Different Types Of Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety is a common occurrence when a person faces potentially problematic or dangerous situations. It is also felt when a person perceives an external threat. However, chronic and irrational anxiety can lead to a form of anxiety disorder. There are different types of anxiety disorder depending on their causes or triggers.
Different types of anxiety disorders
Anxiety disorders which are general in nature
A person who has this type of anxiety disorder usually experiences prolonged anxiety that is often without basis. More accurately, people with generalized anxiety disorders cannot articulate the reason behind their anxiety. This type of anxiety usually last for six months and often affects women. Due to the persistence of the anxiety, people affected with generalized anxiety disorder constantly fret and worry. This results to heart palpitations, insomnia, headaches, and dizzy spells.
Specific phobia
One who suffers from specific phobias typical exhibits an irrational and extreme fear of a particular object or situation. People with can suffer symptoms such as nausea, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, intense fear and shaking when exposed to objects or situations that they fear. Fear of animals, blood, enclosed spaces and heights are common. Many times a person with specific phobia will, in an attempt to escape, disregard safety.
Panic disorder
Agoraphobia, or panic disorder, is commonly characterized by unexpected and recurring panic attacks. Fear of losing control, fear of being alone, shaking, dizziness, and chest pains are all typical symptoms of agoraphobia. A patient suffering from this disorder typically knows, strangely enough, that the experienced symptoms are based upon unfounded fears. The avoidance of being alone and fear of public situations are common behavioral patterns. It is not unusual for severe panic attacks to result in personal injury.
Social phobia
Social anxiety (another term for this phobia) frequently results in the same symptoms in public situations of a social nature. Social phobia carries with it a fear of situations where one finds themselves around a lot of people, or the center of attention. Th same symptoms can occur.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
People with obsessive-compulsive disorder experience anxiety caused by a persistent obsession or idea. They tend to avoid experiencing anxiety by resorting to repetitive actions or behaviors that prevent anxiety. For example, a person who is obsessed about cleanliness may experience anxiety at the mere sight of a vase placed slightly off-center. To prevent anxiety, he or she will clean and organize everything compulsively or without reason.
PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder may occur after a person experienced a severely traumatic event. He or she may relive the experience in his or her mind which causes stress and anxiety. If a person with PTSD comes into contact with stimuli (any object, person, or situation) that he or she associates with the traumatic event, he or she may literally re-experience the event by crying uncontrollably, panicking, or losing control. Subtler symptoms include insomnia and avoidant behavior. PTSD may manifest itself immediately after the traumatic event or even years after.
Crucial to seeking recovery and treatment is an effective and thorough determination of the type of anxiety disorder that a person suffers from. Treatment covers both the symptomatic behaviors as well as those triggers that instigate panic. Therefore the diagnosis of a particular anxiety disorder is critical in the evaluation process so that proper treatment can be undertaken.
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