anxiety is a normal, and often useful, emotional response. However when it becomes excessive or chronic and disrupts your life, then you may have an anxiety disorder.
The Anxiety Disorders Association of America identify 6 main Anxiety Disorders which are described in this article.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD):
GAD is a sense of not being in control of your anxiety. Even when you know that your beliefs are incorrect. If you are worrying about two or more issues for six months or more, and the worry is far disproportionate to any real threat then GAD may be indicated. You may also get physical symptoms such as muscle aches, tension, headaches, stomach aches, or insomnia.
Panic Disorder:
Panic attacks seem to be unprovoked, overwhelming, and come out of the blue. I they continue you may begin fearing the next one. You suddenly experience an overwhelming sense of impending doom, terror, and fear. Physical symptoms include trouble breathing, chest tightness, a pounding heart, light-headedness. You may think you are dying! Sufferers may start avoiding places they think may bring on a panic attack or even leaving home leading to agoraphobia. (Agoraphobia affects one in three people with panic disorder.)
Social Anxiety Disorder or Social Phobia:
This disorder includes fear of self-embarrassment, or of being scrutinised or judged. Sufferers might avoid giving a speech or introducing themselves to others. You may avoid talking to assistants in a store or even ordering food while out to dinner. As your throat tightens you may blush and then fear others will sense your anxiety, or that you may say something stupid and thus embarrass yourself.”
Specific Phobias:
Irrational fear of heights, aeroplanes, spiders. All of these are irrational, involuntary fear reactions that lead to avoidance of common, everyday places, objects, or situations—or only endured these under tremendous stress Even when you know there’s no real threat of danger you may feel trapped and want to leave. More common phobias include fear of escalators, heights, bridges, tunnels, elevators, or spiders and other insects.
Obsessive/Compulsive Disorder (OCD):
OCD is characterised by spending lengthy periods doing repetitive behaviours, or having useless, uncontrollable thoughts you can’t lose that then create anxiety or compulsions? You are almost afraid that if you don’t think about it, something bad will happen, Other examples of OCD include washing and cleaning endlessly, rechecking appliance power switches, or hoarding.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD):
If you have witnessed or been exposed to a horrific experience, then there is bound to be a certain amount of anxiety and such symptoms are normal, However if they persist for an extended period, you have repeated nightmares, or flashbacks, become easily startled, have trouble relating to others, concentrating on your work and feel numb, agitated and/or irritated then you may have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Understanding your Anxiety Disorder is the first and most important step in dealing with it and returning to a normal life.
Dave Saunders is publisher of the panicrelief.net
website and regularly publishes articles about panic and anxiety disorders.
For a free copy of Getting to Know Anxiety visit panicrelief.net
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