Anxiety: Symptoms, Types, Causes and Treatment Options

Anxiety

Many a time, people worry about things such as health, job, study, exam or household problems, which is known as anxiety. It is a normal emotion for humans to react to stressful conditions. Once in a while, you will face such anxiety in your lifetime. Anxiety is a common problem, but the persistence of anxiety leads to anxiety disorders that are detrimental to your quality of life. Now, you will discover what anxiety disorder is and how it is different from anxiety. 

Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety disorders are different from normal anxiety. This illness involves more than temporary worry or fear. These are a group of psychological disorders that cause persistent and excessive fear and anxiety. Anxiety disorders can make you get out of school, work, get-togethers and other social gatherings that might worsen your symptoms. Keep reading to learn more about the types, symptoms, causes and treatment options for anxiety disorders.

Types of Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders can be classified into 7 types: However, people can have one or more disorders at a time.

Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

GAD involves excessive, exaggerated and long-lasting worries and anxiety about day-to-day life events for no specific reason. This is one of the most common types of anxiety disorder.

Symptoms for this type include the following:

• Comprehending circumstances as more frightening than they are
• Difficult to control negative sentiments
• Having difficulty concentrating, irritation, nervousness, overthinking, etc
• Having sleep problems
• Fatigue and exhaustion
• Fast heartbeat

Panic Disorder

It involves recurring episodes of intense fear and anxiety that usually trigger severe physical reactions (panic attacks). This scary disorder might make you think you are losing control or even dying. These attacks are not life-threatening, but they can negatively affect your quality of life.

Symptoms for this type include the following:

• An unexpected period of intense fear
• Shortness of breath, sweating, palpitations and chest pain
• Shivering or tingling
• Feelings of being out of control

Social Anxiety Disorder 

It involves severe and persistent anxiety, fear and self-consciousness of being judged or

viewed negatively by others. People with these disorders may prefer to stay away from

social situations.

Symptoms for this type include the following:

• Sweating, shivering and feeling nauseous
• Faster heartbeat
• Speaking with an excessively soft voice
• Difficulty making eye contact

Phobia-Linked Disorders

Phobias mean an extreme fear of specific situations( flying, height or blood), animals

(cockroaches, spiders, rats or snails) or objects used in day-to-day life. A person with a

phobia might accept anxiety as illogical but not have control over his feelings.

Separation Anxiety Disorder

This type of anxiety disorder occurs owing to the separation from a person or place that offers feelings of security or safety. Although this typically affects people of all ages, it is frequently found in young children.

Agoraphobia 

It involves anxiety and frequently leads to avoidance of places or situations that are

responsible for making you panic and feel helpless or uncomfortable. For example, you may feel anxious when you stand in a crowded place, you are in an aeroplane, you are outside of the home alone or you are in a closed place.

Substance-Induced Anxiety Disorder

This is characterised by signs of extreme anxiety brought on by drug abuse, medication use, exposure to toxic substances or drug withdrawal.

Causes of Anxiety Disorders

The specific causes of anxiety disorders are not known. However, it is expected that a combination of factors plays a role.

Possible causes for anxiety disorder are as follows:

• Genetics
• Negative life or environmental condition
• Experience with trauma
• Shyness or feeling of nervousness since childhood
• Medical factors, such as symptoms of ailments or side effects of medication

Treatment Options For Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders are curable. Several people having an anxiety disorder can be treated

easily with professional care. There are mainly two primary treatments for anxiety disorders—psychotherapy and medications. Sometimes a combination of the two is also recommended. Additionally, you can exploit other management options as discussed below.

Psychotherapy (Talk Therapy)

Counselling with a qualified mental health professional is carried out in psychotherapy. This helps you understand your symptoms and behaviour and make management recommendations for your anxiety disorder.

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is the most common type of psychotherapy. Here, you get to know how you can carefully handle fearful or troublesome circumstances without anxiety.

Medication

Depending on the type and severity of the anxiety disorder and considering your medical history, your physician recommends medications. Generally, antianxiety and antidepressant medications are prescribed for this disorder. Occasionally, doctors prescribe medications, such as sedatives, for short-term relief of anxiety symptoms. Remember that these medications are not intended for long-term therapy.

Complementary and Alternative Therapy 

Physical exercise, meditation, yoga, acupuncture and stress management techniques are the most useful alternative methods by which you can manage your ailment.

Lifestyle Modification

Avoid drinking alcohol, caffeinated beverages (both nicotine and caffeine) and smoking as they can worsen the situation. Sleeping for a minimum of 8 hours and a healthy diet may help.

Coping Strategy and Support

Positive coping with the situation can help to come out from this negative situation. Learn

about your symptoms and discuss them with your doctor. Talk with your family and friends

for effective solutions and support. Furthermore, support groups are available in which you can share your concerns and experiences with other people suffering from the same problem. 

Life becomes challenging and disappointing if we have to live with an anxiety disorder. The constant and exaggerated worry can make you feel scared. But be assured, anxiety disorder is treatable. By opting for the right management technique and care from your loved one, you can overcome this situation efficiently.

Here at Metropolis Healthcare, you can find the perfect solution to your problem with experienced pathologists. It is one of the top most listed pathology labs and diagnostic centres and has a worldwide network. It offers an accessible stay-at-home blood collection service, online tracking of samples and a report-downloading facility.