Anxiety is a feeling of apprehension about what may happen next. It is usual for anyone to experience occasional anxiety. However, Irvine anxiety disorders may make you have frequent, excessive, or persistent worry and fear concerning daily encounters. This is the most common type of emotional disorder, with women being at a higher risk than men. Repeated episodes of anxiety may interfere with your day-to-day activities. You may find yourself avoiding certain situations or places to prevent experiencing these feelings. When anxiety disorders reach a sudden peak, you may experience a panic attack.
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Various Types of Anxiety Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
If you have this type of anxiety, you may feel compelled to do things in a specific way. Your thoughts and behaviors may not make logical sense, and it may be difficult to stop them. There is no established cause for obsessive-compulsive disorder. However, research has shown that you may develop OCD if certain brain areas fail to respond to serotonin chemicals. Antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors may help minimize compulsive and obsessive behaviors. Talking with a mental health professional may also bring about change in your thought pattern and behavior.
The two common types of OCD include:
- Obsessive fear of germ Contamination.
- Perfectionism makes you want to achieve symmetry. Other times you may find yourself redoing one task.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
This is a mental condition that may develop after experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event. You may develop this disorder after a sexual assault, death of a loved one, natural disaster, war, physical assault, or an accident. After a traumatic event, it is normal for anyone to experience shock, fear, nervousness, and sometimes guilt. These feelings usually go away over time. However, if you have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the feelings may increase and affect your functionality.
What are the Symptoms of PTSD?
The symptoms are categorized into four main groups including:
- Re-living. People with PTSD may have thoughts and experience memories of the trauma through flashbacks, nightmares, and hallucinations. Other times, you may be overwhelmed and feel great distress when particular anniversaries remind you of the trauma.
- Increased sensitivity. You may experience excessive emotions such as outbursts of anger and irritability. Falling or staying asleep may also become problematic. PTSD may make you easily startled. You may sometimes experience physical symptoms such as diarrhea, rapid breathing, muscle tension, and a faster heartbeat.
- Avoiding. If you have PTSD, you may find yourself avoiding places, people, and situations that remind you of the traumatic event. This may result in detachment and isolation from friends or family members. You may also lose interest in activities that you once enjoyed.
- Negative cognitions. You may experience emotions that make you may blame yourself for what happened.
Treatment for Post-Traumatic stress Disorder
- Psychotherapy. This treatment method helps you learn skills to manage symptoms and develop coping strategies. It involves different forms of therapy such as cognitive-behavioral, family, prolonged exposure, and group therapy.
- Your doctor may prescribe mood stabilizers medications such as lamotrigine to help control the feelings of anxiety.
Anxiety disorders may negatively affect your social life and mental health. If you are experiencing excessive worry and fear, visit your specialist at Americas TMS Center to diagnose and treat anxiety disorder.
