Symptoms of anxiety disorders vary in different people. Many people may experience a flighting twinge of anxiety, while others may feel a spear has been plunged deep into their heart. What these people do have in common is a feeling of dread, and angst.

 

Agonizing over real or imagined threats to one's well-being. There is a fair amount of anxiety in our everyday life, that is to be expected. However when it starts to overwhelm you and complicates your day to day activities it is not ordinary. Anxiety symptoms are physical and psychological. And can be extremely debilitating.

Some of these may include the following:

→Insomnia

→Feeling faint

→Racing Heart

→Sweating

→Chest discomfort

→Numbness in hands/feet

→Dry mouth

→Heart palpitations

→Shortness of breath

→Stomach ache

→Diarrhea

→Feeling of Dread

→Unable to control thinking

The cause of anxiety can differ with each person.   Anxiety can be caused by stress, a health condition, or deeper symptoms could be causing you anxiety.

Possible Causes

→Hypoglycemia

→Medication Side Effects

→Negative self-talk

→Job Stress

→Withdrawal substance such as alcohol or other drug

→Other anxiety disorders

→Stress

→A heart attack

→Low blood sugar

→Side affects from other medications

　

Listed below are six anxiety disorders that may interfere with your daily living.

　

1. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) - We all worry sometimes,  with GAD,  sufferers stay worried, they fear the worst will come to pass, and cannot relax.  GAD sufferers chronically feel afraid and worry about health,  money,  family,  work,  or school.  They struggle with identifying their specific fear and controlling their worries.  Their fear is usually unrealistic in their situation.  Sufferers expect failure and catastrophe to the point that it interferes with daily functions like work, school, social activities, and relationships.  Generalized Anxiety Disorder lasts for at least six months every day. For a accurate diagnosis check in with your doctor.

　

2. Social Anxiety Disorder/Social Phobia (SAD) - Irrational fear of being judged by others or behaving in a way that might cause embarrassment or scorn in public.  People with Social Anxiety Phobia will go to any length to avoid being watched or evaluated by others.  Underlying social anxiety disorder is the fear of being scrutinized,  judged,  or embarrassed in public.

3. Panic Disorder- Severe attacks of terror,  which may make a person feel like they are having a heart attack or going insane without warning.  Characterized by unexpected and recurrent episodes of intense fear accompanied with repeated panic attacks.  Symptoms of a panic attack include shortness of breath,  sweating,  dizziness,  hot flashes,  intense fear of dying,  chest pain or discomfort.

4. Specific Phobias- Irrational fear of an object,  place or situation,  such as riding in elevators, driving on highways or heights,  that lead to an avoidance of the object or situation.  People with specific phobias will more often than not reveal that their fear is irrational and inappropriate in most circumstances.  The distress associated with the phobia and the need to avoid the object or situation can significantly interfere with the person's ability to function.

5. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)- Prolonged,  obsessive thoughts that reflect exaggerated anxiety or fears and manifest as repetitive behaviors or compulsive rituals.  The uncontrollable need to scrub your hands habitually or the insistence on absolute neatness and order. Checking doors or windows a specific number of times. It is a chronic anxiety disorder most commonly characterized by obsessive,  distressing,  intrusive thoughts and related compulsions.  Compulsions are rituals which attempt to balance the obsessions.

6. Post traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)- Several months or years after a traumatic experience,  avoidance,  detachment,  difficulty sleeping and concentrating,  plus the need to relive the traumatic event.  It is common to have upsetting memories of what happened,  to have trouble sleeping,  to feel agitated,  or to lose interest in things you used to enjoy.  For some people these reactions do not go away on their own,  or may continuously get worse over time.  Anyone who has gone through a life-threatening event can develop PTSD. Combat or military exposure,  child,  or physical abuse, terrorist attacks,  sexual or physical attack, serious accident, such as a car wreck,  natural disasters,  such as a fire, tornado, hurricane, flood.

　

Treatment Options

→Biofeedback

→Hypnosis

→Exercise

→Medication.  Anti-anxiety medication such as Klonopin,  Xanax,  Ativan and sometimes an anti-depressant can be prescribed along with the anti-deprresant.

→Some type of counseling may be beneficial.

→Group Therapy

　

　Self-help Tips

→Establish what is causing you stress. Use a journal to log your moods and triggers.

→Change your environment. Move your furniture around,  paint,  buy some new rugs,  try  modifying  your scenery.

→Fun.  Whatever your hobby is. Try distracting yourself with something you enjoy doing.

→Exercise.  Anything as long as you are active.

→Rehearse how you will do things.  Make it a routine. Write it down and check it off as you do them.

→Avoid caffeine. Caffeine will make anxiety worse.

→Talk to someone you trust about what is bothering you.

→Avoid excessive drinking,  self medicating doesn't solve the problem.

→Help others,  it takes your mind off your own problems.

You have to decide what treatment is best for you.  The self-help coping tips for anxiety can be very effective,  however  if your worries and fears have been causing extreme distress or disrupting your daily routine,  it is a good time to seek professional help.