Anxiety and all its Friends

Anxiety and all its Friends

Anxiety is the most common mental illness, affecting 40 million adults, but what is anxiety?

Anxiety can come in many different forms and it can affect everyone differently, depending on what type of anxiety they have. Anyone who suffers with Anxiety are at high risk for depression. According to Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), Nearly one half of those diagnosed with depression are also diagnosed with an Anxiety disorder.
So what are the different types of Anxiety Disorders and how do they affect the person who suffers from them?

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Generalized Anxiety Disorder is one of the most common types of Anxiety Disorders, affecting 6.8 million adults and is more common in females than males. GAD is characterized by persistent and excessive worry about a number of different things including but not limited to money, health, family, work and more.

Generalized anxiety disorder symptoms include:

Restlessness or feeling wound-up or on edge

Being easily fatigued

Difficulty concentrating or having their minds go blank

Irritability

Muscle tension

Difficulty controlling the worry

Sleep problems (difficulty falling or staying asleep or restless, unsatisfying sleep)

Panic Disorder (PD)

About 2-3% of Americans experience panic disorder in a given year and it is twice as common in women than in men. Panic disorder is diagnosed in people who experience spontaneous seemingly out-of-the-blue panic attacks and are very preoccupied with the fear of a recurring attack. Panic attacks occur unexpectedly, sometimes even when waking up from sleep. Panic disorder usually begins in adulthood (after age 20), but children can also have panic disorder and many children experience panic-like symptoms.

Panic disorder symptoms include:

Sudden and repeated attacks of intense fear

Feelings of being out of control during a panic attack

Intense worries about when the next attack will happen

Fear or avoidance of places where panic attacks have occurred in the past

Social Anxiety Disorder

Social anxiety disorder affects approximately 15 million American adults and is the second most commonly diagnosed anxiety disorder following specific phobia. The defining feature of social anxiety disorder, also called social phobia, is intense anxiety or fear of being judged, negatively evaluated, or rejected in a social or performance situation. People with social anxiety disorder may worry about acting or appearing visibly anxious (e.g., blushing, stumbling over words), or being viewed as stupid, awkward, or boring. As a result, they often avoid social or performance situations, and when a situation cannot be avoided, they experience significant anxiety and distress.

Social anxiety disorder symptoms include:

Feeling highly anxious about being with other people and having a hard time talking to them

Feeling very self-conscious in front of other people and worried about feeling humiliated, embarrassed, or rejected, or fearful of offending others

Being very afraid that other people will judge them

Worrying for days or weeks before an event where other people will be

Staying away from places where there are other people

Having a hard time making friends and keeping friends

Blushing, sweating, or trembling around other people

Feeling nauseous or sick to your stomach when other people are around

Specific Phobias

High bridges, new places, or old elevators may make us a bit uneasy or even frightened. We might try to avoid things that make us uncomfortable, but most people generally manage to control their fears and carry out daily activities without incident. While some phobias develop in childhood, most seem to arise unexpectedly, usually during adolescence or early adulthood. Their onset is usually sudden, and they may occur in situations that previously did not cause any discomfort or anxiety. Specific phobias commonly focus on animals, insects, germs, heights, thunder, driving, public transportation, flying, dental or medical procedures, and elevators. Having phobias can disrupt daily routines, limit work efficiency, reduce self-esteem, and place a strain on relationships because people will do whatever they can to avoid the uncomfortable and often-terrifying feelings of phobic anxiety.

Its important to note the difference between everyday anxiety and a phobia:

Everyday Anxiety vs Phobia

Feeling queasy while climbing a tall ladder vs Refusing to attend your best friends wedding because its on the 25th floor of a hotel

Worrying about taking off in an airplane during a lightning storm vs Turning down a big promotion because it involves air travel

Feeling anxious around your neighbors pit bull vs Avoiding visiting your neighbors for fear of seeing a dog

Symptoms of having a specific phobia:

a feeling of imminent danger or doom

the need to escape

heart palpitations

sweating

trembling

shortness of breath or a smothering feeling

a feeling of choking

chest pain or discomfort

nausea or abdominal discomfort

feeling faint, dizzy or lightheaded

a sense of things being unreal, depersonalization

a fear of losing control or going crazy

a fear of dying

tingling sensation

chills or heat flush

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) affects millions of people from all walks of life. People with OCD experiences obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are intrusive and unwanted thoughts, images, or urge that cause distress or anxiety. Compulsions are behaviors that the person feels compelled to perform in order to ease their distress or anxiety or suppress the thoughts. Some of these behaviors are visible actions while others are mental behaviors. Common obsessions include concerns about contamination, cleanliness, aggressive impulses, or the need for symmetry. Common compulsions include checking, washing/cleaning, and arranging. There isnt always a logical connection between obsessions and compulsions

Signs and Symptoms of OCD:

Obsessions are repeated thoughts, urges, or mental images that cause anxiety. Common symptoms include:

Fear of germs or contamination

Unwanted forbidden or taboo thoughts involving sex, religion, and harm

Aggressive thoughts towards others or self

Having things symmetrical or in a perfect order

Compulsions are repetitive behaviors that a person with OCD feels the urge to do in response to an obsessive thought. Common compulsions include:

Excessive cleaning and/or handwashing

Ordering and arranging things in a particular, precise way

Repeatedly checking on things, such as repeatedly checking to see if the door is locked or that the oven is off

Compulsive counting

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a serious potentially debilitating condition that can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a natural disaster, serious accident, terrorist incident, sudden death of a loved one, war, personal assault, or other life-threatening events. Most people who experience such events recover from them, but people with PTSD continue to be severely depressed and anxious for months or even years following the event. 7.7 million Americans age 18 and older have PTSD. Women are twice as likely to develop posttraumatic stress disorder as men, and children can also develop it. PTSD often occurs with depression, substance abuse, or other anxiety disorders

Symptoms of PTSD:

Re-experiencing the trauma through intrusive distressing recollections of the event, flashbacks, and nightmares.

Emotional numbness and avoidance of places, people, and activities that are reminders of the trauma.

Increased arousal such as difficulty sleeping and concentrating, feeling jumpy, and being easily irritated and angered.

The list of symptoms provided for each disorder are brief and can include many different symptoms that one can experience.

Other types of Anxiety Disorders include:

Agoraphobia

Selective mutism

Separation anxiety disorder

Read on to learn more about the co-occurrence of anxiety and these disorders:

Serious, chronic, or terminal illnesses

Eating disorders

Headaches

Health anxiety

Hoarding disorder

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

Sleep disorders

Substance use disorders

Adult ADHD (attention deficit/hyperactive disorder)

BDD (body dysmorphic disorder)

Chronic pain

Fibromyalgia

Although there are many different disorders that can cause anxiety, these are the main most common disorders relating to anxiety itself.

What causes Anxiety?

There are beliefs that anxiety stems from many different factors including genetics, brain chemistry, environmental (relationships, jobs, money, etc), as well as underlying medical conditions such as hyperthyroidism.

Treatments for Anxiety

Treatment can vary depending on the type of Anxiety Disorder you are experiencing. There are many forms of treatment that have helped millions of people cope with their Anxiety. These treatments can include:

Self Treatment such as meditation, stress management, support network such as 7 Cups of tea, and exercises that replace negative thoughts with positive ones.

Another form of treatment is by attending counseling. This can include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), psychotherapy, or a combination of therapies.

One more treatment is by visiting a doctor and having him/her treat the disorder based on your specific needs and prescribing medications.

Please visit the Anxiety Treatment page for more in-depth information on treatment provided by The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

Helping A Family Member Or Friend (Source: NAMI)

Learn about your loved ones triggers, stressors, and symptoms. By being informed and aware, you may help prevent an increase in symptoms. Look for things like rapid breathing, fidgeting or avoidance behaviors. Discuss your friend or family members past experiences with them so they can recognize the signs early as well.

Play a role in treatment. Increasingly, mental health professionals are recommending a couple or family-based treatment programs. And on occasion, a therapist might enlist a loved one to help reinforce behavior modification techniques with homework. Ultimately, the work involved in recovery is the responsibility of the person with the disorder, but you can play an active, supportive role.

Communicate. Speak honestly and kindly. Make specific offers of help and follow through. Tell the person you care about her. Ask how she feels and dont judge her for her anxious thoughts.

Allow time for recovery. Understanding and patience need to be balanced with pushing for progress and your expectations.

React calmly and rationally. Even if your loved one is in a crisis, its important to remain calm. Listen to him and make him feel understood, then take the next step in getting help.

Find out more about taking care of your family member or friend (without forgetting about yourself!).

Sources
Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA)

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Medical News Today

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

Questions to Ponder

Do you or someone you know suffer from an anxiety disorder and how does it affect you/them?

What are some common misconceptions about anxiety that you have had to deal with? (Example: Anxiety isnt a real illness)

What has helped you overcome your fears?

What is something you are proud of being able to accomplish despite your anxiety?