Anxiety Disorders Symptoms

Everyone experiences anxiety and fears at times - it's an inevitable part of our human condition. But when these feelings are persistent and become a problem in everyday life, you could have an anxiety disorder.

A healthcare professional can help you find a treatment that fits your symptoms. This could include psychotherapy, antianxiety medications or natural remedies such as exercise, healthy diet, and sleep.

1. Fear and Worry

Everyone experiences anxiety and fear at times. It's part of the body's "fight or fight" response to danger. If the feeling is intense, does not go away and interferes with your daily routine it could be an indication of anxiety disorder. Your doctor can identify anxiety disorders through a conversation with you, a physical exam, blood or urine tests, and questions about your health history. You also might be given questionnaires to fill out to help your doctor determine whether you have a particular anxiety disorder.

The symptoms of anxiety disorders differ according to the kind. People with generalized anxiety disorder, for instance have a tendency to worry excessively and unintentionally about everyday events even though there isn't any real threat. They also have trouble sleeping or relaxing. Other signs include a rapid or racing heart (heart beating), trembling, and sweating. People who suffer from panic disorders are prone to experiencing frequent periods of intense terror or fear that reach their peak within a matter of minutes. They also have trouble managing their emotions. They avoid certain places and activities to avoid attacks.

People who suffer from phobias have extreme fears of certain things, such as snakes or flying. They may also have other symptoms as well such as breathing difficulties or a headache. People suffering from PTSD are anxious following an experience or witnessing an event that is traumatic like an accident in a car or a war. They may also experience other symptoms, too, including nightmares and flashbacks of the traumatic incident.

Other anxiety disorders include ocd (obsessive compulsive disorder) as well as 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 a specific health problem, known as illness anxiety disorder (formerly known as hypochondria). Stress and chemical imbalances can cause anxiety. Some medicines can cause anxiety as a side-effect.

2. Panic Attacks

People suffering from anxiety disorders have recurring feelings of fear and panic that are out of proportion to the situation. These feelings can cause severe physical reactions, such as a racing pulse, breathlessness, and nausea. You might also feel disengaged or numb.

Although anyone can suffer from panic attacks however, you're more likely develop this mental health condition in childhood, adolescence or early adulthood. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including severe or prolonged stress that creates an imbalance in the chemical system of your nervous system and brain. Traumas that are severe, especially during childhood or adolescence can increase the likelihood of developing anxiety disorders.

Panic attacks can occur for no apparent reason or in response to a specific circumstance that makes you feel anxious, such as being around large numbers of people. They are distinct from the usual anxiety-related symptoms because they cause more intense symptoms and are usually unexpected. People suffering from anxiety disorders might also experience a mixture of unanticipated and expected panic attacks.

The most commonly used treatments for panic attacks and anxiety include medication and talk therapy. Talking therapies can help you understand how to manage your fears and get rid of unfounded beliefs that cause anxiety. They can teach you relaxation techniques, like deep breathing and mindfulness. Certain medications, especially SSRIs (such as Prozac and Paxil) and SNRIs (such as duloxetine and venlafaxine) can help reduce anxiety and make panic less severe.

It's important that you see your doctor right away if you suffer from frequent panic attacks. Your doctor will be able to check for other health conditions that have similar symptoms and recommend other treatments.

3. Insomnia

When people are stressed they may have trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep at night. This is referred to as insomnia. It could be a short-term issue or a longer-term one. Insomnia makes it difficult to function during the day and can cause serious health issues. It is more prevalent among older adults and affects more women than men. It is more common in those with psychiatric disorders.

Insomnia can be caused by a variety of different factors. In the short term, illnesses such as colds or headaches, as well as chronic illnesses like arthritis, acid reflux or Parkinson's disease; and medication can all affect your sleep. Stressful life situations can also cause it. Around half of people who suffer from chronic insomnia have a mental health condition, most often anxiety or depression.

A doctor will first investigate physical causes. They will examine your medical history and inquire about the symptoms making it difficult to sleep. They'll also want know if any of the medications you are taking affect it. They might also do an overnight sleep study so that they can monitor your breathing and heart rate during the night.

The most effective method of treating insomnia is to use behavioral therapy. It helps you to change the negative thinking patterns that keep you awake. It also shows you how to unwind before going to bed. There are techniques for doing this, such as progressive muscle relaxation, biofeedback and meditation. Your doctor can help you locate a therapist that can teach you the techniques. If the behavioral therapy doesn't work then you can try a variety of medications to help you sleep better. These include benzodiazepines which can be used to ease symptoms temporarily and can also be used as an anti-anxiety and antidepressant medication.

4. Eating Disorders

Eating disorders involve preoccupations with weight, body shape and food, as well eating behaviors like restricted eating, binge eating, purging (through vomiting or laxative misuse) and compulsive exercise. A lot of people who suffer from an eating disorder also have anxiety and have a mental illness co-occurring with it like bipolar or depression disorder. When they are combined, these two conditions can create a vicious circle where the person's mood disorders increase the symptoms of their eating disorder.

There is a strong link between anxiety and eating disorders, with higher levels of anxiety symptoms being linked to greater severity of the disorder. Anorexia nervosa sufferers are more likely to suffer from high levels of anxiety-related symptoms. The same holds true for binge-eating disorders, bulimia, or the condition known as bulimia. In some instances, anxiety can be the primary reason for an eating disorder. In other cases, it could be an additional symptom of an eating disorder.

In one study, researchers discovered that depression and anxiety symptoms were significantly related to more severe eating disorder symptomatology in females who were young. The team of researchers used the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4), a 4-item measure of core anxiety and depression symptoms. They also assessed the severity of a person's eating disorder and asked participants to rate their strategies for coping for anxiety.

The authors of the study also analyzed three factors that may be a reason best drug for anxiety disorder the connection between anxiety and eating disorders: self-esteem, perfectionism and mood dysregulation. They found that these three factors played a role in reducing the connection between anxiety/depression symptoms and symptomatology of eating disorders, and that they did differently for different subgroups of the sample. They hope the findings will result in more specific and targeted treatment for eating disorders.

5. Physical conditions that are a result of anxiety

The majority of people experience feelings of anxiety at some moment, but it turns into a disorder when it's severe and affects daily life. Some sufferers also experience physical symptoms, such as chest pain or stomach upset according to the type of anxiety they suffer from.

The appropriate treatment can help people live more healthy and happier lives. Many people benefit from psychotherapy or talk therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a common kind. CBT is generalized anxiety disorder a disability a method of helping you identify and change negative thoughts which can trigger anxiety and fear. It also teaches you how to face the things that make you anxious and conquer your fears in small steps.

Medication can be helpful. Benzodiazepines like diazepam and Valium can help ease anxiety or panic attacks. Antidepressants, such as tricyclic antidepressants or SSRIs, may also be prescribed. These drugs increase levels of certain brain chemicals that regulate mood, and are able to be used in conjunction together with other treatments to treat anxiety disorders.

Medical conditions can cause anxiety, and they may even exhibit the same symptoms as anxiety disorders. Head trauma can cause seasonal anxiety disorder and depression, for example. Other conditions that can trigger anxiety include chronic pain and fatigue disorders and rheumatologic conditions, such as lupus; and a variety of nutritional deficiencies, such as iron deficiency.

Certain aspects make a person more likely to develop an anxiety disorder. These are referred to as risk factors. Some are genetic, such as a family history of anxiety disorders. Other factors, such as the abuse of children, the presence of depression or other mental health issues and the accumulation of stress over a long time, may increase the risk of developing anxiety disorders. For these reasons, it is essential to undergo a thorough physical exam if you suspect you have anxiety.