ALL ABOUT ANXIETY DISORDERS
Anxiety is a typical emotional response to stress, but when it becomes overwhelming and persistent, it can evolve into an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent mental health conditions affecting millions of people, yet globally, underdiagnosed and undertreated.
A 2022 study explains that Fear is a conscious feeling evoked by threat or impending danger, whereas anxiety involves anticipation of real or imagined future threats or danger. Fears and anxieties require clinical attention when they are disproportionate to risk, are severe, or disrupt normal functioning. Anxiety disorders involve dysfunction in brain circuits that respond to threats and are often comorbid with other mental disorders, especially depression and self-harm.
GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER (GAD):
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterized by excessive, uncontrollable worry about various aspects of life. GAD involves persistent anxiety that affects multiple areas of a person's life, including work, health, and social interactions.
SYMPTOMS OF GAD INCLUDE:
- Restlessness: Feeling on edge, restless, or unable to relax without a specific cause.
- Difficulty Concentrating: Struggling to focus or having a mind that goes blank.
- Sleep & Eating Disturbances: Trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. Eating too little or too much.
PANIC DISORDER:
Panic Disorder involves recurrent, unexpected panic attacks—intense episodes of fear or discomfort that peak rapidly. These attacks can be so severe that individuals may fear future attacks, which can significantly alter their behavior and daily routines.
SYMPTOMS OF PANIC DISORDER:
- Palpitations: Noticeable heart palpitations or a racing heartbeat.
- Shortness of Breath: Difficulty breathing or a sensation of being smothered.
- Chest Pain: Discomfort or pain in the chest area, often mistaken for a heart issue.
- Dizziness: Feeling lightheaded, faint, or unsteady.
SOCIAL ANXIETY DISORDER (SAD):
Social Anxiety Disorder, also known as social phobia, is characterized by an intense fear of judgment in social situations. This fear most commonly develops from adverse childhood experiences, especially constant critisicm.
Symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder:
- Fear of Social Situations: Low self-esteem and confidence in social or performance situations where one might feel shame for being not so good.
- Physical Symptoms: Symptoms like blushing, sweating, trembling, or nausea in social settings.
- Avoidance: Avoiding social interactions and isolating oneself.
SPECIFIC PHOBIAS:
Specific Phobias involve an irrational and intense fear of a particular object or situation, such as heights, spiders, or flying, often leading to avoidance of the feared object or situation.
SYMPTOMS OF SPECIFIC PHOBIAS:
- Intense Fear: Overwhelming fear when exposed to a specific object or situation.
- Panic Response: Immediate anxiety or panic attacks when encountering the feared object or situation.
- Avoidance: Avoiding the feared object or situation to prevent experiencing fear or distress.
OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER (OCD):
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) involves persistent, intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to alleviate the distress caused by these thoughts.
SYMPTOMS OF OCD:
- Obsessions: Recurrent, distressing thoughts, images, or urges that cause significant anxiety.
- Compulsions: Repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed in response to obsessions, such as checking, counting, or cleaning.
- Distress: Significant emotional distress or impairment due to obsessions and compulsions.
POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD):
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event (e.g: childhood trauma ).
SYMPTOMS OF PTSD INCLUDE:
- Intrusive Memories: Recurrent, involuntary memories or flashbacks of the traumatic event.
- Nightmares: Distressing dreams related to the trauma.
- Avoidance: Avoiding reminders or situations associated with the traumatic event.
- Hyperarousal: Increased arousal symptoms such as irritability, hypervigilance, and sleep disturbances.
A WORD FROM MENTAL NURTURING:
Anxiety disorders come in many forms, each with its own set of symptoms and challenges. Self-awareness and recognizing the symptoms in oneself is crucial for obtaining a proper diagnosis and seeking effective treatment, as higher emotional intelligence is linked with less severity of mental illnesses.
The research findings provide a global perspective on the treatment gap for anxiety disorders, as fewer than 1 in 10 individuals receive adequate treatment. Given that anxiety disorders are underdiagnosed in all care settings, the role of clinicians in monitoring their occurrence becomes even more crucial. This vigilance is critical because patients who have anxiety disorders often present with misleading symptoms; for instance, patients who have panic disorder could present in general care settings or emergency care settings with presumed cardiac or respiratory problems. It's the clinicians' vigilance that can bridge this treatment gap.
Anxiety can be disabling, so it's essential to spread awareness about dealing with stress and anxieties. Anxiety responds very well to cognitive behavioral therapy, talking therapy, mindfulness and exposure therapy. This awareness is not just a matter of information but a call to action. It's a collective responsibility to make it easier for individuals to consult a professional and seek support in cases of overwhelming situations.
RESOURCES:
1. Penninx BW, Pine DS, Holmes EA, Reif A. Anxiety disorders. Lancet. 2021 Mar 6;397(10277):914-927. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00359-7. Epub 2021 Feb 11. Erratum in: Lancet. 2021 Mar 6;397(10277):880. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)00473-6. PMID: 33581801; PMCID: PMC9248771.
2. Ströhle A, Gensichen J, Domschke K. The Diagnosis and Treatment of Anxiety Disorders. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2018 Sep 14;155(37):611-620. doi: 10.3238/arztebl.2018.0611. PMID: 30282583; PMCID: PMC6206399.
3. Grogans SE, Bliss-Moreau E, Buss KA, Clark LA, Fox AS, Keltner D, Cowen AS, Kim JJ, Kragel PA, MacLeod C, Mobbs D, Naragon-Gainey K, Fullana MA, Shackman AJ. The nature and neurobiology of fear and anxiety: State of the science and opportunities for accelerating discovery. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2023 Aug;151:105237. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105237. Epub 2023 May 18. PMID: 37209932; PMCID: PMC10330657.
4. Zhi Z, Yan S, Yijuan H, Jiahuan Z, Xiaohan J, Dandan C. Trends in the disease burden of anxiety disorders in middle-aged and older adults in China. BMC Psychol. 2024 Feb 19;12(1):83. doi: 10.1186/s40359-024-01575-2. PMID: 38373999; PMCID: PMC10877872.
Medically reviewed by:
Dr.Saba Munir, MBBS
Written by: Hana Noor
On July 27, 2024
