwind before going to sleep. There are many techniques to assist you in relaxing, including progressive muscle relaxation meditation, biofeedback and biofeedback. Your doctor can help you find a therapist to teach you these methods. If you are not responding to behavioural therapies There are a variety of medications that can help improve your sleep. These include benzodiazepines which can be used to relieve symptoms temporarily and can also be used as an antidepressant and anxiety medication.
4. Eating Disorders
An eating disorder is characterized by a preoccupation with body shape, weight and food, as well as eating habits such as restricted eating, binge eating purging (through vomiting or misuse of laxatives) and compulsive exercise. Many people with an eating disorder also suffer from anxiety as do those who suffer from a mental illness that is co-occurring such as depression or bipolar disorder. Together, the two disorders can create a vicious circle where a person's mood problems increase the symptoms of their eating disorder.
There is a strong correlation between anxiety and eating disorder severity. More anxiety symptoms are associated with the disorder. In reality the person suffering from anorexia tends to exhibit high levels of anxiety symptoms and the same applies to those suffering from the disorder of binge eating known as bulimia nervosa. In some instances, anxiety can be the direct reason for an eating disorder. In some cases anxiety can be a supplementary sign of an eating disorder.
In one study, researchers discovered that comorbid anxiety and depression symptoms were significantly related to more severe symptoms of eating disorders among young females. The team of researchers used the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4), a 4-item measure of core depression and anxiety symptoms. They also analyzed the severity of eating disorders and asked participants to rate how they cope with anxiety.
The authors of the study also looked at three aspects that could explain the relationship between eating disorders and anxiety: self-esteem, perfectionionism and mood dysregulation. These factors influenced the relationship between depression/anxiety and eating disorders, but in different ways based on the subgroups. They hope that their findings will result in more precise and specific treatment for eating disorders.
5. Physical ailments that are associated with anxiety
Many people experience feelings of anxiety at some time, but it can become a problem when it's extreme and interferes with daily life. Certain people may also experience physical symptoms such as stomach pain or chest pain in relation to the kind of anxiety they're experiencing.
The appropriate treatment can help people lead more healthy and happier lives. Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is beneficial to many people. A common type is cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). CBT teaches you to recognize and overcome negative thoughts that trigger anxiety and fear. It also teaches how to face your fears and take small steps to overcome them.
Medication can be helpful. Benzodiazepines, such as diazepam or Valium can reduce anxiety and panic attacks. Antidepressants like SSRIs and tricyclic antidepressants can also be prescribed. These medications boost levels of certain brain chemicals that control mood and can be used alone or in conjunction with other treatments for anxiety disorders.
Certain medical conditions can trigger anxiety and may cause the same physical symptoms as those of an anxiety disorder. Head trauma, for instance, can lead to depression and anxiety. Other conditions that can elicit anxiety include chronic pain and fatigue disorders as well as rheumatologic disorders like lupus and some nutritional deficiencies, including iron deficiency.
Certain factors increase the chance of developing an anxiety disorder. These are called risk factors. Some risk factors are genetic, such as the family history or anxiety disorders. Other factors, such as childhood abuse, depression, or other mental disorders, and the accumulation of stress over time can increase the risk of anxiety disorders. This is why it's essential to have an extensive physical exam if you have anxiety.