What is Anxiety Disorder? #CauseAChatter

#MentalAwareness

Table of Contents

In today’s world having anxiety occasionally is totally normal. It’s a reaction of our brain towards stress or a potentially dangerous situation. In anxiety disorder, there’s overwhelming anxiety or fear towards things like school, work, or social get-together or any anxiety triggering situation.

Types of Anxiety Disorders

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Panic Disorders/ Phobia
Social Anxiety Disorder/ Social Phobia
Separation Anxiety
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Do I have Anxiety Disorder?

The symptoms of Anxiety Disorders are:

Panic, Fear & Uneasiness
Feeling of doom/ danger
Sleep Problems
Shortness of Breath
Hyperventilation
Palpitations
Headache/ Chronic Pain
Dry mouth
Nausea
Dizziness
Inability of Concentration
Intensely/ obsessively avoiding feared object/ places

Why do I have anxiety disorder?

Genetics
Emotional Stress
Environmental Factors
Drug Induced
Medical Conditions

What are the risk factors?

There are few conditions which predisposes a person towards Anxiety Disorder:

History of Mental diseases
Childhood Sexual Abuse
Trauma
Negative Life Events
Severe/ Chronic Illness
Substance Abuse
Shy Personality
Low self esteem

How do we treat Anxiety Disorder?

It could be treated with proper medication and counseling. It’s just like any other disease with proper care anyone could get well.

Medication:

Anti-depressant
Anti-anxiety drugs
Anti-psychotic drugs

Psychotherapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT):

It’s a type of psychotherapy in which they teach people different way of thinking, behaving and reacting towards anxiety inducing situation. CBT focuses on identifying the negative thoughts and converting them into a positive reaction.

Support Groups:

In support groups people discusses the fears, problems about the disease. they see each other coping with the disease and it gives them confidence and guidance to face the disease.

Associations:

Having an anxiety disorder could lead to, or worsen, other mental and physical conditions, such as:

Depression (which often associated with an anxiety disorder) or other mental health disorders
Substance abuse
Sleeping disorder
Digestive or bowel problems like Irritable Bowel Disease (IBS)
Headaches and chronic pain
Social isolation
Poor quality of life
Suicide

How can you help yourself get better?

Learn about the disease
Follow the treatment protocols
Reduce food rich in caffeine like coffee, tea, cola, energy drinks, chocolate etc.
Do not use alcohol/ recreational drugs
Eat healthy & exercise
Stress management techniques
Get better sleep
Relax and meditate
Keep a journal
Manage negative thoughts
Seek support

This post is part of Blogchatter’s initiative #CauseAChatter to spread awareness in the society regarding various stigmas and taboos. Through a series of posts, I’m spreading awareness regarding Mental Health. I hope you found my post helpful.

Be Safe & Be Happy

Disclaimer: This article is for reference purposes only, under no circumstances it should be used as a replacement of medical opinion by Professionals. Any decision regarding health and health care should be taken after professional advice only. Health care advice and information shared by the author are best to her knowledge. We disclaim all responsibilities for any inadvertent omission/ commission by the author or the website.