Have you ever experienced rapid heart rate, confusion, incapacity to move, and excessive fear of dying? Don’t worry! Some symptoms have some forms of external factors that may exacerbate the symptoms. But if you have experienced these conditions frequently, you must consult a mental health specialist, e.g., psychologist, psychiatrist, etc.

In this blog, we will discuss how anxiety disorder develops, its early signs and symptoms, and how effective treatment can reduce these symptoms. Read to the end; it contains valuable information you may have never heard. Let’s dive into this topic.

What is Anxiety Disorder, and how does it affect a Person? 

Anxiety is a person’s reaction to a perceived threat and causes a series of actions in the body. According to WHO, more than 4% of the global population is suffering from some form or type of anxiety that affects their quality of life. Not only does it negatively affect your daily life, but it also causes professional and relationship deterioration. 

Anxiety is embedded in our psychology and part of the fight-or-flight survival mechanism that ensures an organism or human takes immediate action to reduce threats to its life. In short, it’s a response of the human body to stress. In contrast, anxiety disorder is a specific list of clinical psychopathologies that includes:

• General anxiety disorder (GAD)
• Panic Disorder (PD)
• Social anxiety disorder (SAD)
• Phobias

The disorders mentioned above have some overlapping symptoms, but their treatment differs due to the nature of their symptoms, duration, and effects on the suffering individual. Clinical psychologists or psychiatrists offer individualized anxiety medication and therapy as per the requirement of the disorder.       

Difference Between Anxiety and Fear

Understanding the difference between anxiety and fear can be challenging for some, and many people think of them as the same. Having complete and accurate knowledge about both conditions helps better manage symptoms. Anxiety is an outcome of fear where real or imagined threat(s) initiates a physiological chain of events resulting in elevated heart rate, elevated sugar level, heightened sensory response, and muscular activity.

Fear, on the other hand, also induces the same process, but the duration of fear lasts less long than anxiety. Symptoms of fear subside when a person perceives that they are no longer in danger, whereas, in anxiety, persistent tension lasts from seconds to hours and days if left untreated. Additionally, anxiety disorder symptoms appear without any apparent reason, whereas fear has a physical presence that may be in the shape of upcoming exams, seeing a snake, etc. Understanding the dichotomy between fear and anxiety may help individuals in knowing when they may need an expert’s intervention.

Types of Anxiety Disorders

After having basic knowledge about the difference between fear and anxiety, let’s see what common types of anxiety disorders you or maybe your loved one are going through. The most common types of anxieties are the following:

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive anxiety and worry about several activities, including work, health, family members, and everyday life. The duration of this type of anxiety typically lasts at least 6 months and has a profound effect on an individual’s social, personal, and academic activities. According to DSM-5-TR, common symptoms of GAD are:

• Excessive Worrying
• Restlessness
• Fatigue
• Difficulty Concentrating
• Irritability
• Muscle Tension
• Sleep Disturbances 

According to the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), about 9% of the American population is at risk of acquiring it in their lifetime. Similarly, prevalence between men and women ranges from 2.8% to 3.1%. Women are twice as likely to suffer from generalized anxiety disorder as men. Without appropriate intervention by a certified therapist, minimizing symptoms’ onset is impossible.

Panic Disorder

A panic attack is characterized by a sudden surge in intense fear or intense discomfort experienced by an individual. There are two types of panic disorder: nocturnal panic attack and morning panic attack. Nocturnal panic attacks typically occur when a person is sleeping and all of a sudden awakes due to this condition. According to many studies, one-quarter to one-third of sufferers experience nocturnal or unexpected panic attacks in the United States.

Additionally, nocturnal panic disorder is more severe in symptoms and intensity of effects on a person than daytime ones. Moreover, symptoms of panic attacks are the same as other conditions in panic disorders. However, panic attack symptoms come rapidly with high intensity but subside quickly. 

Specific Phobias

Many people suffering from anxiety disorder also experience unrealistic and persistent fear of an object, situation, or activity that they try to the best of their abilities to avoid at all costs. Phobia can be attributed to animate or inanimate objects and has many types. For an accurate diagnosis, a clinician must evaluate a client thoroughly and preferably in-person consultation. These are some of the most common phobias:

• Agoraphobia (Fearing of going out) 
• Aerophobia (Fear of being in an airplane)
• Hemophobia (Fear of blood)
• Claustrophobia (Fear of closed spaces)
• Acrophobia (Fear of heights)
• Germaphobia (Fear of germs and contamination)
• Nosocomephobia (Fear of hospitals)
• Arachnophobia (Fear of spiders)
• Aquaphobia (Fear of water)
• Pyrophobia (Fear of fire)  

Social Anxiety Disorder

Social anxiety disorder is a widely spread condition that affects 5-10% of the global population and 1 in 10 teens/adults in the US. This condition affects an individual by social inhibition, which is typically characterized by shyness and less interaction in social settings. Suffering individuals have a persistent fear of being negatively evaluated based on their dress, race, financial status, etc. The classical symptoms of this disorder affect their self-esteem, and people try their best to avoid such situations where they are required to participate. People suffering from social anxiety disorder may show the below-mentioned characteristics:

• Fear of being judged, rejected, or humiliated by others
• Avoid talking to strangers or even people they know.
• Sweating, trembling, palpitations in social gathering
• Avoiding eye contact and speaking in a soft voice
• The feeling of incompetence and negatively judging oneself
• The feeling of diarrhea, nausea, or abdominal cramps when anticipating talking
• Feeling dizziness and experiencing shortness of breath

Separation Anxiety Disorder

This disorder is typically common in children and adolescents, where they have repeated and intense fear of separation from their parents, loved ones, or caregivers. The core characteristics and symptoms of this disorder can be divided into the following:

Excessive Distress 

Intense fear-provoking or anxiety-inducing thoughts are experienced when a child’s parents are going away from home. Children may show temper tantrums to stop that from happening.

Worry About Losing Attachment Figures

Children are constantly worried that they may lose their parents/attachment figures due to some unforeseen events, and they will be all alone. 

Reluctance to Be Alone

Suffering individuals show refusal and reluctance to do typical work such as going to school, work, or even meeting their friends due to fear of separation from their loved ones.

Nightmares

Individuals going through this condition also experience separation-based nightmares and loss of sleep occasionally.

Physical Symptoms

The majority of sufferers of this condition experience physical symptoms such as headaches, migraines, diarrhea, upset stomach, etc., when they anticipate separation.

Selective Mutism

Selective mutism is another form of social anxiety disorder where children, despite being able to speak and communicate effectively, choose to stay silent in social settings. Children exhibit this behavior even in front of their cousins, grandparents, etc., and remain silent if encouraged or provoked. Typical symptoms of this behavioral disorder entail:

• Consistent Inability to Speak
• Consistent Silence in Specific Situations
• Avoidance of Speaking
• Nonverbal Communication
• Physical Symptoms of Anxiety

How Common Are Anxiety Disorders?

In the past, many people felt shame and hesitation in sharing their mental health information with anyone. However, due to the removal of the stigma attached to anxiety disorders and encouragement to share such symptoms, better control mechanisms have developed where we can see the latest statistics of this psychopathy.

According to DSM-5-TR, more than 18% of US adults are suffering from various types of anxiety disorders. According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), almost 30% of American adults experience symptoms of anxiety and panic attacks at some point in their lives. The rise of social media is also exacerbating mental health problems in adults and playing a significant role in growing cases.

Risk Factors for Anxiety Disorders

Risk factors that give rise to the onset of mental health problems, especially anxiety disorders, are categorized below:

Genetics

According to current research, 30% of anxiety disorders can be genetically inherited by the offspring of individuals who are suffering from this mental health issue.    

Brain Chemistry

Neurotransmitter imbalances also play a significant role in the onset of psychological disorders. Serotonin, widely known as the “happy hormone,” may cause depression if there’s an imbalance in its secretion.

Personality Traits

Apart from genetic makeup and brain chemistry, personality traits such as introversion, extroversion, and being prone to stress and risk-avoiding behavior may also contribute to anxiety disorders.

Environmental Factors

The environment is also a significant risk factor that contributes by introducing traumatic events like abuse, neglect, heartbreak, financial loss, and the death of a loved one, which can trigger anxiety disorders.

Medical Condition

Certain medical conditions that may cause anxiety disorders, such as thyroid problems, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease, cancer, etc, are also risk factors for this condition. 

Substance Abuse

The use of various substances like alcohol, medications, marijuana, and psychedelics can cause acute onset of anxiety disorder, and prolonged use exacerbates symptoms into chronic stages.

Childhood experiences

Early childhood experiences imprint a lasting impression on a person, such as parental overprotection, lack of emotional and moral support, parental strictness, and absence, propagating the development of anxiety disorders.

Diagnosis, Treatment, and Self-Help

Anxiety disorder treatment is contingent on an accurate diagnosis from a mental health therapist/provider. Let’s discuss this step further:

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is the first step towards treatment that should be comprehensive and eliminate any doubts from solid findings about psychopathology. For this purpose, booking an appointment with a certified and expert mental health practitioner is of utmost urgency for optimal recovery and lessening of symptoms associated with anxiety disorders. A psychiatrist or psychologist is an expert who treats all mental health issues, including anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, and various other psychological and behavioral problems. 

A diagnosis may consist of many stages of outcomes or verdicts about a mental health condition. On your first visit, your mental health provider may ask you to go through psychological tests that may consist of:

• Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)
• Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC)
• Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales
• Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)
• Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
• Rorschach Inkblot Test
• Self-report questionnaires

After these above-mentioned psychological tests, mental health professionals evaluate the results, diagnose actual problems or psychopathy causing distress, and offer solutions.      

Treatment Options

A wide variety of treatment options are available for the appropriate control of symptoms of anxiety, panic attacks, depression, irrational behavior, etc. Here, we will mention some common therapeutic interventions used by a psychiatrist, psychologist, or mental health therapist.  

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a widely known psychotherapy that involves changing irrational behavioral patterns of a person suffering from anxiety disorders, including anxiety, panic attacks, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). This therapy is non-invasive, and the use of medication is typically prohibited or kept at a minimum. CBT has various methods of bringing positive change in an individual and changing behavioral patterns. These are the methods employed by therapists in this therapy:

Cognitive Restructuring 

Identifying and challenging negative thoughts to replace them with more realistic and positive ones.

Exposure Therapy

Gradually facing feared situations to reduce anxiety over time.

Behavioral Activation 

Engaging in activities that are enjoyable or meaningful to counteract depression and anxiety.

Relaxation Techniques 

Learning methods such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and mindfulness to manage physical symptoms of anxiety.

Psychoeducation

Understanding the nature of anxiety and how it affects thoughts and behaviors.

Medications

Various kinds of medications provide instant relief in lowering anxiety symptoms. The majority of drugs are used in tandem with psychotherapy to assist individuals with chronic depression and phobias to recover quickly. Types of medicines that are used frequently in alleviating suffering from this condition are the following:

• Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

Includes Sertraline (Zoloft), Fluoxetine (Prozac), Citalopram (Celexa), Escitalopram (Lexapro) 

• Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)

Includes Duloxetine (Cymbalta), Venlafaxine (Effexor XR)

• Benzodiazepines

Includes Alprazolam (Xanax), Lorazepam (Ativan),Diazepam (Valium)

• Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)

Includes Amitriptyline (Elavil), Imipramine (Tofranil)

Self-Help & Coping Strategies

Besides medication and psychotherapy, individuals going through anxiety disorder may take a few other steps to reduce the intensity and effects of this condition. Self-management and coping mechanisms may help in lowering a person’s reaction to anxiety-provoking situations, thus making them immune to stress and panic gradually.

Additionally, individuals going through such psychological turmoil may join support groups where they can talk to people with the same issues. This way, they can better understand their condition and collective efforts to improve quality of life.

Moreover, if you or your loved ones are suffering from anxiety disorder and are taking caffeine, then it might exacerbate their symptoms and anxiety. Caffeine is a diuretic and propagates vasoconstriction that consequently increases heart rate, palpitations, and the result of anxiety and panic. Thus, it is essential for individuals having anxiety issues to stop intake of all products containing caffeine, including coffee, tea, soda, energy drinks, etc.

In a snapshot, anxiety disorders are difficult to manage, but a therapeutic intervention by a certified and expert psychologist/psychiatrist may offer long-term management solutions. Individuals must note any changes in their behavior and consult a therapist for an immediate solution.

How Emycele Mental Health Clinic Can Help?

Emycele Health Services in Solon, Ohio, has offered mental health betterment services for over 15 years. We have enabled hundreds of clients to empower and take control of their lives. Ms. Emilia Chinenye Mba (MSN, PMHNP-BC) is a board-certified psychiatric nurse practitioner and has made tremendous improvements in a variety of clients suffering from anxiety disorder and other psychological challenges. Her empathic and humanistic approach to treating mental health problems in children, teens, and adults has improved clinical outcomes, resulting in well-balanced social, personal, and occupational well-being. Suppose you or your loved one are suffering from any type of mental health problem, including anxiety and behavioral disorder. In that case, you may book your appointment here and get assistance from qualified staff.