Anxiety Disorders Symptoms

It's normal to experience anxiety and fear from time time. However, when these feelings persist and interfere with the daily routine, you could have an anxiety disorder.

A medical professional can assist you in locating a solution that will address your symptoms. This could include anti-anxiety medication, psychotherapy or natural remedies like exercise, a healthy diet and sleep.

1. Fear and Worry

Everyone experiences feelings of anxiety and fear from time to time -- it's an inherent part of our body's "fight-or-flight" response to danger. However, if the fear or anxiety is severe, doesn't go away and interferes with your daily routine it could be an indication of anxiety disorder. Your doctor can identify anxiety disorders by talking with you and performing a physical exam and urine or blood tests, and examining your health history. You might be asked to fill out questionnaires that will aid your doctor in determining whether you suffer from an anxiety disorder.

Types of anxiety disorders have different symptoms. For example, people with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) have persistent excessive and irrational worries about their daily routines even when they are aware of no real danger. They also have difficulty getting comfortable or falling asleep. Other symptoms include a fast or fluttering heart (heart pounding) as well as trembling and sweating. People with panic disorder have regular moments of intense terror or fear that rise to a peak within minutes, and they experience difficulty managing their emotions. They are advised to avoid certain activities and places to avoid attacks.

People who suffer from phobias are extremely scared of certain things, such as snakes or flying. Other symptoms could include headaches or breathing difficulties. People suffering from PTSD are anxious following an experience or witnessing a traumatic event such as an accident in a car or a war. Other symptoms include flashbacks or nightmares that reminisce about the traumatizing event.

Other anxiety disorders include OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), hoarding disorder, and social anxiety disorder. These disorders make you feel anxious when in social situations. There's also anxiety over an individual health issue, called illness anxiety disorder (formerly known as hypochondria). Other causes of anxiety are stress and a chemical imbalance in your brain. Sometimes, anxiety can be an effect of certain medicines.

2. Panic Attacks

While everyone feels worried or anxious at some point, those with anxiety disorders have recurring sensations of anxiety and fear that are disproportionate to their circumstances. These feelings can cause severe physical reactions such as a racing pulse, shortness in breath, and nausea. They can also make you feel disoriented or disconnected from reality.

While anyone can suffer from a panic disorder but it's more common to develop it in adolescence, childhood, or early adulthood. It can be caused by many factors such as prolonged or severe stress that causes a chemical imbalance in your brain and nervous system. Trauma, especially in childhood or adolescence can increase the risk of anxiety disorders.

Panic attacks can be triggered for no apparent reason or in response to a specific event that causes you to be afraid, such as being around large numbers of people. They differ from normal anxiety symptoms since they cause more intense symptoms and are usually unexpected. Individuals with anxiety disorders may also experience a mix of sudden and anticipated panic attacks.

Therapy and talk therapy are the most popular treatments for panic attacks and anxiety. Talking therapies help you manage your anxiety and help you eliminate the unfounded thoughts that cause anxiety. They can also help you learn to relax by doing exercises like deep breathing and mindfulness. Certain medications, especially SSRIs (such as Prozac and Paxil) and SNRIs (such as duloxetine and venlafaxine) can help make anxiety and panic less severe.

If you experience a frequent panic attack, it's important to consult your doctor and get immediate treatment. Your doctor can check for any other health conditions that have similar symptoms and recommend other treatments.

3. Insomnia

If people are stressed they may have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. This is referred to as insomnia. It can be a temporary issue or a long-term. Insomnia can make it difficult to get through the day and can cause serious health problems. It is more prevalent among older adults and is more common in women than men. It is also more prevalent in those with psychiatric issues.

Sleepiness can be caused by many different factors. Temporary illnesses like colds or headaches; long-term illnesses such as arthritis, acid reflux or Parkinson's disease; and medication can all affect your sleep. Stressful life circumstances can also be a cause. Around half of those who suffer from chronic insomnia suffer from mental health issues which is usually anxiety or depression.

A doctor will first look for physical causes. They will examine your medical history and ask about the symptoms making it difficult to sleep. They will also want to be aware of whether any medications you are taking are affecting it. They may also conduct a sleep study to ensure they can observe your breathing and heart rate at night.

Behavioral therapy is the most effective treatment for insomnia. It assists you in changing the negative thought patterns that are keeping you awake. It also teaches ways to relax before going to bed. There are a myriad of methods to aid in relaxation, such as 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 it is possible to try a variety of drugs to assist you in sleeping better. These include benzodiazepines, which can be used to alleviate symptoms temporarily and also antidepressant and anxiety medication.

4. Eating Disorders

Eating disorders involve preoccupations with body shape, weight and food, as well eating behaviors like restricting eating, binge eating purging (through vomiting or misuse of laxatives) and compulsive exercise. A lot of people suffering from an eating disorder experience anxiety. This is also the case for those who suffer from mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder or depression. The two conditions can create an unhealthy cycle where eating disorder symptoms are made worse by the person's mood issues.

There is a strong connection between anxiety and eating disorders, with more anxiety-related symptoms being linked to greater severity of the disorder. In reality those suffering from anorexia nervosa is more likely to have excessive levels of anxiety symptoms and this is the case for people suffering from the disorder of binge eating known as bulimia nervosa. In some cases, anxiety can be the direct cause of an eating disorder. In others, it may be a secondary symptom of an eating disorder.

In one study, researchers discovered that comorbid anxiety disorder medication side effects and depression symptoms were significantly associated with more severe eating disorder symptomatology in females who were young. The research team used an assessment of four items called the Patient Health Questionnaire-4, which measures depression and anxiety symptoms. They also analyzed the extent of an eating disorder, and asked participants to rate their ability to deal with anxiety.

The authors of the study also looked at three aspects that could explain the relationship between eating disorders and anxiety: self-esteem, perfectionism and mood dysregulation. These factors may have influenced the relationship between depression and anxiety as well as eating disorders however in different ways based on the subgroups. They hope that their findings will allow them to develop more precise and targeted treatment of eating disorders.

5. Physical Conditions that are a result of anxiety

A majority of people have anxiety at some time in their lives, but it can turn into an illness if it becomes severe and interferes daily life. Certain people also experience specific physical symptoms, like stomach discomfort or chest pain in response to the type of anxiety they have.

The right treatment can help people lead healthier and happier lives. Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, helps many people. The most popular type is cognitive behavior therapy (cbt for generalized anxiety disorder). CBT helps you identify and change negative thoughts that trigger anxiety and fear. It also teaches you how to face your fears and take small steps to overcome them.

Medication can be helpful. Benzodiazepines such as diazepam and Valium can help reduce anxiety or panic attacks. Antidepressants like SSRIs and tricyclic antidepressants what are the anxiety disorders also prescribed. These medications can be used to treat anxiety disorders on their own or in conjunction with other treatments.

Anxiety-producing medical conditions can be caused by medical conditions and may cause the same physical symptoms as those of an anxiety disorder. Head trauma, for instance can cause anxiety and depression. Other conditions that can cause anxiety include chronic fatigue, chronic pain, some rheumatologic illnesses, such as Lupus, and some nutritional deficiencies.

Certain factors increase the likelihood of developing an anxiety disorder. These are known as risk factors. Some risk factors are genetic, like an ancestral history of anxiety or disorders. Other factors, such as childhood addiction, depression or other mental disorders, and the accumulation of stress over time can increase the risk of suffering from anxiety disorders. For these reasons, it's important to get a thorough physical exam if you suspect you are suffering from anxiety.