Anxiety Disorders Symptoms
Everyone feels anxiety and fear at times. It’s a natural part of being human. But when these feelings persist and interfere with the daily routine, you could have an anxiety disorder.
A medical professional can help you find an appropriate treatment that matches your symptoms. This can include anti-anxiety medication, psychotherapy or natural remedies for anxiety disorder remedies like exercise, a healthy diet and sleep.
1. Worry and Fear
Every person feels anxiety and fear from time to time. It’s normal to experience our body’s “fight-or-flight” response to danger. If the feeling is extreme, doesn’t go away and interferes with your daily life you could be suffering from an anxiety disorder. Your doctor can diagnose anxiety disorders through a chat with you, a physical exam and urine or blood tests, and inquiries regarding your past health. You could also be asked to complete questionnaires that help your doctor determine if you have an anxiety disorder.
The symptoms of anxiety disorders can vary according to the kind. For example, people with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) suffer from persistent, excessive and irrational worry about everyday situations even when they are aware of no danger. They also have difficulty sleeping or relaxing. Other signs include a rapid or fluttering heart (heart pounding), trembling, and sweating. People suffering from panic disorder experience frequent moments of intense terror or fear that reach the point of exhaustion in a matter of minutes. They also have difficulties managing their emotions. They avoid certain places and activities to prevent attacks.
People who suffer from phobias have strong fears about certain things, such as snakes or flying. Other symptoms may include headaches, or difficulty breathing. People suffering from PTSD have anxiety after witnessing or experiencing an event that is traumatic like the aftermath of a car crash or war. They may experience other symptoms too, like nightmares and flashbacks of the traumatizing event.
Other anxiety disorders include the ocd (obsessive compulsive disorder) as well as hoarding disorder and social anxiety disorder. These disorders make you feel anxious in social situations. You may also experience anxiety over a specific health issue, which is referred to as illness anxiety disorder. Other causes of anxiety include stress and a chemical imbalance in your brain. Certain medications can trigger anxiety as a side effect.
2. Panic Attacks
Everyone is worried or anxious at some point, people suffering from anxiety disorders are prone to recurring sensations of anxiety and fear that are in contrast to their personal circumstances. These feelings can trigger extreme physical reactions, such as a racing pulse, breathlessness, and nausea. You might also feel disengaged or unreal.
Although anyone can experience a panic disorder however, it is more common to experience it in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood. It is caused by a variety of factors, including severe or prolonged stress that causes an imbalance in the chemical system of your nervous system and brain. A severe trauma, particularly during childhood or adolescence, can also increase your risk of developing an anxiety disorder.
Panic attacks can occur for no apparent reason or in response to a specific event that causes you to be afraid for example, being in a large crowd. They are different from normal anxiety symptoms because they exhibit more severe symptoms and are often unavoidable. Individuals with anxiety disorders may also experience a mix of expected and unanticipated panic attacks.
Talking therapies and medication are the most popular treatments for anxiety and panic attacks. Talking therapies can help you manage your anxiety and help you eliminate the irrational thoughts that fuel your anxiety. They can teach relaxation exercises like deep breathing and mindfulness. Some medications — especially SSRIs (such as Prozac and Paxil) and SNRIs (such as duloxetine and venlafaxine) — can make your anxiety and panic less intense.
If you have a recurrent panic attack, you need to consult with your doctor and seek treatment immediately. Your doctor will determine whether you have other health conditions that cause similar symptoms and recommend other treatments.
3. Insomnia
People who are anxious may be unable to fall asleep or staying asleep. This is known as insomnia. It can last for a short time or it may last for a long time. Insomnia can make it difficult to function during the day and can cause serious health problems. It is more prevalent in older adults and affects more women than men. It is more prevalent among those with psychiatric disorders.
Insomnia can be caused by a myriad of different things. It can be caused by temporary illnesses like headaches or colds; chronic ailments such as arthritis, acid reflux or Parkinson’s disease, and medication can all affect your sleep. Stressful life circumstances can also contribute to it. Around half of people suffering from chronic insomnia suffer from mental illness, the most common being depression or anxiety.
A doctor will first determine physical causes. They will review your medical history and ask about the symptoms making it harder to sleep. They will also inquire whether you are taking any medications that may be affecting your sleep. They can also conduct a sleep study to monitor your breathing and heart rate at night.
Behavioral therapy is the most effective treatment for insomnia. It helps you change the negative thoughts that keep you awake. It also teaches you ways to unwind before you go to bed. There are a myriad of methods to help you relax, including progressive muscle relaxation, meditation, biofeedback, and biofeedback. The doctor can assist you to locate a therapist who can teach you these methods. If you find that behavioral therapy does not work then you can try a variety of drugs to assist you in sleeping better. These include benzodiazepines which can be used to ease symptoms temporarily and also antidepressant and anxiety medication.
4. Eating Disorders
An eating disorder is characterized by a preoccupation with body shape, weight and food, as well as eating habits such as restrictive eating, binge eating purging (through vomiting or misuse of laxatives) and excessive exercise. Many people with an eating disorder suffer from anxiety. The same holds applicable to those who have a mental illness like bipolar disorder or depression. The two conditions can create an unhealthy cycle where eating disorder symptoms are made worse by a person’s mood issues.
There is a strong connection between anxiety and eating disorders, with greater levels of anxiety symptoms being linked to greater severity of the disorder. Anorexia nervosa sufferers are more likely to suffer from high levels of anxiety-related symptoms. The same holds true for bulimia, binge-eating disorders or the condition known as bulimia. In some cases, anxiety can be the direct cause of an eating disorder. In some cases, anxiety may be a indicator of an eating disorder.
Researchers discovered that the presence of anxiety and depression comorbid symptoms was significantly related to more severe eating disorders among young females. The research team used a 4-item measure called the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 that evaluates the symptoms of anxiety and depression. They also evaluated the severity of eating disorders, and asked participants to rate their ability to deal with anxiety.
The study’s authors also examined three factors that could aid in understanding the relationship between anxiety and eating disorders self-esteem, perfectionism, and mood dysregulation. These factors may have influenced the relationship between depression and anxiety as well as eating disorder symptoms however in different ways depending on the subgroups. They hope that their findings will help them develop more precise and focused treatment of eating disorders.
5. Anxiety-Related Physical Conditions
Many people experience feelings of anxiety at one point in time, but it can become an illness when it becomes severe and interferes with daily life. Some sufferers also experience physical symptoms, like stomach pain or chest pain, depending on the type of anxiety disorders ocd they suffer from.
The right treatment can help people lead happier and healthier lives. Many people benefit from psychotherapy or talk therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a very common type. CBT helps you recognize and change negative thoughts which trigger anxiety and fear. It also teaches you to face the things that scare you and overcome your fears with small steps.
The use of medication can be beneficial. Benzodiazepines like diazepam or Valium can reduce anxiety and panic attacks. Antidepressants, such as SSRIs or tricyclic antidepressants may also be prescribed. These medications are used to treat anxiety disorders alone or in conjunction with other treatments.
Medical conditions can cause anxiety and can have the same symptoms as anxiety disorders. Traumas to the head can trigger anxiety disorder symptoms and depression for instance. Other conditions that can cause anxiety include chronic pain, fatigue disorders as well as rheumatologic diseases like Lupus, and a few nutritional deficiencies.
Certain circumstances make someone more likely to develop anxiety disorders. These are known as risk factors. Some are genetic, such as an ancestral history of anxiety disorders. Other factors, such as sexual abuse in childhood or an underlying depression history or other mental health issues and the accumulation of stress over a long time, may increase the risk for anxiety disorders. This is why it is essential to undergo an accurate physical exam if you think you are suffering from anxiety.
