Anxiety Disorders Symptoms
It's normal to experience anxiety and fear from time to time. However, when these feelings are persistent and cause problems in your the daily routine, you could be suffering from an anxiety disorder.
A healthcare professional can assist you in finding a treatment that fits your needs. This could include antianxiety or psychotherapy, as well as natural remedies like exercise as well as a healthy diet and sleeping.
1. Fear and Worry
Every person experiences feelings of anxiety and fear from time time -- it's a natural part of our body's "fight-or-flight" response to danger. If the fear or anxiety is intense and doesn't disappear, or if it interferes with your daily activities and activities, then you could be suffering from anxiety disorder. Your doctor can determine whether you suffer from anxiety disorders by talking with you and doing a physical exam by taking urine or blood tests and asking about your previous health. You may be asked to complete questionnaires that will help your doctor determine if you suffer from an anxiety disorder.
The symptoms of anxiety disorders differ by type. For example, people with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) suffer from constant excessive and irrational worries about everyday events even when they are aware that there is no risk. They also have difficulty sleeping or relaxing. Other symptoms include a fast and pounding heart, fluttering, or a thumping (heart palpitations), trembling and sweating. People suffering from panic disorder experience frequent periods of intense terror or fear that reach the point of exhaustion in a matter of minutes. They also have difficulty managing their emotions. They tend to avoid certain activities or places to avoid these attacks happening.
People who have phobias are afraid of certain things like flying or snakes. Other symptoms could include headaches or difficulty breathing. People with PTSD have anxiety after witnessing or experiencing traumatizing events, like a war, or car crash. They might have other symptoms, too, including flashbacks and nightmares about the traumatizing event.
Other anxiety disorders include ocd (obsessive compulsive disorder), hoarding disorder, and social anxiety disorder. These disorders make you feel anxious when in social situations. There's also anxiety over the specific health issue known as illness anxiety disorder (formerly known as hypochondria). Stress and a chemical imbalance may also trigger anxiety. Certain medications can trigger anxiety as a side-effect.
2. Panic Attacks
While everyone feels worried or anxious at some point, people with anxiety disorders have recurring sensations of fear and panic that are in contrast to their circumstances. These feelings can trigger severe physical reactions, like rapid heartbeat or a shortness of breath, as well as nausea. You might also feel disengaged or unreal.
While anyone can suffer from a panic disorder however, it is more common to develop it in adolescence, childhood or in the early years of adulthood. There are many factors that can trigger it, including prolonged or severe stress that causes chemical imbalances in your nervous system and brain. Trauma, especially in childhood or adolescence can increase the risk of anxiety disorders.
Panic attacks can be triggered without explanation or as a result of a specific circumstance that makes you feel anxious, such as being around large numbers of people. They are distinct from normal anxiety symptoms because they have more intense symptoms, and are often unexpected. People suffering from anxiety disorders might also experience a mixture of panic attacks that are unanticipated and anticipated attacks.
The most commonly used treatments for anxiety and panic attacks include talking therapies and medication. Talking therapies help you manage your anxiety and reduce the irrational thoughts that fuel your anxiety. They can teach relaxation exercises such as 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.
It's important that you see your doctor immediately if you experience recurrent panic attacks. Your doctor will be able to check for any other health conditions that have similar symptoms and suggest other treatments.
3. Insomnia
When people are anxious they may have difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep at night. This is referred to as insomnia. It could be a short-term issue or a long-term. Insomnia can make it difficult to get through the day and can cause serious health problems. It is more common among women than men and is more prevalent in older adults. It is more common among those with psychiatric disorders.
Insomnia can be caused by many different factors. It can be caused by temporary illnesses like colds or headaches; long-term ailments like acid reflux, arthritis or Parkinson's disease, and medications can affect your sleep. Stressful life situations can also trigger it. Around half of people who suffer from chronic insomnia suffer from mental health issues which is usually depression or anxiety.
The first thing the doctor will do is to look for physical causes of the problem. They will review your medical history and ask you about the symptoms that are making it harder to sleep. They will also inquire whether you are taking any medication that could be affecting your sleep. They may also perform a sleep study to observe your heart rate and breathing at night.
The most effective treatment of insomnia is behavioral therapy. It helps you change the negative thought patterns that keep you awake. It also teaches you ways to relax before you go to bed. There are methods for doing this, including progressive muscle relaxation, biofeedback and meditation. The doctor can help you find a therapist to teach you these methods. If the behavioral therapy doesn't work then you can try a variety of medications to assist you in sleeping better. These include benzodiazepines which can be used to relieve symptoms temporarily and also antidepressant and anxiety medication.
4. Eating best meds for anxiety disorders
Eating disorders are characterized by anxiety about the body's shape, weight, and food as well as eating habits such as binge eating, purging or vomiting, or the use of laxatives and exercising. Many people who have an eating disorder also suffer from anxiety and suffer from a mental illness that is co-occurring such as depression or bipolar disorder. Combined, the two conditions can create a vicious circle where the person's mood disorders increase the symptoms of their eating disorder.
There is a strong link between anxiety and eating disorders, with greater levels of anxiety symptoms being associated with higher severity of the disorder. Anorexia nervosa patients are more likely to suffer from high levels of anxiety-related symptoms. Similar is the case for binge-eating disorders, bulimia, or bulimia. In some cases anxiety can be the direct reason behind an eating disorder. In other cases, it could be an additional sign of an eating disorder.
In one study, researchers found that comorbid anxiety and depression symptoms were significantly linked to more severe symptomatology of eating disorders among young females. The team of researchers used the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4) which is a four-item measurement of anxiety and depression symptoms. They also evaluated the extent of an eating disorder and asked participants to rate their ability to deal with anxiety.
The authors also looked at three variables that could aid in understanding the relationship between eating disorders and anxiety: self-esteem, perfectionism and mood dysregulation. They found that these three factors affected the relationship between depression and anxiety symptoms and eating disorder symptomatology, and that they did differently for different subgroups of the sample. They hope that the findings will allow them to develop more precise and focused treatment for eating disorders.
5. Anxiety-related physical conditions that can be linked to anxiety
The majority of people suffer from anxiety at some point in their lives, but it could turn into an illness if it becomes extreme and affects your daily life. Some people also have specific physical symptoms, such as stomach pain or chest pain, depending on the kind of anxiety they experience.
Getting the right treatment for anxiety disorders can help people feel better and lead happier lives. Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, is beneficial to many people. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a common type. CBT helps you recognize and change negative thoughts which trigger anxiety and anxiety. It also teaches how to confront your fears and take small steps to overcome them.
The use of medication can also be beneficial. Benzodiazepines such as diazepam and Valium can help ease anxiety or panic attacks. Antidepressants like SSRIs and tricyclic antidepressants are also prescribed. These medications boost levels of certain brain chemicals that regulate mood, and they can be used on their own or with other treatments for anxiety disorders.
Medical conditions can cause anxiety and may cause the same physical symptoms as those of an anxiety disorder. Head trauma can trigger depression and anxiety for instance. Other conditions that can elicit anxiety include chronic fatigue and pain and rheumatologic conditions, such as lupus; and a variety of nutritional deficiencies, like iron deficiency.
Certain aspects make a person more likely to develop anxiety disorders. These are referred to as risk factors. Some are genetic, for example, an ancestral history of anxiety disorders. Other factors such as childhood addiction, depression or other mental disorders, and an accumulation of stress for a long time can increase the risk of developing anxiety disorders. If you suspect that you suffer from anxiety it is crucial to get an examination of your body.