Anxiety Disorders And What Can Be Done To Stop Them
Roughly 40 million adults are affected by anxiety disorders each year in the United States alone. There are a number of different forms of these disorders, all of which cause those suffering from them to be filled with uncertainty and fear.
What causes anxiety? Brief forms can be triggered by some kind of stressful event, such as a first date or speaking in public. Ordinarily, these feelings fade quickly after the event is finished. People suffering from anxiety disorders can suffer from these feelings much longer - sometimes months at a time.
Just as there are multiple forms of anxiety disorders, there are also multiple therapies and treatments for them. The most common disorders include the following:
- social phobia, or social anxiety disorder (SAD)
- post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- panic disorder
- generalized anxiety disorder
Each form has its own symptoms, but they all suffer from the common symptom of excessive, often irrational, fear and dread.
Social Anxiety Disorder
Social Anxiety Disorder is characterized by strong feelings of humiliation and fear of being embarassed. When exposed to these type of situations, people suffering from SAD will often experience symptoms of an anxiety attack or panic attack, therefore they try to avoid these situations, sometimes to irrational extents.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
PTSD is most commonly associated with armed forces veterans, but in fact it can affect anyone. It is triggered by some kind of traumatic event. Most people will talk about the trauma they've been through, and work through their feelings of stress.
Some people can't or won't however, and they keep their feelings to themselves until they become overwhelming. When something triggers a memory of the event, their anxiety and fear can appear in the form of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
People suffering from Generalized Anxiety Disorder are often chronic worriers. They spend a great deal of time worrying about minor things. This can eventually go on for longer and longer periods of time, leading to lack of sleep and lack of concentration on other tasks.
Panic Disorder
Panic Disorder is characterized by feelings of panic, helplessness and terror. These feelings can be triggered by a memory that may not have any relation to where you are or what you're doing at the moment of the attack.
This disconnect between the cause and the actual feelings can be compounded by the fact that you are often wondering when the next attack is going to come.
If you exhibit any of these signs of anxiety, you can be treated and cured. There are a number of panic disorder medications, as well as other forms of treatment. The earlier you identify the problem, the easier it is to deal with. If you think you may be suffering from some form of anxiety disorder, you should seek professional help from your doctor.
