Anxiety Disorders Symptoms
It's normal to experience anxiety and apprehension from time to the time. However, when these feelings are persistent and interfere with daily life, you may suffer from an anxiety disorder.
A medical professional can assist you in locating a treatment that will address your symptoms. This may include antianxiety or psychotherapy as well as natural remedies like exercise and a healthy diet and sleep.
1. Worry and Fear
Everyone experiences anxiety and fears at times. It's part of the body's "fight or flight" response to danger. If the anxiety is severe and doesn't go away or is interfering with daily life it could be a sign that you have anxiety disorder. Your doctor can determine whether you suffer from anxiety disorders by speaking with you and performing a physical exam and urine or blood tests, and examining your past health. You could be asked to complete questionnaires that will aid your doctor in determining if you suffer from anxiety disorders.
The different types of anxiety disorders have distinct symptoms. For instance, people suffering from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) suffer from persistent excessive and irrational anxiety about their daily routines even though they are aware that there is no risk. They also have trouble sleeping or relaxing. Other symptoms include a fast heartbeat, fluttering or pounding (heart palpitations) as well as sweating and trembling. People suffering from panic disorder experience repeated episodes of intense feelings of terror or fear that reach an extreme within minutes, and they experience difficulties managing their emotions. They tend to avoid certain activities or places to avoid these attacks happening.
People who have phobias have intense fears of certain things, such as snakes or flying. Other symptoms may include headaches or difficulty breathing. People with PTSD experience anxiety when they witness or experience traumatizing events, such as a war or car crash. They may also experience other symptoms, too, including flashbacks and nightmares of the traumatic event.
Other forms of anxiety disorders include ocd hoarding disorder and social anxiety disorder that makes you feel anxious in social situations. You may also experience anxiety due to a specific health issue, which is known as illness anxiety disorder. Stress and chemical imbalances can cause anxiety. Some medicines can cause anxiety as a side effect.
2. Panic Attacks
Individuals with anxiety disorders experience recurring feelings of extreme anxiety and fear that are out of proportion to their circumstances. These feelings can cause severe physical reactions like an intense pulse, a breathlessness, and nausea. You might also feel disengaged or unreal.
Although anyone can experience panic disorder, it's more common to experience it during childhood, adolescence or in early adulthood. Many factors can cause it, including prolonged or severe stress that causes chemical imbalances in your nervous system and brain. A severe trauma, particularly in the adolescent years can also increase your risk of developing anxiety disorders.
Panic attacks can occur for no apparent reason or in response to a particular event that causes you to be afraid for example, being in large numbers of people. They are distinct from the usual feelings of anxiety because they are more intense symptoms and are usually unexpected. People suffering from anxiety disorders might also experience a mix of panic attacks that are unanticipated and anticipated attacks.
Talking therapies and medication are the most popular treatments for panic attacks and anxiety. Therapy sessions can help you control your anxiety and help you eliminate the irrational thoughts that fuel your anxiety. They can also help you learn to relax through exercises like deep breathing and mindfulness. Certain medications, particularly SSRIs (such as Prozac and Paxil) and SNRIs (such as duloxetine and venlafaxine) can help make anxiety and anxiety less severe.
If you have a recurrent panic attack, it's important to consult your doctor and seek immediate treatment. Your doctor can check for other medical illnesses that share similar symptoms, and may recommend alternative treatments.
3. Insomnia
When people are stressed they may have difficulty sleeping or staying asleep at night. This is known as insomnia. It can last for an indefinite period of time, or it may last for a long time. Insomnia can make it difficult to get through the day and may cause serious health problems. It is more common among women than men and is more prevalent in older people. It is more common among those with psychiatric disorders.
Insomnia can be caused by a myriad of different causes. Sleep can be affected by illnesses that are temporary such as colds or headaches and chronic conditions like acid reflux, Parkinson's disease, arthritis and medications. Stressful life situations could also be the cause. Around half of people who have chronic insomnia also suffer from mental health issues which is usually depression or anxiety.
The first thing a doctor will do is look for physical causes for the problem. They will ask you questions about your medical history, as well as the symptoms that make it difficult to sleep. They will also want to be aware of whether any medications you are taking are affecting it. They may also conduct a sleep study so they can monitor your heart rate and breathing at night.
Behavioral therapy is the most effective treatment for insomnia. It helps you overcome the negative thoughts that keep you awake. It also shows you how to sleep more peacefully before you go to bed. There are methods for doing this, like biofeedback, progressive muscle relaxation and meditation. Your doctor can assist you to locate a therapist that can teach you the techniques. If you don't respond to behavioral therapy, there are several medications that can help get better sleep. They include benzodiazepines, that are employed for short-term relief of symptoms, and antianxiety or antidepressant medication.
4. Eating Disorders
Eating disorders involve preoccupations with body shape, weight and food as well as eating behaviors like restricted eating, binge eating, purging (through vomiting or laxative misuse) and obsessive exercise. Many people who suffer from an eating disorder experience anxiety. The same is applicable to those who have a mental illness like depression or bipolar disorder. The two conditions can result in an unhealthy cycle in which the eating disorder symptoms are further aggravated by the person's mood disorders.
There is a strong link between anxiety and eating disorders as higher levels of anxiety symptoms being associated with greater severity of the disorder. In reality the person suffering from anorexia nervosa tends to endorse high levels of anxiety symptoms and the same is true for those with an eating disorder called bulimia, also known as binge eating disorder. In certain cases, anxiety may be the direct reason behind an eating disorder. In other instances, it could be a secondary manifestation of an eating disorder.
In one study, researchers discovered that comorbid anxiety and depression symptoms were significantly related to more severe symptomatology of eating disorders in young females. The research team used a 4-item measure called the Patient Health Questionnaire-4, which evaluates the symptoms of anxiety and depression. They also assessed the extent of an eating disorder, and asked participants to rate their ability to manage anxiety.
The authors of the study also analyzed three variables that could be a reason for the connection between anxiety and eating disorders self-esteem, perfectionism, and mood dysregulation. They found that these three factors affected the relationship between depression and anxiety symptoms and eating disorder symptomatology and did so in different ways for different subgroups of the sample. They hope that their findings will allow them to develop more precise and focused treatment of eating disorders.
5. Physical Conditions that are a result of anxiety
Most people have feelings of anxiety at some time, but it becomes a disorder when it's severe and causes problems with daily living. Certain people also experience specific physical symptoms, such as chest pain or stomach upset in response to the kind of anxiety they experience.
Finding the right treatment for anxiety disorders can make people feel better and live happier lives. Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, can help many people. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a very common type. CBT helps you recognize and overcome negative thoughts that trigger anxiety and anxiety. It also helps you confront the fears that make you anxious and conquer your fears in small steps.
Medication can be helpful. Benzodiazepines, such as diazepam or Valium can reduce anxiety and panic attacks. Antidepressants, like tricyclic antidepressants or SSRIs, can also be prescribed. These medications are used to treat anxiety disorders alone or in conjunction with other treatments.
Certain medical conditions can trigger anxiety and may have the same symptoms as anxiety disorders. Head trauma can trigger anxiety and depression for instance. Other conditions that can elicit anxiety include chronic fatigue and pain and rheumatologic conditions like lupus and a few nutritional deficiencies, such as iron deficiency.
Certain factors increase the likelihood of developing an anxiety disorder. These are called risk factors. Some are genetic, for example, the family history of anxiety disorders. Other factors like childhood abuse, depression or other mental disorders, and an accumulation of stress for a long time can increase the risk of anxiety disorders. Because of this, it's important to get an extensive physical exam if you think you suffer from anxiety.