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Anxiety Disorder - Types, Causes and Treatments

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Anxiety Disorder - Types, Causes and Treatments

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Anxiety is a minor psychiatric illness that is extremely common. Early recognition of the symptoms helps in advocating the right treatment. Read the article to know more.

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Preetha. J

Published At April 26, 2017
Reviewed AtMarch 5, 2024

Occasional anxiety is a normal part of life. One might feel anxious in certain situations like being faced with a problem at work, while speaking in the presence of a large audience, before taking an important exam, or while taking an important decision. When this anxiety becomes pervasive enough to interfere with other aspects of our daily functioning, it becomes a disorder. Anxiety disorders are not transient worries or fears which may occur as a part of everyday life. In anxiety disorders, the fear becomes persistent and refuses to go away. This can serve to impede one’s performance in the professional and personal spheres.

What Are The Types of Anxiety Disorders?

Broadly, anxiety disorders fall into one of the following three types:

Generalized Anxiety Disorder is characterized by diffuse and persistent worries about everything in everyday life. It may start with experiencing fearfulness, palpitations, tremulousness of the hands and feet and profuse sweating. People afflicted with this will not be able to relax, startle easily, and have difficulty concentrating. They may also experience restlessness and will not be able to sit still. They may also experience vague physical symptoms in the form of headaches, muscle tension, muscle aches, lightheadedness, feeling breathless, nausea, sweating and a compelling need to go to the bathroom.

A typical patient narrative of someone having Generalized Anxiety Disorder would be like this: ‘’I was worried all the time about everything. This fear gripped and enveloped every aspect of my life. I just could not concentrate. My heartbeat used to increase even at the slightest sound. I had trouble in sleeping. I would constantly worry that some ill would befall on me or my family.’’

Panic Disorder, on the other hand, may have symptoms similar to that of Generalized Anxiety Disorder. However, these symptoms do not last through the day as in the case of Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Instead, they tend to occur in the form of discrete attacks. These panic attacks usually terminate within ten minutes. During a panic attack, one may experience sudden and repeated fearfulness, have a feeling of losing control of the situation and going crazy, have an intense worry of having the next attack, avoid places or situations where panic attacks have occurred in the past. As with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, physical symptoms like racing of the heart, breathlessness, tingling and numbness, chest pain etc., may also be experienced.

People with Social Phobia have a difficult time being around other people. They feel anxious in the presence of crowd and strangers. Although they would want to speak to others, they cannot bring themselves to do so and are worried by it. People with social phobia feel embarrassed and extremely self-conscious in the presence of others. They tend to have irrational worries about others judging them for the manner in which they walk, speak or behave in others’ presence. They tend to worry for days on end before an event where there is a chance of them being in the midst of others. Due to this persistent worry, they start avoiding such events or situations and isolate themselves. This might result in secondary depression.

What Causes Anxiety Disorders?

Research has shown that anxiety disorders run in families. The exact cause is yet to be pin-pointed. Several parts of the brain are involved in the genesis of anxiety disorders and amongst these, the part named amygdala, assumes the central role in fear and emotional regulation. On-going stress and environmental factors also contribute to anxiety disorders.

Who should one approach?

Like all psychiatric diagnoses, anxiety disorders are diagnosed on clinical grounds. This would entail talking to a psychiatrist or any other mental health professional who would then direct you to a doctor. Brain imaging techniques have found changes in the blood flow patterns to parts of the brain regulating fear and anxiety in those with anxiety disorders. However, these techniques are mostly used for research purposes and are not used routinely for the diagnosis. A physical examination is mandatory and a few blood tests may be ordered to know the basal functioning.

What Are The Available Treatment Strategies?

Anxiety disorders are treated with a combination of talk therapy and medications. All people with anxiety disorders may not require medications. Mild anxiety responds to talk therapy alone while the more severe forms require pharmacological intervention.

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - In this form of therapy, a person is taught to modify his/her thinking patterns. This helps them to react to anxious situations in a calm and controlled manner. This requires active efforts on the part of the person afflicted with anxiety disorder. This takes place gradually over a number of therapy sessions.
  • Medications - Antidepressants, which are used to treat depression, are also employed in the treatment of anxiety disorders. Anti-anxiety medications may also be used for rapid relief from anxiety. Antidepressants take a minimum of two weeks to exert their actions. Anti-anxiety medications called Benzodiazepines act faster than anti-depressants. Both classes of medications are safe and well tolerated. However, they need to be administered under the surveillance of a mental health professional. These medications are not continued indefinitely but are weaned off after a period of six to nine months.

CONCLUSION

Anxiety disorders are mental health condition that causes fear, worry, and a feeling of being overwhelmed. This condition is characterized by excessive, persistent, and worry about everyday life. This condition can be treated through cognitive behavior and medication.

Frequently Asked Questions

1.

How to Treat an Anxiety Disorder?

Anxiety disorders are treated with a combination of talk therapy and medications. All people with anxiety disorders may not require medications. People with mild anxiety respond well to talk therapy, while the more severe forms require pharmacological intervention.

2.

What Are the Causes of Anxiety?

Research has shown that anxiety disorders run in families. The exact cause is yet to be pinpointed. Several parts of the brain are involved in the genesis of anxiety disorders, and among these, the part named the amygdala assumes the central role in fear and emotional regulation. On-going stress and environmental factors also contribute to anxiety disorders.

3.

Is Anxiety Considered a Mental Illness?

Occasional anxiety is a normal part of life. One might feel anxious in certain situations, like facing a problem at work, speaking in the presence of a large audience, taking an important exam, or making an important decision. When this anxiety becomes pervasive enough to interfere with other aspects of our daily functioning, it becomes a disorder.

4.

Which Doctor Is Best to Consult for Anxiety?

Like all psychiatric diagnoses, anxiety disorders are diagnosed on clinical grounds. This would entail talking to a psychiatrist or any other mental health professional who would then direct the patient to a doctor. Brain imaging techniques have found changes in the blood flow patterns to parts of the brain regulating fear and anxiety in those with anxiety disorders.

5.

What Are the Symptoms of Anxiety?

 
- Panic.
- Fear.
- Uneasiness.
- Feelings of panic.
- A doom feeling.
- A feeling of being in danger.
- Sleep disturbances.
- Not being able to stay calm and collected.
- Cold and sweaty hands.
- Numbness or tingling feelings in the hands or feet.
- Shortness of breath.
- Faster breathing.
- Hyperventilation.
- Palpitations.

6.

Can Anxiety Damage the Brain?

Anxiety, when not diagnosed and left untreated over a long period, can cause a certain level of damage to the brain. Still, the percentage of such damage is extremely sporadic.

7.

What Happens to the Brain During Anxiety?

Anxiety has the potential to make changes in a part of the brain called the amygdala that senses trouble. When the amygdala senses a threat, which is real or imaginary, it fills the body with hormones that include cortisol (stress hormone) as well as adrenaline to make the body fast and powerful.

8.

What Happens When Anxiety Is Not Treated?

When anxiety is left untreated, the patient can end up in a severe long-standing case of mental illness that would require serious therapy sessions and may include medication therapy.

9.

Does Anxiety Increase Along With Age?

It is not true that anxiety increases with age and that all older people are anxious. Living a life with mental peace, regular exercise, and a positive attitude will help one overcome anxiety, even in the long run.
Dr. Alok Vinod Kulkarni
Dr. Alok Vinod Kulkarni

Psychiatry

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