Types Of Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety, a feeling of unease, dread or tension, is a normal emotion all occasionally experience. Difficulty at work, a test, or a hard decision can result in an anxious, nervous feeling. However, an anxiety disorder is different: it is a prolonged state and interferes with the ability to lead a normal life. Anxiety disorders vary in causes, symptoms, and impact.
Anxiety disorders usually fall into the following types:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
GAD is characterized by excessive worry and tension about daily life without an obvious reason. Everyday life becomes a constant state of dread or fear. The anxiety eventually dominates thinking and interferes with daily functioning. Physical symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, and difficulty swallowing may accompany GAD. The cause is unknown, but genetics, traumatic or stressful events, and brain chemistry may contribute.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
OCD sufferers are obsessed by constant fears compelling them to repetitively perform precise, endless rituals and routines. OCD can destroy the ability to function in everyday life. Common obsessions are fear of dirt or germs, excessive need for order, and repeated hand washing. OCD is not understood, but a combination of genetics and biological factors appear to be involved.
Panic Disorder
This disorder is characterized by repeated feelings of terror or intense fear occurring suddenly. The resulting panic attack is accompanied by physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, dizziness, or abdominal distress. Panic attacks may be either completely unexpected or triggered by an event such as being in an enclosed space. Panic disorder is not completely understood, but contributing factors appear to be: brain abnormalities, substance abuse, a family history of panic attacks, or a stressful life transition.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD may develop after experiencing a particularly horrifying, traumatic ordeal such as war, natural disaster, sexual or physical assault, or an accident. Sufferers tend to become emotionally numb or detached, and are left with lasting, terrifying memories of the event. Symptoms include reliving the ordeal repeatedly through memories and the vehicles of nightmares, hallucinations, and flashbacks; avoiding situations, places or people that serve as reminders of the trauma; and, increased arousal leading to angry outbursts, trouble concentrating and startling easily.
Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia or SA)
This disorder involves overwhelming self-consciousness, worry or intense fear about normal, daily social situations. Common situations that may induce this anxiety are eating and drinking in front of others, dating, attending parties, and talking on the telephone. Sufferers have a chronic, intense fear of being observed or judged by others and, subsequently, humiliated or embarrassed by their own actions. The fear can be so severe that it interferes with ordinary activities. SA may be accompanied by physical symptoms such as sweating, blushing or nausea.
Phobias
A specific phobia is excessive or intense fear of a specific situation or object.
Some of the most frequent phobias include:
- Fear of flying
- Vertigo: a fear of heights
- Blood and injury phobias: the fear of blood tests or the sight of blood that results in fainting.
- Fear of driving
- Agoraphobia (fear of leaving the house)
- Animal phobias (eg dogs, snakes, spiders): the start of these phobias is often in childhood, usually before the age of seven years.
- Claustrophobia (fear of confined spaces)
Categories of specific phobias are based upon what is feared and include: situational phobias like the fear of flying; animal phobias such as the fear of spiders; natural environment phobias such as a fear of water; blood-injection-injury phobias like the fear of injections; and, other phobias such as the fear of loud sounds. Sufferers can have more than one specific phobia. Physical symptoms may include a pounding heart, dizziness, or sweating.
Separation Anxiety Disorder
This anxiety disorder is specific only to children. It involves experiencing extreme anxiety, not appropriate to the child’s age, when faced with separating or being separated from home or family. Panic and agoraphobia (fear of leaving the house) are common in children suffering from this disorder. Refusals to go to school or school avoidance are common responses. Physical symptoms may include headache, crying, and tantrums.
Treatment
In recent decades, advances have been made in treating anxiety disorders. The treatment approach used depends on the type of disorder. One or a combination of the following treatments may be used for anxiety disorders: medication; psychotherapy; cognitive-behavioral therapy; dietary and lifestyle changes; and, relaxation therapy.
