Anxiety Disorders Symptoms
Everyone experiences anxiety and fear at times - it's an inherent part of our human condition. If these feelings are constant and interfere with your daily life, then you may have anxiety disorder.
A medical professional can help you find an appropriate treatment that matches your needs. This could include antianxiety medications or psychotherapy as well as natural remedies such as exercise as well as a healthy diet and sleep.
1. Worry and Fear
Every person experiences anxiety and fear at times. It's part of the body's "fight or fight" response to danger. However, if the fear or anxiety is severe, doesn't go away and interferes with your daily activities, you may have an anxiety disorder. Your doctor can diagnose anxiety disorders by speaking with you and performing physical examinations and urine or blood tests and asking about your past health. You might be asked to fill out questionnaires that will help your doctor determine if you suffer from anxiety disorders.
The different types of anxiety disorders have distinct symptoms. For instance, those with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) suffer from persistent excessive and irrational anxiety about their daily routines, even though they know there is no risk. They also have difficulty relaxing or falling asleep. Other signs include a rapid, fluttering or pounding heart (heart palpitations) as well as sweating and trembling. People suffering from panic disorder experience regular episodes of intense feelings of terror or fear that reach a peak within minutes. They also have difficulties controlling their emotions. They avoid certain places and activities to prevent attacks.
People with phobias have very intense fears of certain things, like snakes or flying. Other symptoms could include headaches, or difficulty breathing. People suffering from PTSD have anxiety after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic incident, like a war or car accident. They may experience other symptoms, too, such as flashbacks and nightmares about the traumatic incident.
Other types of anxiety disorders include ocd, hoarding disorder, and social anxiety disorder, which causes you feel anxious in social settings. There's also anxiety related to the specific health issue known as illness anxiety disorder (formerly known as hypochondria). Other causes of anxiety include stress and an imbalance in the chemical system of your brain. Certain medications can trigger anxiety as a side-effect.
2. Panic Attacks
Although everyone is worried or anxious at some point, those with anxiety disorders have recurring sensations of anxiety and fear that are in contrast to their personal circumstances. These feelings can trigger extreme physical reactions such as a racing pulse, breathing problems and nausea. You may also feel detached or numb.
Although anyone can experience panic disorder but it's more common to develop it during childhood, adolescence or in early adulthood. Many factors can cause it, including prolonged or extreme stress that triggers chemical imbalances in the brain and nervous system. Severe trauma, particularly during adolescence or childhood can increase the likelihood of developing anxiety disorders.
Panic attacks can happen without reason or in response to a particular circumstance that makes you feel anxious for example, being in large numbers of people. They are distinct from normal anxiety symptoms in that they exhibit more severe symptoms and are usually unexpected. People suffering from anxiety disorders might also experience a mix of expected and unanticipated panic attacks.
The most common treatments for anxiety and panic attacks include talking therapies and medication. Talking therapies can help you learn to manage your fears and get rid of unfounded beliefs that cause anxiety. They can teach relaxation techniques, like mindfulness and deep breathing. Some medications, such as duloxetine and SNRIs, such as SSRIs and venlafaxine, may help to reduce anxiety and panic.
If you experience a frequent panic attack, it's important to see your doctor and seek immediate treatment. Your doctor will be able to check for other medical conditions that have similar symptoms and suggest other treatments.
3. Insomnia
People who are anxious might have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. This is known as insomnia. This can be a short-term problem or a long-term one. Sleep deprivation can make it difficult to make it through the day and could cause serious health problems. It is more common among women than men and is more prevalent in older people. It is also more prevalent in those with psychiatric issues.
A variety of things can cause insomnia. Many different things can trigger it. Sleep can be affected by illnesses that are temporary like colds or headaches, chronic conditions such as acid reflux, Parkinson's disease, arthritis and medicines. Stressful life situations can also cause it. Around half of those who have chronic insomnia also have a mental health condition that is most often anxiety or depression.
A doctor will first investigate physical causes. They will ask you questions regarding your medical history and the symptoms that make it difficult to sleep. They'll also want to find out if any medications you are taking affect it. They can also conduct a sleep study to observe your heart rate and breathing at night.
The most effective method of treating insomnia is to use behavioral therapy. It helps you to change the negative thinking patterns that are keeping you awake. It also teaches ways to unwind before going to sleep. There are many techniques to aid in relaxation, such as progressive muscle relaxation meditation, biofeedback and biofeedback. The doctor can assist you to find a therapist to teach you these techniques. If you don't respond to behavioral therapy there are many drugs that can help you to sleep better. These include benzodiazepines which can be used to relieve symptoms temporarily and also antidepressant and anxiety medication.
4. Eating Disorders
Eating disorders are characterized by preoccupations about weight, body shape and food and eating habits such as purging, binge eating or vomiting, or the use of laxatives and exercising. Many people with an eating disorder have anxiety. The same holds true for those who also have a mental illness like depression or bipolar disorder. Combined, the two conditions can create a vicious circle where a person's mood problems exacerbate the symptoms of their eating disorder.
There is a strong association between anxiety and eating disorders, with more anxiety-related symptoms being associated with greater severity of the disorder. Anorexia nervosa patients are more likely to suffer from high levels of anxiety symptoms. The same holds true for bulimia, binge-eating disorders, or the condition known as bulimia. In some cases anxiety can be the main cause of an eating disorder. In certain instances anxiety could be a secondary indication of an eating disorder.
In one study, researchers found that depression and anxiety symptoms were significantly related to more severe symptoms of eating disorders in young females. The research team used the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4) as a four-item measure of core depression and anxiety symptoms. They also assessed the severity of an individual's eating disorder and asked participants to rate their coping strategies for anxiety.
The authors of the study also examined three factors that could help explain the relationship between eating disorders and anxiety self-esteem, perfectionism, and mood dysregulation. They found that these factors affected the relationship between depression and anxiety symptoms and eating disorder symptomatology and did differently for different subgroups of the sample. They hope the findings will enable more precise and specific treatment for eating disorders.
5. Physical conditions that are a result of anxiety
A majority of people suffer from anxiety at some time in their lives, but it could turn into a disorder if it is severe and interferes daily life. Certain people may be experiencing physical symptoms, such as chest pain or stomach discomfort, depending on what type of anxiety they are experiencing.
Finding the right treatment for anxiety disorders can help people feel better and live happier lives. Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, can help many people. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a very common type. CBT helps you recognize and alter negative thoughts that trigger anxiety and anxiety. It also teaches how to face your fears and take small steps to overcome them.
The use of medication can be beneficial. Benzodiazepines such as diazepam and Valium can help ease anxiety or panic attacks. Antidepressants such as SSRIs and tricyclic antidepressants are also prescribed. These drugs are used to treat anxiety disorders by themselves or together with other treatments.
Certain medical conditions can trigger anxiety and can cause physical symptoms as those of an anxiety disorder. Traumas to the head can trigger depression and anxiety for instance. Other conditions that can trigger anxiety include chronic fatigue and chronic pain; some rheumatologic diseases like lupus and a variety of nutritional deficiencies, including iron deficiency.
Certain factors increase the likelihood of developing an anxiety disorder. These are called risk factors. Some are genetic, like a family history of anxiety disorders. Other factors such as childhood abuse, depression or other mental disorders, as well as an accumulation of stress for a long time can increase the risk of suffering from anxiety disorders. For these reasons, it's important to get an accurate physical exam if you suspect you have anxiety.