Anxiety is a natural human reaction. And contrary to popular opinion, anxiety can be beneficial because it alerts people to potential dangers and triggers an adrenaline rush that might help them accomplish a task on time.
But as with most things, worrying too much can be counterproductive. These feelings can lead to panic attacks and chronic anxiety that can gradually affect the way a person interacts with other people and normal living conditions.
Anxiety disorders, as psychologists may want to call this condition, can range from something as simple as feelings of discomfort to difficult responses like feelings of fear and claustrophobia. Fortunately, among mental disorders, anxiety disorders are one of the most common and most treatable. A combination of medication and behavioral therapy is often offered. Symptoms of anxiety disorders include rapid heartbeat and palpitations, chest pain and difficulty breathing, thoughts of persistent anxiety even for no apparent reason, dizziness and nausea, sweating, tremors, difficulty concentrating, dreaded thoughts and feelings of confusion and claustrophobia.
Below are the types of anxiety disorders as mentioned in DSM-IV.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder is characterized by excessive but unnecessary anxiety a person can stop having. Although most people will experience these types of emotions every once in a while, the disorder is only found when the emotions last for six months and begin to affect one's work and relationships with other people. Some of the most common symptoms people should be aware of are body reactions such as headaches, tremors, muscle stiffness, sweating, and difficulty sitting or sleeping. There are also symptoms of restlessness and sweating.
Panic disorder is another type of anxiety disorder characterized by sudden sensations that come suddenly without prompt action. Often, people with panic attacks experience chest pains and their heartbeat slows down. Some will also feel lonely and even nauseous. They will find it difficult to breathe and may feel unnecessary fear. While most attacks usually take about a few minutes, there are still some that take about ten minutes or so. The disease is diagnosed when the attack occurs in just four weeks.
We are afraid of many things, but some people are completely irrational with their fears. This fear of things is called phobia. There is a long list of forms of phobia, with a specific name for each object to be feared. A person, for example, who is afraid of open spaces has what psychologists like to call agoraphobia. Phobias are characterized by severe anxiety and even panic attacks when confronted with a frightening object. Many of the symptoms experienced during a panic attack are also felt during phobic episodes.
Post-traumatic stress disorder also falls under the category of anxiety disorders. PTSD, as it is commonly called, is often developed after experiencing, witnessing, or participating in traumatic and frightening events such as death, war, trauma, and other serious conditions. PTSD is characterized by intense anxiety and nightmares. People with PTSD also find it difficult to sleep and concentrate. Often, anxiety attacks are more severe when you are experiencing situations similar to those you have experienced.
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