The 5 Types of Anxiety Disorders

 Today, many people face acute anxiety. And, with this said, many people have found significant relief and have even been cured of their anxiety. So, in all cases, there is hope.

This article provides an overview of the 5 different types of anxiety disorders. If you believe you are suffering from anxiety, maybe you will be able to identify which type of anxiety you may be suffering from (this article is in no way a substitute for professional care.)

In the realm of human emotional and physical conditions, there are various problems which are harmful to our well-being. Anxiety is one such condition.

The problem of anxiety is often related to the issue of fear control. In general, our ingrained flight or fight response gets put into high gear, and no longer functions properly. The result is anxiety.

Types of Anxiety Disorders

Generally, there are 5 types of anxiety disorders which are based on psychical and emotional symptoms. Each type of anxiety have their respective characteristic which often need different forms of treatments.

1. One of the common type of anxiety disorder is generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) which is the most common type. It is characterized by long-lasting anxiety leading to continuous stress, worry and chronic depression.

2. Phobias are another type of anxiety. Here a specific situation is likely to cause fear. For example, the fear of enclosed spaces in called claustrophobia.

3. Another type of anxiety disorder is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). It is largely associated with an individual experiencing a certain traumatic event, such as a life threatening situation. The aftermath of the event can bring upon flashbacks, as well as avoidance of any stimuli which reminds an individual of the event.

4. Panic attacks are another form of anxiety. Panic attacks are largely characterized by sudden panic and feelings of dread. Often, an individuals feels as though the may be experiencing a heart attack. Trembling, shaking, sweating and feeling as though one is going crazy are all possible symptoms of a panic attack.

5. Finally, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is also considered an anxiety disorder. The major symptoms of OCD include an individual experiencing intrusive and unwanted thoughts, sometimes of a sexual or aggressive nature. In order to try and avoid, or negate such thoughts (either consciously or unconsciously) a person then begins to engage in rituals (compulsions) which are repeated behaviors such, as is a common example, of washing one's hands over and over again.

The above explanations are broad strokes which outline the types of anxiety disorders. To learn more, I recommend you visit some government website's like the National Institute for Mental Health, which provides extensive free and highly reliable information. The American Psychological Association in another good source of information.

Best,

Adam Lukeman, LMSW

Psychotherapist New York
New York Dynamic Psychology
http://www.mentalhealthnyc.org 
topspeaker@yahoo.com

Panic Disorder Sytmptoms & Treatments

"For me, a panic attack is almost a violent experience. I feel disconnected from reality. I feel like I’m losing control in a very extreme way. My heart pounds really hard, I feel like I can’t get my breath, and there’s an overwhelming feeling that things are crashing in on me.”

--Anonymous

“It started 10 years ago, when I had just graduated from college and started a new job. I was sitting in a business seminar in a hotel and this thing came out of the blue. I felt like I was dying.”

--Anonymous

“In between attacks there is this dread and anxiety that it’s going to happen again. I’m afraid to go back to places where I’ve had an attack. Unless I get help, there soon won’t be anyplace where I can go and feel safe from panic.”

--Anonymous

Panic disorder is a real illness that can be successfully treated. It is characterized by sudden attacks of terror, usually accompanied by a pounding heart, sweatiness, weakness, faintness, or dizziness. During these attacks, people with panic disorder may flush or feel chilled; their hands may tingle or feel numb; and they may experience nausea, chest pain, or smothering sensations. Panic attacks usually produce a sense of unreality, a fear of impending doom, or a fear of losing control.

A fear of one’s own unexplained physical symptoms is also a symptom of panic disorder. People having panic attacks sometimes believe they are having heart attacks, losing their minds, or on the verge of death. They can’t predict when or where an attack will occur, and between episodes many worry intensely and dread the next attack.

Panic attacks can occur at any time, even during sleep. An attack usually peaks within 10 minutes, but some symptoms may last much longer.

Panic disorder affects about 6 million American adults and is twice as common in women as men. Panic attacks often begin in late adolescence or early adulthood, but not everyone who experiences panic attacks will develop panic disorder. Many people have just one attack and never have another. The tendency to develop panic attacks appears to be inherited.

People who have full-blown, repeated panic attacks can become very disabled by their condition and should seek treatment before they start to avoid places or situations where panic attacks have occurred. For example, if a panic attack happened in an elevator, someone with panic disorder may develop a fear of elevators that could affect the choice of a job or an apartment, and restrict where that person can seek medical attention or enjoy entertainment.

Some people’s lives become so restricted that they avoid normal activities, such as grocery shopping or driving. About one-third become housebound or are able to confront a feared situation only when accompanied by a spouse or other trusted person. When the condition progresses this far, it is called agoraphobia, or fear of open spaces.

Early treatment can often prevent agoraphobia, but people with panic disorder may sometimes go from doctor to doctor for years and visit the emergency room repeatedly before someone correctly diagnoses their condition. This is unfortunate, because panic disorder is one of the most treatable of all the anxiety disorders, responding in most cases to certain kinds of medication or certain kinds of cognitive psychotherapy, which help change thinking patterns that lead to fear and anxiety.

Panic disorder is often accompanied by other serious problems, such as depression, drug abuse, or alcoholism. These conditions need to be treated separately. Symptoms of depression include feelings of sadness or hopelessness, changes in appetite or sleep patterns, low energy, and difficulty concentrating. Most people with depression can be effectively treated with antidepressant medications, certain types of psychotherapy, or a combination of the two.

This information is provided by the National Institute of Mental Health

Psychotherapist New York
New York Dynamic Psychology
http://www.mentalhealthnyc.org 
topspeaker@yahoo.com