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
Thank you very much for taking your time to write this!! 
This information is really useful!!
My answers to 'Questions to Ponder'
~ I have some anxiety issues. It affects my whole life, my relationships with my loved ones, my health, my school performance, etc. It makes me feel like I have no control in my life and it makes me feel like everybody is abandoning me. I know some people who might have anxiety, but I'm not entirely sure.
~ Hmm, I don't really socialize that much so I don't deal with people's misconception about anxiety
~ I overcomed my fear by facing it and don't overthink about it. Well, sometimes I regret my actions, but there are times that I was ble to overcome it.
~ I am proud of myself for socializing quite well, although my anxiety keeps bothering me.
@EmikoKokoro
Thanks so much and I am glad you really enjoyed it!
I am really proud of you as well for what you have accomplished. Always remember to be proud of yourself and to give yourself credit where credit is due. :)
@Samantharenee
Yeah you're totally right!! I should give myself more credit for my accomplishments XD
@Samantharenee
What a great Honors Project, well done!!! You should be very proud!
What has helped you overcome your fears?
Well I meditate and use mindfulness and I find they really help me a lot.
What is something you are proud of being able to accomplish despite your anxiety?
I have come to terms with most aspects, I think that comes with age and experience but your project mentioned the 25th floor! Oh dear I don't like that idea at all, so maybe I still have work to do and will arrange all meetings to be at a cafe or in the lobby lol!
@MistyMagic
Thanks so much! It is something I have dealt with my entire life so I really wanted to put a lot of effort into it:)
@Samantharenee snd you deal with it by yourself or had some support,? From whom?
I asked you this because sometimes I fell alone dealing with it. And I want to know if it is possible to overcome this by myself
@Joana2308
I've mainly dealt with it by myself as far as the fight against it goes. I have support from my mom who also suffers with the same anxieties as I do, so she's good to talk to when I need someone. I've had a specific phobia with storms as well as with driving for awile now. My storm phobia got to a point that I could not leave the house if there was a single cloud in the sky but after being exposed to storms, I've gotten to the point that I can sit out on my front porch in a major storm and feel okay. I think the most important thing to remember when dealing with anxiety is that not every therapeutic remedy is going to work for everyone. Finding what works for you is important, wether it be counseling or exposure therapy. Everyone is different.
@Samantharenee great to understand this as I suffer from social anxiety
@Samantharenee a wonderful honors project, Samantha
I've had social anxiety for pretty much my whole life, however it really started affecting me about 2 years ago. I used to miss alottt of school and wouldn't really go anywhere with friends etc.
for me, people just think social anxiety is just being shy - which is not the case. For me, I'm not shy at all, however I still struggle with social anxiety.
in the end, it's been CAMHS (a mental health service in Britain) that's helped me overcome my anxiety. More specifically, CBT
Im proud of leaving CAMHS! it's been very difficult for me, but I managed it 
Thanks for the amazing honors project! 
@peacefulHug92
I'm so glad you found support for your anxiety! I felt it to be very important to write this honors project as even though anxiety is a widely known illness, it is also undermined in the severity of it and how difficult it is for the sufferers who have it. Anxiety has become very prevalent in today's world yet there has been very little support for it and little to no understanding of it.
Firstly, thank you for this! I've read some parts which were really helpful however I will have a proper sit down and read through it all when I get some time :)
Do you or someone you know suffer from an anxiety disorder and how does it affect you/them? Yes, I suffer with anxiety. I get an increased heart rate, low self-esteem, and I tend to avoid things where I've felt anxious before.
What are some common misconceptions about anxiety that you have had to deal with? (Example: Anxiety isnt a real illness) Most people just think I'm quiet or shy. Most people think "everyone is in the same boat"
What has helped you overcome your fears? I haven't overcome my fears entirely but medication does help a lot. Challenging myself to do things also helps. Finally, knowing my boundaries.
What is something you are proud of being able to accomplish despite your anxiety? I made a phone call today. I struggle with phone calls but it needed to be done and I did it :)
@Samantharenee
That's very well put together. Yes GAD is most common. I liked the point where you clearly tells difference between fear and phobia with examples. Often people mistake fear for phobia. I want to tell you that now according to DSM-5 OCD and PTSD is not included under anxiety disorder (just in case you don't know). I agree people have anxiety in these disorders too but they are wide that's why separated. But yes they can be called friends of anxiety but not come under anxiety disorder. I liked your project. Very well done❤️
@viola05
Oh wow, I actually did not know that! I do know however that those disorders cause a lot of anxiety due to the stress of the disorder themselves, but that's really good to know that they are not directly related to an anxiety disorder.
@Samantharenee
Yes that's done recently after some researches which tell that in OCD and anxiety different brain parts are affected . That's why and they are big disorders in themselves. Glad to know you're ready to learn new things🙂❤️
@Samantharenee
Samantha... Thanks for your post. Could I ask a question please..
Sometimes..a lot... all depending... It feels like noise is too much, not all noise but like certain people talking or chewing and you almost want to tell them to "stop" it but not so politely... But you can't say that.
Or it feels like you have been over touched and when your kids/family sit on you or touch you it's like not that it physically hurts you but does in some weird way It's hard to explain the feeling, but like you want to not be touched and left alone. Almost like when a lot baby/child has been overstimulated and needs a quiet place to calm. Is that a type of anxiety.
@Avaray
I am not a doctor by any means, but what it sounds like you are describing is called Misophonia, which is a very common issue that people deal with, myself included. If I am asleep and I hear someone eating with their mouth open and making a lot of noises, I will wake up because of it and be in a very irritable mood.
As far as the other thing you go through, I am not sure if there is a name for it or a disorder, but from what I have researched, it could maybe be a side effect of Anxiety. I tend to get very overwhelmed when I have too much interaction with others and will become very stressed out. I do not like being hugged and if someone hugs me, it almost hurts because all my muscles tense up. Another way that I tend to become overcome by Anxiety is I could be speaking with someone and randomly shut down and I become very uncomfortable and need to be alone. It doesn't matter who I am talking to either, it could be my very best friend and it can still happen sometimes. I've never really been able to find much about it, but I do believe it has something to do with Anxiety and just becoming overwhelmed when there's too much stimulation or too much interaction with someone else.
@Samantharenee
Thanks Samantha... It makes sense xx and that shut down thing, being sociable and then the sudden need to withdraw an isolate. My psychologist recons im an introvert, which also makes sense because to " recharge " myself i need to be by myself and find it too overdraining and irritable if i cannot xx
Ive been dealing with anxiety for a while, my social anxiety wasnt too bad until my grandpa died,after I graduated high school and went into my first semester in college, thats when it got severe; Ive had multiple anxiety attacks and I had a few in public; I almost had to be hospitalized because I almost passed out from my hyperventilating and Im trying to get better
@amicableMelon7852
I am so sorry to hear you go through this! When I initially began getting help for my anxiety, my doctor went through with me about certain traumas I may have gone through that could have triggered my phobia as I had always had a fear of storms but about 4 years ago was when it became unbearable to live with. It wasn't there one day and the next, it was a full-blown phobia.
@Samantharenee This is brilliant! Well done 😊
To answer your questions:
1) I have lived with anxiety for 6 years and this affected my outlook on life and how I interpreted situations. It affected my relationships where I became more emotionally distant with my loved ones and it affected my performance at work/school. I also know of someone who has an anxiety disorder and it seems to affect her in the same way as it did with me. However, knowing what she has going through, I try to show more understanding with her situation.
2) Anxiety isn't taken seriously enough because society thinks that anxiety isn't a disorder but people going through a lot of stress. However, with the stress that people go through it eventually becomes a disorder.
3) Engaging more in my hobbies helped me a lot because it allowed to enjoy the things I enjoy doing on days off and made me realise what I can accomplish with these hobbies. My hobbies allowed me to disengage with work and school for the time being. Also diet and exercise did contribute. More particularly, the Mediterranean diet and outdoor exercise had better effects.
4) Despite my anxiety, I am proud that was still able to go to school and eventually graduate and a Bachelors and Honours degree
Hi, I have anxiety and depression and have a really hard time doing much right because I overthink a lot. Am I alone in this?
@Spxcestxrm definitely not, overthinking is a large part of both depression and anxiety 😔
@Spxcestxrm hey! no you aren
@Spxcestxrm Your definitely not alone. I go through the same thing and have trouble doing things I love because I overthink. But trust me, your doing things the best you can and that's all anyone can ever ask. Go at your own pace.
@Spxcestxrm same over here :/ l have trouble sleeping and doing things other people do such as getting into roller coasters. I find roller coasters cool but l over think it :( and l never gotten into one my parents and family members think lm just a pussy but rlly lm just over thinking it