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:
Read on to learn more about the co-occurrence of anxiety and these disorders:
Serious, chronic, or terminal illnesses
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Adult ADHD (attention deficit/hyperactive disorder)
BDD (body dysmorphic disorder)
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)
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?
@Samantharenee
I think you just wrote my biography LOL. I have IBS, former anorexia and now orthorexia, insomnia, OCD in counting and handwashing (I have to wash them for 48 seconds, have precisely 48 pistachios for lunch, the same lunch every day or I can't function), I have to prepare my food in a certain corner of the kitchen because it just "feels" right, every description of general and social anxiety, PTSD.
My mom just rolls her eyes and tells me to "get over it", "you're fine", "it's all in your head", "snap out of it" and she's not sensitive to the chaos inside of me.
I haven't overcome anything, but ASMR helps me relax.
I'm happy that I've been able to eat and enjoy a birthday cake for the first time in 2 years without feeling guilty or regretting it. I can really appreciate how delicious it is while still eating mindfully and exercising and to my surprise and wonder, neither the scale nor my waistline have been affected. If anything, the extra carbs boosted my endurance in my squat workout routine and I feel better about my body image.
Do you or someone you know suffer from an anxiety disorder and how does it affect you/them?
I struggle with Social Anxiety and Generalize Anxiety disorders. It affects me in a lot of ways honestly. I don't really like going out, eating out, or being around a lot of people because of my anxiety. I stop myself from doing things that really excite me like going to the beach, taking hikes, going on scary amusement rides because my anxiety pulls me away from things that make me nervous. I sometimes feel I have to put my true self on hold or aside because of my anxiety.
What are some common misconceptions about anxiety that you have had to deal with? (Example: Anxiety isnt a real illness)
I sometimes am too anxious to pay for things on my own so I have had people call me lazy because I didn't want to go into the store to buy something. I have had people my whole life call me things like "baby, wuss, scaredy pants" because i'm too anxious to do things.
What has helped you overcome your fears?
I do a lot of deep breathing. And I also have worked with my therapist to do a lot of exposure therapy.
What is something you are proud of being able to accomplish despite your anxiety?
Despite my anxiety, I am able to go shopping by myself.
@Samantharenee
I suffer from OCD and social anxiety, which leads to depression when I am critizised or reprimanded by my mother. One misconception is fro my mother who says I'm being weird and that I am a germaphobe. Not much, since my family critizize me for many of my "quirks", so I have to hide them. Something that I am proud of is that I have a job and that I have more friends like me.
