Anxiety Disorders

If you struggle with an anxiety disorder, you could react with fear and dread to particular things and situations and exhibit physical symptoms of anxiety, such as sweating and a racing heart.

Anxiety is an emotion characterised by feelings of distress, worried thinking, and physical signs such as increased blood pressure. Anxiety disorders may elicit recurring intrusive thoughts or concerns. Individuals struggling with anxiety disorders may avoid certain situations due to anxiety. Physical symptoms may include sweating, quivering, drowsiness, or an increased heart rate.

Anxiety disorders go well beyond the normal nervousness and fear you may experience from time to time. An anxiety disorder develops when:  

  1. Anxiety impairs your ability to function.  
  1. When something triggers your emotions, you frequently overreact.  
  1. You have no control over how you react to situations.  

Symptoms

Physical symptoms:

cold and sweaty limbs. 

Dry mouth

Heart palpitations

Nausea.

Numbness or tingling sensations in the hands or feet.

Muscle tension

Mental symptoms:

Nightmares.

Recurring thoughts or flashbacks of tragic events.

Uncontrollable and compulsive thoughts

Behavioral Symptoms:

Inability to remain calm

Ritualistic habits, such as frequently washing one's hands 

sleeping problems such as struggling to fall or remain asleep.

Common types

Anxiety disorders are classified into several types, including:

  • Generalized anxiety disorders (GAD).
  • Panic disorder.
  • Phobias.
  • Separation anxiety

Anxiety disorders share characteristics with other mental health issues. Post-traumatic stress disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder are two examples.

Prevalence

Prognosis

When to seek help

Treatment

Anxiety disorders can make getting through the day difficult. Fortunately, there are a number of effective treatments available for anxiety disorders.

Psychotherapy can assist you in dealing with your emotional reaction to the condition. A mental health professional walks you through steps for better understanding and managing the disorder. Among the approaches are:

The most frequent kind of psychotherapy for anxiety problems is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). CBT for anxiety trains you to identify cognitive patterns and actions that contribute to distressing feelings. Then you work collaboratively with the therapist on modifying them.

Exposure therapy addresses the concerns that underpin the anxiety condition. It encourages you to participate in activities or situations that you may have avoided previously. Relaxation techniques and visualisation are frequently used in conjunction with exposure treatment