ANXIETY DISORDER
Anxiety is a feeling of fear, dread, and uneasiness. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders and affect nearly 30 percent of adults at some point in their lives. Anxiety disorders can cause people to try to avoid situations that trigger or worsen their symptoms. Job performance, schoolwork and personal relationships can be affected.
There are several types of anxiety disorders: generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder with or without agoraphobia, specific phobias, agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, and selective mutism.
The signs and symptoms cause autonomic nervous system triggers which include fight-to-fight response, pupils’ dilation, vital sign increase, diaphoresis, muscle rigidity, pain threshold, increase with frequency urination, and diarrhea.
Anxiety Q & A
What are The Peripheral Manifestations of Anxiety?
Diarrhea
Dizziness
Lightheadedness
Hyperhidrosis
Hyperreflexia
Palpitations
Pupillary
Mydriasis
Restlessness (e.g., pacing), syncope, tachycardia, tingling in the extremities, tremors, Upset stomach ("butterflies"), Urinary frequency, hesitancy, and urgency.
*What are the Causes of Anxiety Disorders? Currently *unknown, but likely involves a combination of factors including genetic, environmental, psychological and developmental. Anxiety disorders can run in families, suggesting that a combination of genes and environmental stresses can produce the disorders.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder:
Involves persistent and excessive worry that interferes with daily activities. This ongoing worry and tension may be accompanied by physical symptoms, such as restlessness, feeling on edge or easily fatigued, difficulty concentrating, muscle tension or problems sleeping.
Social Anxiety Disorder-
A person with social anxiety disorder has significant anxiety and discomfort about being embarrassed, humiliated, rejected or looked down on in social interactions. People with this disorder will try to avoid certain situations. Common examples are extreme fear of public speaking, meeting new people or eating/drinking in public. Fear or anxiety disrupts daily functioning.
*Treatment and Management: *Anxiety most responds well to two types of treatment:
The first step is to see your provider to make sure there is no physical problem causing the symptoms. If an anxiety disorder is diagnosed, a mental health professional at Lifeway Mental Health can work with you on finding the best treatment. psychotherapy or "talk therapy," and medications. These treatments can be given alone or in combination.
Also, cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is a type of talk therapy, that can help a person learn a different way of thinking, reacting and behaving to help feel less anxious. Medication can provide significant relief from the symptoms. The most used medications are anti-anxiety medications (generally prescribed only for a short period of time) and antidepressants. Beta-blockers, used for heart conditions, are sometimes used to control physical symptoms of anxiety. If you’re ready to schedule an appointment at Lifeway Mental Health, call or book a consultation online today.