Understanding Anxiety Disorders
If your worries are keeping you from making it through your day, you may have an
anxiety disorder.
Yes, we all worry. But when worrying interferes with your job, your health, or
your well-being, you may have an anxiety disorder. An anxiety disorder can cause
physical symptoms, such as headaches and insomnia and keep you from being able
to function well in your daily life.
"Anxiety is not only present in all people some of the time; anxiety in some
form or another is present in all people a lot of the time," said Charles
Goodstein, MD, a clinical professor of psychiatry at New York University Lang
one Medical Center. "It's often under the radar, it's not detected, it's
unconscious. Anxiety is part of life. What makes a disorder is when people have
anxiety that mounts to such an intensity that they're no longer able to cope
with it. We all devise methods, unconscious and conscious, to deal with it, and
therefore we don’t perceive it to be agonizing. Some people don't have those
measures."
Anxiety Disorders: Understanding the Nuances
Anxiety disorders are diagnosed by specific type:
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). People with this type of anxiety disorder
feel constantly anxious and worried. Often, there's no specific problem that
provokes people with GAD to worry, but even so, they remain anxious. This type
of extreme, daily worrying must continue for at least six months to warrant a
GAD diagnosis. Anyone can develop GAD, but more women deal with this anxiety
disorder than men. The condition is usually treated with medication,
cognitive-behavioral therapy (structured therapy to learn how to recognize and
cope with fears), or a combination of both methods.
Social anxiety disorder (social phobia). People with social phobia become
anxious and stressed in social situations — anything from speaking in public in
front of large crowds to dining out with just a few friends. These people dread
social situations because of a fear of judgment and embarrassment. Women and men
are equally likely to experience social anxiety disorder, but it's thought that
some people may be genetically predisposed to the condition. This type of
anxiety disorder can also be treated with therapy, medications, or both.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). People with OCD obsess about certain
thoughts or concerns, like something bad happening to a loved one, and create a
particular routine to cope with these obsessions. Repetitive behavior, like
checking and re-checking an alarm clock or locks on doors, and strict routines,
like having to get dressed a certain way or put things away in a particular
order, are signs of OCD. Men, women, and children can all develop OCD.
Medications and psychotherapy that involves dealing with specific fears and
anxieties can help treat the disorder.
Panic disorder. People with panic disorder suddenly experience intense episodes
of anxiety accompanied by severe physical symptoms. During a panic attack,
people may think they are having a heart attack or are about to die. Physical
symptoms may include profound shortness of breath, palpitations, chest pain,
sweating, and dizziness. These panic attacks occur out of the blue, anywhere,
and at any time. Anyone can develop panic disorder, but it is much more common
in women than men. Panic disorder can be effectively managed with medications,
cognitive therapy, or a combination.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This disorder occurs in people who have
experienced or witnessed a violent or traumatic event, including war crimes,
rape, car accidents, and natural disasters. People with PTSD often experience
flashbacks to the frightening event in their past. This may lead them to avoid
people and situations that make them think of the event. They often feel on edge
and may be easily startled as a result. PTSD can be treated with therapy that
encourages people to talk through their experience, medications, or a
combination of both.
It's normal to worry and to sometimes feel stressed. But if your anxiety level
is taking over your life, it's time to seek medical help to get it under
control. Anxiety disorders can be managed effectively, as long as you recognize
the symptoms and get the right treatment.