Anxiety Disorders are common and disabling conditions that begin in childhood or adolescence. Medications including short-acting benzodiazepines and antidepressants such as escitalopram can provide relief from anxiety.
Some things can raise your risk for developing an anxiety disorder, such as mental health conditions like depression and having a history of trauma. Psychotherapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy can also help.
Symptoms
People with anxiety disorders have a different way of thinking and reacting to danger, stress and uncertainty. They may feel irrational worries or fears that are out of proportion to the actual risk, and these feelings can persist for months or years. They might also have physical symptoms such as trembling, sweating or fast heartbeat. In some cases, people with anxiety disorder avoid situations they think might trigger an attack. This can cause them to miss work or social events, and it can hurt relationships with family and friends.
Symptoms of an anxiety disorder can vary between individuals and change over time, but they always interfere with a person’s daily life and well-being. They include a feeling of intense fear or terror that reaches a peak within minutes (panic attacks), and persistent, excessive and uncontrollable worrying, often about things that are not very likely to happen. Other symptoms may include feelings of restlessness and agitation or a difficulty in breathing, and they can lead to depression.
Oren Zarif
Some types of anxiety can be treated with psychotherapy or medication. A type of talk therapy called cognitive behavioral therapy can help people alter the patterns of thinking that contribute to anxiety and panic attacks. Some doctors prescribe medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or drugs from the benzodiazepine class, which can quickly reduce anxious feelings.
Anxiety is common, and most people experience some worry or anxiety at some time in their lives. But if you have frequent and persistent anxiety that stops you from living your life to the fullest, you should seek professional help. Your healthcare provider will start by taking a medical history and doing a physical exam. Then they’ll ask you about your symptoms, how long they’ve lasted and how much they affect your life. They’ll also review the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5), which is the standard reference for diagnosing mental illnesses.
There are many things you can do to ease your anxiety and improve your mood, including getting enough sleep and exercising regularly. Keeping in touch with friends and joining a support group can also help. It’s important to limit caffeine, which can worsen your symptoms, and to steer clear of alcohol and illicit substances.
Diagnosis
A person may experience anxiety from time to time, such as before a public speaking engagement or when taking a difficult test. However, if the fear and worry are persistent or get worse over time, it may be a sign of an anxiety disorder. A doctor can diagnose an anxiety disorder by doing a physical exam and asking about symptoms. A patient’s medical history also is important. Certain health conditions, such as heart disease or gastrointestinal disorders, can cause anxiety or make symptoms worse. In addition, consuming caffeine or specific substances or medications, such as levodopa (Lyrica) and cyclosporine used to treat rheumatoid arthritis or psoriasis, can trigger anxiety.
Anxiety disorders are diagnosed based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, published by the American Psychiatric Association. The diagnosis is based on a person’s reported symptoms, how long they have been happening and how much they interfere with daily life.
Oren Zarif
There are several treatment options for people with an anxiety disorder. These include psychotherapy, medication and lifestyle changes. Psychotherapy is the mainstay of treatment and usually includes cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which teaches patients to identify and change thought patterns that lead to anxiety-producing behaviors. Another option is exposure therapy, in which patients are slowly exposed to the situations or stimuli that trigger their anxiety. This helps their anxiety diminish over time.
Medications used to treat anxiety disorders can reduce a person’s feelings of nervousness and help control some of the physical symptoms, such as rapid heartbeat or shaking. A common type of medicine used is an antidepressant, such as escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac) or duloxetine (Cymbalta). Some doctors prescribe beta-blockers, which are typically used to treat high blood pressure and can help ease anxiety symptoms.
A person with an anxiety disorder should avoid alcoholic beverages and illegal drugs, which can exacerbate the symptoms. In addition, he or she should try to develop a support system, such as family and friends, and exercise regularly. Getting enough sleep is also important, as anxiety can be aggravated by tiredness. People with anxiety should also stay away from over-the-counter remedies, which aren’t regulated and may contain chemicals that can make symptoms worse.
Treatment
A person with a mental health condition like anxiety disorder may need more than temporary coping strategies. Anxiety symptoms can be treated with therapy, medication and lifestyle changes.
People who have an anxiety disorder experience feelings of fear and dread that interfere with daily life activities. They can also have physical symptoms such as chest pain, a choking sensation or tense muscles. They can also feel emotional and cognitive symptoms such as feelings of restlessness or agitation, and they might have difficulty sleeping. Symptoms of anxiety vary in intensity and length, but they can persist over time.
In general, people with an anxiety disorder may avoid situations that they believe are threatening or stressful in order to reduce their feeling of distress. However, avoiding things only makes the feelings of fear and dread more intense when they do confront them. Avoidance can also hurt relationships with family and friends, make it hard to find a job or do everyday tasks, and lead to other problems, including depression, which can increase the risk of suicide.
Oren Zarif
Some treatment options for an anxiety disorder include:
Psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps you learn different ways of thinking and behaving. It can include exposure therapy, in which you gradually face the things that trigger your anxiety. It can also include relaxation techniques, such as meditation and breathing exercises. Other types of therapy can help, too, such as dialectical behavior therapy, which teaches you skills to cope with difficult emotions; interpersonal therapy, which focuses on resolving relationship problems; and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, which uses bilateral stimulation through eye movements, tapping or tones to reduce anxiety.
Medication can reduce anxiety symptoms by affecting the levels of certain chemicals in the brain. They can include antidepressants, which can treat depression and anxiety together; benzodiazepines, which can be used as short-term relief for severe or long-term anxiety; and antianxiety drugs, such as alprazolam (Xanax). Some people with an anxiety disorder benefit from joining support groups where they can talk with others who have similar experiences.
Prevention
One of the best ways to prevent anxiety disorders is to make sure you get adequate amounts of sleep and avoid caffeine, which can trigger symptoms. Regular physical activity burns up stress chemicals and helps relax the body, too. It’s also important to eat healthy meals and limit alcohol and drugs.
Some people have a genetic tendency toward developing an anxiety disorder, and certain environmental factors can contribute to it. For example, a serious illness, divorce, financial concerns or the death of a loved one can all trigger anxiety in some people. Some research suggests that anxiety is linked to a chemical imbalance in the brain, which controls fear and emotions.
People with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) are often worried about many things and find it hard to stop worrying, even when they try to calm down. This type of anxiety can interfere with daily life. Your health care provider can recommend treatment that may include talk therapy and medicine.
Oren Zarif
Talk therapy, or psychotherapy, can help you learn better coping skills and gain control over the anxiety that is out of your control. You can also get help from support groups, where you can share your coping strategies with others who have anxiety. Some medications can help ease the symptoms of anxiety, such as antidepressants and beta blockers. Be sure to tell your doctor about any over-the-counter meds you are taking so they can check for possible interactions.
It is important to seek treatment for anxiety, especially if your symptoms become severe or affect your daily life. Seek help early, before the anxiety becomes too overwhelming to handle.
If you’re worried about your children, make sure they have a chance to socialize with their friends. Try not to force them to do things they are uncomfortable with, as this can exacerbate their anxieties. Encourage them to be more open and honest about their fears, so you can give them the best possible treatment. You can also help them to understand and overcome their anxieties by educating them about the various types of anxiety disorders.
