Anxiety Disorders Symptoms

It's normal for people to experience anxiety and fear from time to the time. However, when these feelings persist and cause problems in your everyday life, you could suffer from an anxiety disorder.

A healthcare professional can help you in finding a treatment that matches your symptoms. This may include psychotherapy or antianxiety medication, as well as natural remedies such as exercise, a healthy diet, and sleep.

1. Worry and Fear

Everyone experiences feelings of anxiety and fear from time to time -- it's normal to experience our body's "fight-or-flight" response to danger. If the feeling is extreme and does not go away or is interfering with your daily activities, then you may have anxiety disorder. Your doctor can diagnose anxiety disorders by having a discussion with you, a physical exam, blood or urine tests, and inquires regarding your past health. You may also be asked to fill out questionnaires that aid your doctor in determining if you suffer from an anxiety disorder.

Different types of anxiety disorders exhibit different symptoms. For example, people with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) have persistent excessive and irrational worries about everyday situations, even though they are aware that there is no risk. They also have difficulty sleeping or relaxing. Other signs include a fast or fluttering heart (heart beating) and trembling. They also experience sweating. People with panic disorder have frequent episodes of intense feelings of terror or fear that reach a peak within minutes, and they have difficulty controlling their emotions. They tend to avoid certain places or activities to prevent these attacks from occurring.

People who have phobias are scared of certain things, such as snakes or flying. Other symptoms could include headaches or breathing difficulties. People with PTSD suffer from anxiety after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event such as the aftermath of a car crash or war. They may also experience other symptoms, too, such as flashbacks and nightmares about the traumatizing event.

Other anxiety disorders include ocd (obsessive compulsive disorder) hoarding disorder, and social anxiety disorder. These disorders cause you to feel anxious when you are in social situations. There's also anxiety related to an individual health issue, called illness anxiety disorder (formerly known as hypochondria). Stress and a chemical imbalance may also cause anxiety. Sometimes, anxiety can be an effect of certain medications.

2. Panic Attacks

While everyone feels anxious or scared at some point, those suffering from anxiety disorders are prone to recurring sensations of anxiety and fear that are in contrast to their situation. These feelings can trigger intense physical reactions, such as an increased heart rate, shortness of breath and nausea. You may also feel detached or numb.

While anyone can experience a panic attack however, you're more likely suffer from this type of mental health condition in childhood, adolescence or early adulthood. It can anxiety disorder cause high blood pressure be caused by a variety of factors such as prolonged or severe stress that triggers an imbalance of chemicals in your nervous system and brain. Traumas that are severe, especially in the adolescent years can also increase the risk of developing an anxiety disorder.

The attacks can happen for no apparent cause or in response a situation that causes you to be afraid, like being around a large number of people. They differ from normal anxiety symptoms since they are more severe symptoms and are typically unexpected. People suffering from anxiety disorders might also experience a mix of panic attacks that are unanticipated and anticipated attacks.

Talking therapies and medication are the most popular treatments for anxiety and panic attacks. Therapy sessions can help you control your fears and eliminate irrational thoughts that fuel your anxiety. They can also teach you to relax by doing exercises like deep breathing and mindfulness. Some medications -- especially SSRIs (such as Prozac and Paxil) and SNRIs (such as duloxetine and venlafaxine) can help to make your anxiety and panic less severe.

If you have a recurrent panic attack, it's important to see your physician and seek immediate treatment. Your doctor can check if you have other health conditions with similar symptoms and suggest other treatments.

3. Insomnia

People who are anxious may have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. This is referred to as insomnia. It can last for a short time or it may last for a long time. Insomnia can make it hard to function during the day and can lead to serious health problems. It is more prevalent among older adults and is more prevalent in women than men. It is also more prevalent for those suffering from psychiatric disorders.

Insomnia can be caused by a myriad of different things. Temporary illnesses like colds or headaches; long-term conditions like arthritis, acid reflux or Parkinson's disease; and medication can affect your sleep. Stressful life situations can also trigger. Around half of people suffering from chronic insomnia have a mental illness, which is most often anxiety or depression.

A doctor will first investigate physical causes. They will review your medical anxiety disorder history and inquire about the symptoms making it difficult to sleep. They'll also want to know if any of the medications you take are affecting it. They could also conduct an overnight sleep study so that they can monitor your heart rate and breathing at night.

Behavioral therapy is the most effective treatment for insomnia. It helps you change the negative thoughts that keep you awake. It also shows you how to unwind before bed. There are a variety of techniques to assist you in relaxing, including progressive muscle relaxation meditation, biofeedback, and biofeedback. Your doctor can help you locate a therapist who can teach you these techniques. If you find that behavioral therapy does not work then you can try a variety of medications to aid in sleeping better. These include benzodiazepines that can be used to treat symptoms for a short period of time, and antianxiety or antidepressant medication.

4. Eating Disorders

An eating disorder is characterized by a preoccupation with body shape, weight and food, as well eating habits like restricted eating, binge eating purging (through vomiting or misuse of laxatives) and obsessive exercise. Many people who have an eating disorder also have anxiety, as do those who suffer from a mental illness that is co-occurring such as depression or bipolar disorder. Together, the two disorders can create a vicious cycle where a person's mood problems exacerbate the symptoms of their eating disorder.

There is a strong correlation between anxiety and severity of eating disorders. More anxiety symptoms are associated with the disorder. Anorexia nervosa patients tend to have high levels of anxiety-related symptoms. The same holds true for binge-eating disorders, bulimia or bulimia. In some instances, anxiety could be the main reason behind an eating disorder. In other instances, it could be a secondary symptom of an eating disorder.

Researchers discovered that the presence of anxiety and depression comorbid symptoms was significantly associated with more severe eating disorders in young females. The team of researchers used the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4), a 4-item measure of the core anxiety and depression symptoms. They also evaluated the severity of an eating disorder, and asked participants to rate how they cope with anxiety.

The authors of the study also examined three aspects that could explain the relationship between eating disorders and anxiety disorders what is it: perfectionism, self-esteem and mood dysregulation. They discovered that these variables 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 results will help them develop more precise and focused treatment of eating disorders.

5. Anxiety-related physical conditions that can be linked to anxiety

A majority of people have anxiety at some moment in their lives but it could turn into a disorder if it is severe and causes problems in with daily activities. Some people also have specific physical symptoms, such as stomach discomfort or chest pain according to the type of anxiety they have.

Finding the best treatment for anxiety disorders can help people feel better and lead happier lives. Many people benefit from psychotherapy or talk therapy. A common type is cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). CBT helps you recognize and overcome negative thoughts that trigger anxiety and fear. It also helps you face your fears and take small steps to overcome them.

The use of medication can also be beneficial. Benzodiazepines like diazepam or Valium can reduce anxiety and panic attacks. Antidepressants, like tricyclic antidepressants and SSRIs may also be prescribed. These drugs can be used to treat anxiety disorders on their own or in conjunction with other treatments.

Certain medical conditions can trigger anxiety and can have the same symptoms as anxiety disorders. Head trauma, for example can cause anxiety and depression. Other conditions that can cause anxiety include chronic fatigue, chronic pain, some rheumatologic illnesses, like Lupus, and a few nutritional deficiencies.

Certain factors make a person more likely to develop an anxiety disorder. These are known as risk factors. Some risk factors are genetic, such as a family history or anxiety disorders. Other factors, like sexual abuse in childhood or an underlying depression history or other mental health issues and the accumulation of stress over a long period of time, may increase the risk of developing anxiety disorders. Because of this, it's important to get an accurate physical exam if you have anxiety.