Anxiety
disorders are the most common psychiatric
illness and affect both children and
adults.
They
develop from an interaction of numerous
risk factors, including personality,
genetics, brain chemistry, and life
stress. Approximately 19 million adult
Americans suffer from anxiety disorders.
Anxiety disorders are highly treatable,
yet only about one-third of those
suffering from them receive treatment.
The
main feature of Generalized Anxiety
Disorder is excessive, unrealistic
and uncontrollable worry about everyday
events.
This
constant worry affects daily functioning
and brings physical symptoms. GAD
can occur with other anxiety disorders,
depressive disorders, or substance
abuse.
It
can be misdiagnosed because it lacks
some of the dramatic symptoms, such
as unprovoked attacks of panic, that
are seen with other anxiety disorders.
For a diagnosis to be made, uncontrollable
worrying occur more days than not
for at least 6 months.
The
focus of GAD is fluid, shifting unpredictably
from job issues, finances, health
of both self and family, and smaller
issues such as chores, car repairs
and being late for appointments.
The
intensity, duration and frequency
of the worry are disproportionate
to the issue and interferes with the
sufferer's daily life. Physical symptoms
can include muscle tension, sweating,
gastrointestinal symptoms such as
diarrhea and/or nausea, cold and clammy
palms, the feeling of having a "lump
in the throat" and difficulty
swallowing.
Sufferers
are irritable and complain about feeling
on edge, tire easily tired and have
trouble sleeping.
Obsessive-Compulsive
Disorder is characterized by persistent,
recurring thoughts (obsessions) that
reflect exaggerated anxiety or fears;
typical obsessions include worry about
being contaminated or fears of behaving
improperly or acting violently.
The
obsessions may cause the individual
to perform a rituals or routines to
relieve the anxiety, such as excessive
handwashing, checking appliances,
repeating phrases or hoarding.
People
with Panic Disorder suffer severe
acute attacks of panic for no apparant
reason, which may mimic the symptoms
of a heart attack or cause them to
feel they are losing their minds.
Symptoms
include heart palpitations, chest
pain or discomfort, sweating, trembling,
tingling sensations, feeling of choking,
fear of dying, fear of losing control,
and feelings of unreality.
Panic
disorder is often accompanied by agoraphobia,
in which people are afraid of having
a panic attack in a public place,
so they become afraid to leave the
safety of their controlled home environment.
Posttraumatic
Stress Disorder can follow a traumatic
event such as a sexual or physical
assault, witnessing a death, the unexpected
death of a loved one, or natural disaster.
There
are three main symptoms associated
with PTSD: "reliving" of
the traumatic event (such as flashbacks
and nightmares); avoidance behaviors
(such as avoiding places and other
reminders related to the trauma) and
emotional numbing (detachment from
others); and physiological arousal
such difficulty sleeping, irritability
or poor concentration.
Social
Anxiety Disorder is characterized
by severe anxiety about being judged
by others or behaving in a way that
might bring ridicule or embarrassment.
This intense anxiety may lead to extreme
shyness and avoidance of social situations.
Physical
symptoms associated with this disorder
include faintness, heart palpitations,
blushing and profuse sweating.
Anxiety
disorders also include Specific Phobias,
an intense and unreasonable fear of
specific objects or situations, such
as spiders, dogs, or heights.
The
disproportionate level of fear is
recognized by the sufferer as being
irrational. It can lead to the avoidance
of common, everyday situations.
Patients
often have more than one anxiety disorder,
and sometimes other illness as well
such as depression or substance abuse.
Treatment of anxiety disorders includes
support groups, cognitive behavioral
therapy (CBT), exposure therapy, anxiety
management and relaxation techniques,
and psychotherapy.
Drugs
therapy used to treat anxiety disorders
includes benzodiazepines, selective
serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs),
tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine
oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and beta-blockers.
Often
a combination of the two therapies
is more useful than one exclusively.
Up to 90 percent of patients will
show improvement of their symptom
from medical treatment.
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