Anxiety

What is Anxiety Disorder?

Anxiety disorder is an intense worry and/or fear about a person, object, place or phenomenon that limits our daily functioning. This is suggestive that people with anxiety disorders become anxious to the extent that it prevents them from doing the things they normally do.

Symptoms of Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder?

If you have anxiety disorder, you are likely to experience the following;

• You find yourself avoiding situations that triggers fear.

• You find yourself feeling helpless in anxious situations.

• You may sweat excessively when in anxious situations.

• You may experience involuntary shaking around your hands and legs.

• Your skin begins to show bumps on its surface.

• Your head aches.

• You may show restless movements or you may restlessly play with objects around you.

Causes of Anxiety Disorders

The causes of anxiety disorder can be broadly grouped into 3 groups, namely:

Biological factors – People can have anxiety disorders because of some inheritable traits from their parents. People can also have anxiety disorders because of chemical imbalances in their bodies.

Psychological factors – Anxiety disorders has also been found to have some psychological causes. For instance, raising children in insecure environments could be a psychological factor for developing anxiety problems.

Sociocultural factors – The sociocultural way of life for groups of people in the society could serve as causes of anxiety. For instance, members of a society could be anxious if they go against sociocultural norms that define their way of life in the society.

Types of Anxiety Disorder

If you think you have anxiety disorder, it is important that you know what type of anxiety you may have.

1. Panic attack – If you have panic attack, you will often experience a sudden and intense fear that is accompanied by physiological changes such as increased heartbeat.

2. Phobia – People with phobia often have a strong and irrational fear that is directed towards a specific object, person or situation. People with phobia also consistently try to avoid the feared object, person or situation.

3. Generalized anxiety disorder – This type of anxiety cause people to worry excessively about general life issues such as finances, family, or one’s career.

4. Obsessive compulsive anxiety disorder– People with this type of anxiety disorder often experience a compulsive desire to be orderly in their daily living.

5. Acute stress anxiety disorder – This is an anxiety problem that is often a consequence of a stressful experience (traumatic events). After 3 months, if the acute stress anxiety disorder persist, a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may be considered.

6. Social anxiety disorder – People with social anxiety disorder often have a fear concern of being embarrassed in social situations. They often keep themselves away from social situations in order to avoid public embarrassments.

Treatment for Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety disorder treatment is often informed by the cause, duration, and severity of the anxiety disorder.

The treatment can be broadly grouped as follows:

Psychotherapy (e.g. cognitive-behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, compassion-focused therapy, etc.)

Lifestyle modification (e.g. exercise, nutrition, sleep, reduction of stress, etc.)

Use of anti-anxiety medications (such as the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, SSRIs, etc.).

A combination of the three (3) groups of treatment is often the best form of treatment for people with anxiety problems.