Part I- The Basics of Anxiety Disorders

Introduction

Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions, yet they are also not clearly understood by many people.  There are a number of different types of anxiety disorders, and each can present with a very different set of symptoms and effects.  Understanding anxiety disorders is important for patients, and it can often help make treatment more effective.

anxiety pain

In the chapters that follow, we will be offering an overview of anxiety and taking a look at the different types of anxiety disorders.  We will look at the definitions, symptoms, and causes of each anxiety disorder.  We will also go over the most common and effective forms of therapeutic treatment for each anxiety disorder.

At the end of each chapter, you will also find a brief questionnaire that you can use to help you better determine if you or someone you know may suffer from that particular anxiety disorder.  These questionnaires are not meant to diagnose or treat any anxiety disorder, but rather as a means to help you know whether or not you may want to speak with a physician or mental health professional about the possibility that you are experiencing symptoms of that disorder.

Understanding the causes of your symptoms and what they mean is an important part of treating anxiety disorders, and whenever you are able to obtain the appropriate diagnosis, it can be much easier to get the treatment that you need.  Keep in mind that it is possible to suffer from more than one anxiety disorder and that for many people, these disorders can occur at the same time as other mental health issues such as depression.  Speak with your doctor or mental health professional if you believe that you are experiencing symptoms of any mental illness, as these conditions can be treated.

You will note that medication treatments are not mentioned in these sections.  While there will be greater mention of these treatments in the second half of the book, there is sufficient evidence that treating anxiety with medication can lead to dependence and to masking of the symptoms.  Therapy has proven to be exceptionally effective at treating anxiety disorders, especially in people who also make changes to diet, exercise and their lifestyles.  Because of this, we will be focusing on therapeutic and natural ways to treat these conditions safely and without causing the risk of dangerous side effects and secondary effects.

The Basics of Anxiety

man in anxiety

Anxiety is a very common occurrence.  It happens to many people during times of stress and anticipation.  For most people, however, anxiety is easily manageable and the symptoms are short lived.  This can be as simple as feeling excited about going on vacation and getting a little less sleep the night before or finding yourself waking up early with more energy than usual.  It can also occur before giving a speech at work or before doing something new for the first time.  Anxiety in and of itself is not troublesome, but for some people, it can be frightening.

For some people, the symptoms of anxiety can be almost crippling.  They can create a sense of panic or doom, and they can come without any discernible cause.  For people experiencing this type of anxiety, finding the proper treatment is necessary.

At its most basic, anxiety is a state of nervousness, fear, or worry.  While it is typically quite mild and vague, for people with more severe anxiety, it can be debilitating.  While anxiety itself is something that we all experience from time to time, the clinical definition is something a bit different.  For an anxiety disorder to be diagnosed, anxiety must typically interfere with one’s ability to sleep and to function, must occur for a prolonged amount of time, and must be difficult or impossible to control.

When looking to see if a patient may have one of the many anxiety disorders, a doctor will also have to ensure that the symptoms are not caused by a medical or other problem.  Many of the symptoms of anxiety can be attributed to physical illnesses, hormonal imbalances, substance abuse, and other things.  A doctor must rule out other causes before a diagnosis of any anxiety disorder can be made.

You Are Not Alone

If you are experiencing sudden and severe symptoms of anxiety, you are certainly not alone.  In America alone, the National Institute of Mental Health estimates that there are more than forty million people who suffer with anxiety disorders.  This does not just mean people who experience bouts of anxiety before a test or big event, but people who experience debilitating anxiety and for whom the condition can be a major disrupting factor in their lives.

When you are first beginning to experience anxiety or to consider seeking help, it can be easy to feel as though you are alone or as though you are the only person experiencing such severe symptoms.  Knowing how common these disorders truly are can be a comfort, especially when you know that there is also help available.

Anxiety Takes Many Shapes

When trying to determine if you have anxiety or an anxiety disorder, it is important to realize that these disorders take many forms.  You may know someone else with an anxiety disorder and yet actually have very few symptoms in common.  Because of this, identifying anxiety disorders often takes a great deal of work on the part of your doctor or psychiatrist.

Not only must certain medical conditions be ruled out, but a history of trauma, lifestyle changes, and symptoms must be gathered before a definitive diagnosis of an anxiety disorder can be made.  Once you realize that there are indeed many forms of anxiety and anxiety disorders, it becomes easier to see how difficult they can be to diagnose.  This is especially true when considering how many different ways anxiety can present itself.

Anxiety Can Be Hard to Recognize

Realizing that you have anxiety can sometimes be quite difficult, and it is often not until you start displaying symptoms that are outside of normal anxiety that a proper diagnosis is even made.  For many people, initial anxiety symptoms come on so gradually that you easily become accustomed to them.  Your thought patterns and energy levels change somewhat slowly and all of the symptoms do not appear at the same time, which makes it hard to initially realize that something is different.  It is often not until a disorder has fully manifested or until symptoms become very bothersome that patients realize that something is wrong.

Anxiety Has Hundreds of Symptoms

anxiety symptoms

When someone asks what the symptoms of anxiety are, most people would give a fairly generic answer.  Shaking, sweating, nervousness, trouble sleeping, rapid speech; these are all fairly common symptoms of anxiety.  Yet they are only the tip of the iceberg in terms of what symptoms anxiety can really present with.  There are actually hundreds of symptoms of anxiety, which we will list below.  It is important to realize that many of these symptoms can also be associated with mental and physical problems outside of anxiety and your doctor should diagnose any conditions rather than simply determining on your own that you have anxiety.  Consult a medical professional any time you experience symptoms that are unsettling or could indicate a severe condition.