Do you find yourself worrying all the time? Anxiety is a natural response to stressful or uncertain conditions. It's your body's way of warning you to be attentive and safe.
Anxiety disorders can include persistent concern, fear of danger, a loss of control, difficulties concentrating, and physical restlessness.
Here are five of the most common anxiety disorders:
1. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
GAD is characterized by a pattern of recurrent, persistent worry and anxiety over a wide range of events and activities. GAD is not the same as anxiety caused by your financial condition or a distressing incident in the world. GAD is not caused by a specific circumstance. Even in the greatest of circumstances, GAD affects 6.8 million adults in the United States. For six months or longer, people with GAD experience chronic, excessive, and unjustified anxiety about concerns such as money, health, family, or work. They don't know how to break the cycle of concern, which they believe is out of their hands. Fatigue, restlessness, difficulty sleeping, irritability, and muscle tension are some of the physical symptoms of GAD.
2. Phobias
A phobia is defined as an overwhelming dread of a specific object. When confronted with such objects or occurrences as elevators, funerals, lightning storms, insects, or furry creatures, phobic people become terribly terrified. A social phobia is a persistent dread of being scrutinized by others. A person suffering from social phobia may be afraid of doing or acting in a way that will be humiliating or embarrassing. Only if the conduct interferes with functioning at work or in normal social circumstances, or if the person is clearly affected by the problem, is this diagnosis given.
3. Panic Attacks
Anxiety disorders that are not controlled can result in panic attacks, which are brief bouts of acute dread or discomfort. Panic attacks cause perspiration, shaking, palpitations, choking sensations, chest pain, nausea, dizziness, and dread of losing control all in a short amount of time. There is continuous fear and concern about the attacks, as well as changes in behaviour associated to the episodes, in panic disorder. Women are twice as likely as men to be affected. Individuals who suffer from panic episodes are more likely to suffer from serious depression.
4. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD develops after being exposed to a physically or mentally stressful experience that causes an acute emotional response of fear, helplessness, or horror. Individuals may have intrusive thoughts, mental images, and/or unsettling nightmares as a result of the traumatic event. PTSD interferes with people's daily tasks and demands, interfering with their functioning. To be diagnosed with PTSD, symptoms must have been present for at least one month and the traumatic incident must have caused severe clinical discomfort or impairment in social, occupational, or other key aspects of life. According to studies, roughly 7-8% of Americans have suffered or will develop PTSD.
5. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
OCD is a type of anxiety disorder marked by recurring, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and/or repeated activities (compulsions). Worries, uncertainties, and superstitious beliefs are widespread in the lives of people with OCD. Some people can be meticulous, exact, and appreciate order and cleanliness without having OCD. People with OCD have intrusive and unwelcome thoughts that they can't seem to get out of their heads (obsessions), which often compels them to execute ritualistic activities and routines (compulsions) to try to alleviate their uneasiness. OCD affects around 2.2 million American adults and is often associated with eating disorders, other anxiety disorders, or depression.
Treatment for Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders can be treated well with psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of the two. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of short-term psychotherapy. It focuses on detecting, comprehending, and changing thought and behaviour patterns.
Medication can not treat anxiety disorders, although it can assist manage symptoms while undergoing psychotherapy. Many antidepressant drugs are also beneficial for anxiety problems.
In addition to counselling and medicine, there are six anxiety-reduction strategies you might employ.
1. Determine the source of your concern.
2. Recognize your response.
3. Put your worry in context.
4. Accept responsibility
5. Take a break.
6. Seek assistance.
Determine what is causing you to be concerned. Allow yourself time to process your emotions and acknowledge your fear-based reactions when "what if" thoughts arise. Accept that you cannot control everything, which puts stress into perspective. Accept responsibility by devising a strategy to address the portion of the problem that is under your control. Maybe you can adjust your routine or timetable to feel more in charge of your life. Take a break from your racing thoughts and worries. Take a long, deep breath. Take care of yourself. Eat healthily. Maintain a good mindset and accept comedy. Yoga, music, volunteering, or getting a massage are all good options.
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