What Are Anxiety Disorders?

Many people find themselves asking, what are anxiety disorders and could I possibly have one? In fact there are several types of recognized anxiety disorders, and they each come with incredibly different symptoms. In order to determine what the best course of treatment is we must examine the different disorders and the range of treatment options available.

Types of Anxiety Disorders

So, what are anxiety disorders and what is the difference between them? Anxiety is a natural human emotion. Feeling anxiety once in a while when faced with a challenge at work, or before a test is completely normal. However, anxiety disorders completely disrupt a person’s life. They are constant and can be overwhelming, and sufferers need to find a course of treatment that works for their specific disorder. Some common anxiety disorders include:

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder – People with this OCD have repeated and unwanted thoughts, ideas, feelings, behaviors, and obsessions that make them feel driven to perform certain rituals or do things a certain way.
• Panic Disorder – People with this condition have sudden feelings of terror and fear that occur with little to no warning. Physical symptoms include heart palpitations, trouble breathing, sweating, chest pain, and the feeling of having a heart attack.
• Phobias – Phobic people have a persistent and irrational fear of a specific object or situation. The level of fear is usually disproportionate to the situation, and often interferes with the person leading a normal life.

Symptoms

What are anxiety disorders and how do you know if you have one? The symptoms of anxiety disorders can vary greatly depending on the type of disorder. Here are some key things to look for:

• Excessive worrying or anxious thoughts
• Trouble falling or staying asleep
• Overwhelming self-consciousness
• Irrational fears
• Near-constant muscle tension
• Panic attacks

Just because you show one of these symptoms, it does not necessarily mean you have an anxiety disorder. A doctor must be consulted before a diagnosis can be made.

Treatment Options

Now, what are anxiety disorders and what can you do to treat them? There are actually a wide range of treatment options and not every treatment works for every person. You should carefully consider your options and try out as many treatments as possible, to ensure you find a method that works for you.

• Medication – Drugs like antidepressants and anxiety medication are commonly prescribed for anxiety disorders, but they also carry a high risk of dependence and negative side effects.
• Psychotherapy – This type of therapy involves working a mental health professional who focuses on the emotional response to anxiety disorders. The therapist helps the patient develop strategies for coping with their disorder.
• Cognitive- Behavioral Therapy – This form of therapy focuses on teaching the patient to recognize and begin to change troublesome patterns of thought and behavior. The goal is that eventually patients are able to stop themselves before they fall into destructive habit patterns.
• Neurofeedback Therapy – This is a therapeutic method of exercising the brain that seeks to guide dysfunctional brainwave patterns back to normal, organized patterns. By doing this, the brain is able to operate efficiently and properly. Neurofeedback therapy has no serious side effects, and has been shown effective in managing many neurological conditions including anxiety, panic attacks, and insomnia. Click here to find a neurofeedback provider near you. 
• Dietary and Lifestyle Changes – Avoiding caffeine and alcohol, eating real, organic foods, and keeping a normal sleep schedule can significantly improve anxiety disorders. Taking care of yourself and avoiding unnecessarily stressful situations can be a big help in combating detrimental symptoms.