A brief explanation of what is anxiety disorder would be to simply say that it is extreme and incapacitating nervousness. It is an illness in which an individual has a fear of either a situation, a place, or a thing. The fear can either be of something real or imagined, logical or irrational.

Everyone gets nervous at one time or another in life, but a person with anxiety disorder is often unable to function normally because of the crippling fear. The sufferer will often do just about anything to avoid the uncomfortable symptoms associated with it. Symptoms may include sweating, slurred speech, inability to speak, rapid heart beat, racing thoughts, urge to run, fainting, more nervousness, and imagined ridicule from others.

There are several types of these illnesses. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a general fear of any and all situations. A person with this sickness could be afraid to drive, scared of falling ill, or nervous about going grocery shopping. With GAD the doctor normally can not specify what the patient’s specific fear is, so he labels him or her with this standard illness.

One of the more specific types nervousness illness is social anxiety disorder. In cases of SAD the individual is afraid of social settings or people. The fear is not of the people themselves, but more of being ridiculed, judged, or embarrassed by those people. The sufferer may have had a traumatic embarrassing situation occur earlier in life. Perhaps he or she was wrongfully judged by someone. If the tendency to develop this ailment was there, then one bad experience could have easily made it develop. No specific incident necessarily causes a case of SAD though.

Suffers of this specific version are known to avoid social situations at all costs. In severe cases, a man or woman who is ill may never leave his or her home.

Obsessive compulsive disorder is a dual affliction that involves recurring obsessive nervous thoughts and compulsive actions that are performed to ease the terror from such thoughts. For example, an individual with obsessive compulsive disorder may have a disturbing fear of germs and will wash his or her hands several hundred times a day to avoid them.

What Other Illness Describe What is Anxiety Disorder?

Other illnesses that describe what is anxiety disorder are post traumatic stress disorder, panic attacks, and specific phobias. All of these are classified in the same category and have the overall main symptom of an extreme sense of fear.

Treatment for this mental disability will usually require prescription medications and some form of therapy. An anti-depressant may be prescribed for a person with post traumatic stress disorder because depression may occur. Normally anti anxiety drugs are given.

In addition to receiving medication, a patient should enroll in therapy sessions to learn how to manage the negative thoughts that are causing the fears. With enough time and care, the effects of any disorder can be reduced significantly. Hopefully they can be managed enough to where the patient can function normally in most of his or her life tasks.

A Brief Explanation of What is Anxiety Disorder

A brief explanation of what is anxiety disorder would be to simply say that it is extreme and incapacitating nervousness. It is an illness in which an individual has a fear of either a situation, a place, or a thing. The fear can either be of something real or imagined, logical or irrational.

Everyone gets nervous at one time or another in life, but a person with anxiety disorder is often unable to function normally because of the crippling fear. The sufferer will often do just about anything to avoid the uncomfortable symptoms associated with it. Symptoms may include sweating, slurred speech, inability to speak, rapid heart beat, racing thoughts, urge to run, fainting, more nervousness, and imagined ridicule from others.

There are several types of these illnesses. Generalized anxiety disorder is a general fear of any and all situations. A person with this sickness could be afraid to drive, scared of falling ill, or nervous about going grocery shopping. With GAD the doctor normally can not specify what the patient’s specific fear is, so he labels him or her with this standard illness.

One of the more specific types nervousness illness is social anxiety disorder. In cases of SAD the individual is afraid of social settings or people. The fear is not of the people themselves, but more of being ridiculed, judged, or embarrassed by those people. The sufferer may have had a traumatic embarrassing situation occur earlier in life. Perhaps he or she was wrongfully judged by someone. If the tendency to develop this ailment was there, then one bad experience could have easily made it develop. No specific incident necessarily causes a case of SAD though.

Suffers of this specific version are known to avoid social situations at all costs. In severe cases, a man or woman who is ill may never leave his or her home.

Obsessive compulsive disorder is a dual affliction that involves recurring obsessive nervous thoughts and compulsive actions that are performed to ease the terror from such thoughts. For example, an individual with obsessive compulsive disorder may have a disturbing fear of germs and will wash his or her hands several hundred times a day to avoid them.

Other illnesses that describe what is anxiety disorder are post traumatic stress disorder, panic attacks, and specific phobias. All of these are classified in the same category and have the overall main symptom of an extreme sense of fear.

Treatment for this mental disability will usually require prescription medications and some form of therapy. An anti-depressant may be prescribed for a person with post traumatic stress disorder because depression may occur. Normally anti anxiety drugs are given.

In addition to receiving medication, a patient should enroll in therapy sessions to learn how to manage the negative thoughts that are causing the fears. With enough time and care, the effects of any disorder can be reduced significantly. Hopefully they can be managed enough to where the patient can function normally in most of his or her life tasks.  Hopefully this article is helped better explain what is anxiety disorder.

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In a lot of cases, these occur with no warning at all. Usually, there is no definite reason for it happening. Believe it or not, it could even happen when you are asleep or relaxed. At times, an attack is a one-time event. However, there are those who experience repeated episodes. When such a recurrence happens, these are usually triggered by a certain situation such as public speaking or crossing a road. Usually, the situation which has triggered an event is one wherein you feel endangered.

These could occur more than once. At times, such attacks happen as part of a panic disorder such as depression or social phobia. Whatever the cause may be, do know that they are very much treatable. Though they usually strike when one is away from family, they could actually happen anytime. You may be shopping or driving your car or you might be sitting on your couch.

The signs of an oncoming tension could abruptly develop and then reach its peak in ten minutes. A lot of these  usually end in twenty to thirty minutes. It is very rare for one to last for more than sixty minutes. The instance this occurs, the following signs could be seen: heart palpitations, shortness of breath, shaking, sweating, trembling, nausea, hot flashes or cold flashes, numbness, fear of dying, feeling of going crazy.

You might be suffering from a panic disorder if you experience unexpected problems which are not connected with a particular situation, worry about an incoming panic attack and are avoiding areas where you have experienced a previous issue.

Though the specific causes of these tense-filled moments are not clear, there is a tendency for such to run in certain families. There is also a connection with main life changes such as entering a new workplace, college graduation, having a baby or getting married. Major stress such as a loved one’s death, job loss or divorce are a few triggers and causes of panic attacks.

Also, this problem might be due to medical causes or physical conditions. If you feel panic symptoms, it is a must that you see a medical doctor in order to remove the possibilities of you having mitral valve prolapse (a cardiac problem which occurs when the valves of the heart incorrectly close), hypoglycemia, medication withdrawal, stimulant use.

A few possible treatments for such a problem include cognitive behavior therapy. This treatment focuses on a person’s thinking patterns and behaviors. Exposure therapy is another form of treatment. This is where one is is exposed to the physical causes and sensations of panic in an environment that is controlled and safe. This allows the individual to learn more healthy ways of coping. A person could be asked to shake his or head, hyperventilate or hold one’s breath.

All in all, the triggers and causes of panic attacks are many but these will not have power over you if you go through the helpful treatments and take control of your fears.

Understand what panic attack is all about. Awareness is the most important weapon to combat panic attacks because when you feel or know that you are under an attack, it is much easier for you to counter the effects of the symptoms that go along with it. Remember this: panic attacks can happen to anyone. It can happen to stressed and depressed person as well as happy and healthy ones. It can happen without warning, without any apparent reason.

Triggers can also cause irrational and exaggerated fear and anxiety. Chemical imbalance in the body (low serotonin and low progesterone levels) can trigger an attack. And while there are so many studies that suggest some causes of panic attacks, the condition is still not fully understood.

Know its symptoms. For most many people, there is no easy telling whether or not they are experiencing a panic attack during the moment of attack since it is difficult for them to rationalize things and to differentiate what is real from the unreal. While this is the case, it is not really an excuse. Here are the symptoms of panic attacks: heartbeat or palpitation, chest pain, hyperventilation or shortness of breath, stomach churning, upset stomach, trembling and shaking, muscle tension, sweating, dizziness and light-headedness, hot or cold flashes, tingling sensation or numbness, fear of dying, going crazy or losing control and feeling detached from the surroundings. Take note that people react to triggers differently, thus symptoms may vary from person to person.

Practice deep breathing. Deep breathing during an attack is the most effective way to reduce the symptoms you are experiencing as well as divert your attention from the fearful thought. Breathe in deeply for 3 slow counts, hold your breath for 3 slow counts, and breathe out for another 3 slow counts. Repeat this process until you feel you are calm. You can also breathe into a paper bag. This reason for this is that re-breathing your carbon dioxide helps correct the blood acid level that had been disturbed by excessive breathing.

Stay positive. While it is easier said than done, staying positive during an attack will speed up your recovery. Let the situation flow while keeping in mind that it will going to pass. An attack peaks for 5 to 10 minutes and rarely extends for more than half an hour so do not think that you are going crazy (or going to die) even if it feels that you are going crazy (or going to die).

Avoid unnecessary stress. While you cannot avoid every stressful situation and it is also unhealthy to turn your back on situations that need to be addressed, avoiding unnecessary stress help reduce the chances of you experiencing an attack. Stay away from people who stress you out, from relationship that causes stress, and situations that get you tensed.

Learn to say “no” if you have other much important things to do; do not work for extended hours; do not accept additional work if you know you cannot do it properly, etc.

A panic attack is a sudden attack of exaggerated anxiety and fear. Often, attacks happen without warning and without any apparent reason. Some people may experience just one episode of panic attack, while others can have recurring episodes. Recurring episodes usually happen after a person is exposed to various events or situations that may “trigger” panic. While it is generally harmless, panic attacks can severely disable a person physically, emotionally and psychologically. In extreme cases, panic attacks can lead to panic disorder.

Who gets panic attacks?

The condition affects many people. It is believed that 10% of the total population is suffering from panic attacks, yet many are still undiagnosed or under-diagnosed. They tend to occur more on young adults. Female are twice as prone to have an attack as male. It is also said that the condition is genetically inherited so panic attacks may run in the family.

How do I know if I am having an attack?

A panic attack can be identified with different signs and symptoms. They include increased heartbeat or palpitation, chest pain, hyperventilation or shortness of breath, stomach churning, upset stomach, trembling and shaking, muscle tension, sweating, dizziness and light-headedness, hot or cold flashes, tingling sensation or numbness, fear of dying, going crazy or losing control and feeling detached from the surroundings.

The signs and symptoms of panic attacks are similar to a heart attack. The former is not dangerous, the latter can be deadly. It is best therefore to seek for emergency medical help, especially if the patient experiences it for the first time.

What cause an attack?

Many panic attacks happen without any apparent reason; they just come out of the blue. However, attacks may be caused by past traumatic experiences such as death of a loved one, family conflicts, bad relationships, divorce of parents, car accident, public humiliation, etc. An attack may occur when a person is exposed to various events or situations almost similar to the past that may “trigger” panic.

Stress is closely linked to panic attacks. Triggers include stressful life event as well as stressful working and living environment. Genetics is also believed to cause an attack.

What should I do during an attack?

Panic attacks peak from 5 to 10 minutes; it rarely lasts for more than half an hour. But during this time, you can experience discomfort such as those signs and symptoms mentioned above. Since the increased in heart rate is the main reason for experiencing other symptoms, it is important to take control of your breathing during an attack. Breathe slowly and deeply as you can. Breathe in slowly for 3 counts then hold your breath for the next 3 slow counts. Then, exhale for 3 slow counts.

Do this until you are calm. If you are able to stand, get up slowly and walk around. It is also helpful to breathe into a plastic or a paper bag. This allows you to re-breathe your carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide helps correct the blood acid level that had been disturbed by excessive breathing.

While practicing deep breathing, try to focus your attention away from the cause of panic. Replace your anxious thoughts with happy ones. If available, do something that will occupy your mind such as solving puzzles and playing word games.

Exercise – Exercise improves the health of the body and mind, and improves the overall well-being of a person. A 30-minute exercise, 3-5 times a week is enough to provide anxiety relief. Increasing to at least an hour of aerobic exercise each day provides maximum benefits for relieving stress and anxiety.

Sleep – A popular adage, “early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise,” speaks of the importance of sleep in the overall health of a person. Qualitative sleep for 8 hours a day is a proven and effective technique to battle stress as well as anxiety attacks.

Healthy diet – Along with exercise, diet plays an important role in the overall health of the body. Eating healthy food maintains the normal chemistry and hormones of the body as well has provides resistance to common ailments that increases the risk of anxiety attacks.

Avoid unnecessary stressors – Most stressors are unavoidable and it is also unhealthy to turn your back to certain situations that need to be addressed. Still, some situations and people cause unnecessary stress that result to anxiety attacks. Avoid people that stress you out, learn how to say ‘no’, trim down your to-do-list, avoid sensitive topics such as politics and religion, etc.

Relaxation techniques – Yoga, meditation, Taiji, progressive muscle relaxation, visualization and breathing exercises can reduce anxiety and promote the feeling of relaxation and emotional well-being.

Keep a positive outlook – While it is very difficult to maintain a good attitude when experiencing an anxiety attack, it is very crucial to be more conscious and help stay in control over the situation to effectively battle your condition. Do not think “Oh no, not again!” or “I’m screwed” when an episode hits you. Think that it will be over soon and control your emotions so that your anxiety will now get worse.

If the abovementioned techniques do not work for you, it is probably time to consult a health professional about your health. Since symptoms of anxiety attacks may be a result of other psychological and physical conditions, you need to see your medical doctor first and get a complete physical in order to rule out any other possible causes.

If anxiety prevails and symptoms last for more than 1 to 2 weeks, especially if you have no idea why, see a trained therapist.

A person with anxiety disorder usually goes under medication, therapy or both. Prescription drugs for anxiety are usually antidepressants and benzodiazepines. However, they provide short-term relief and thus, other therapy is often recommended. Therapies given are cognitive-behavioral therapy and exposure therapy. They are both effective (especially when combined with medication) to treat anxiety disorders. Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps patients to replace negative thoughts with positive ones.

Exposure therapy, on the other hand, helps treat anxiety attacks by subjecting the patients to control fear in a safe and controlled environment. Through repeated exposure, patients gain greater self control and more confidence in facing fearful situation.

When is too much anxiety too much?

Excess anxiety is when you feel worry, anxious and afraid for no apparent reason at all. Under normal circumstances, teens worry because of specific things (like what was mentioned above). But there is an obvious difference between healthy anxiety and irrational anxiousness. Teens during an anxiety attack tend to react disproportionately over simple things or events that seem not to cause any excessive anxious reaction to others. In other words, too much anxiety is an unusual reaction over simple or trivial things.

What are the signs and symptoms of anxiety attacks?

Different people react to situations differently. Hence, there are really no uniform symptoms of anxiety attack that are present to all. Nonetheless, teens may show some or all of the following signs: shortness of breath, chest pain, heart burn, smothering sensation, sweating, shivering, chilling or shaking, numbness in the head and face, neck and shoulder pain, palpitation, derealisation or depersonalization, hyperactivity, dry mouth, fear of going crazy, headaches, stomach pain, and other body pains.

Take note that some of the mentioned signs and symptoms can be caused by other medical, psychological, and physical conditionals. They can also be the effects of current medical treatment, side effects of certain medications or the body’s natural reaction to stimuli.

What are the available remedies for anxiety attacks?

Medication
Severe cases of anxiety attacks may require prescription drugs to control or reduce its symptoms. Prescription drugs may be antidepressants and benzodiazepines. Antidepressants may take some weeks to take effect so it is important to continuously take medications and not just during an attack. Benzodiazepines, on the other hand, have quick relief effects, usually within 30 minutes, but they are highly addictive, thus it should be used with caution. Remember that medication should not be the first treatment option as there are other effective ways to combat the effects of anxiety.

Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most effective ways to treat anxiety attacks or any anxiety disorder for that matter. CBT focuses on the thinking pattern of the patients and replaces negative thoughts with positive ones.

Exposure therapy exposes the person to the physical sensations of panic in a safe and controlled environment. Through repeated exposure, patients gain greater self control and more confidence in facing fearful situation.

Natural Remedies
Proper diet, regular exercise and sufficient sleep bring balance to the body, which help reduce the episodes of anxiety attacks.

Massage, aromatherapy, relaxation and breathing techniques promote wellness, relax muscles and ease muscle tension.

Herbal treatments naturally relieve stress and restlessness associated with anxiety, thus solving anxiety problem.

Thinking positively and talking to a supportive person help stop the occurrence of anxiety attacks.

Through the following symptoms, you can detect that a child is a possible candidate of a specific type of anxiety disorder or if the child is undergoing another episode of anxiety attack.

Separation anxiety is very common among children when they reach school age. They exhibit unreasoned fear and panic at being separated from their parents or their home during parents. Symptoms include crying and begging not to go to school. It is also possible that a child complains stomach aches, headaches, toothaches, and other maladies that would keep him from going to school. Alternately, a child will show a demeanor when at home or during the company of parents.

Social phobia is almost the opposite of separation anxiety. A child may choose stay home alone or keep separated from parents. Social phobia can push children to stay away from peers as they feel that they are different from other kids or that they have clothes or hair style that are apart from the interest of other kids. A child with social phobia may choose to read a book than to go to summer camp or any activity that involves mingling with others.

Performance anxiety can be closely linked to social anxiety. A child who does not play good sports may show signs of fear during physical education class. A child with poor reading skills or cannot perform simple mathematical equation may panic and become ill when called to recite for the class or solve a problem on the board.

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is characterized by chronic worry or fear over almost everything without any apparent reason. Symptoms of GAD are very similar to what adults would experience. Patients with GAD may complain about stomach upset, fatigue, restlessness, and difficulty sleeping. In addition, a child may throw tantrums, may cry, have nightmares, may be keyed up and even begin to show problems in school that were not present before.

What causes anxiety to children?

There are many studies supporting that child anxiety is genetically acquired. Parents, for example, who manifest anxiety, will likely have anxious and nervous children. This condition can be learned as well. It is possible that a child develops anxiety disorder after a bad experience – ridiculed by classmates, victim of bullies in school, or making a mistake in front of the class. Separation of parents, abuse, death of a loved one or any traumatic experiences can lead to anxiety disorder as well. Fear of being alone, is afraid of the dark or afraid of certain animals may be reflections of events with bad memories.

Behaviors during anxiety attacks and symptoms of anxiety disorders are similar to other psychological, physical and behavioral condition. It is important, therefore, to seek professional help to be able to rule out other reasons and provide the right treatment to the patient.

Types of Anxiety Disorder

There are six different types of anxiety disorder, each has its own characteristics: generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, phobia, post-traumatic stress disorder, social anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a chronic worry or fear over almost everything without even knowing why. They feel anxious from day to day activities and are troubled that bad things will happen. People with GAD show symptoms such as stomach upset, fatigue, restlessness, and insomnia.

Panic disorder is repeated, unexpected panic attacks, and fears that panic episodes will likely to happen. People with panic disorder are likely to have agoraphobia, or fear of being in places where help or escape will be difficult in case of another panic attack. People with agoraphobia are also afraid of being trapped in confined places such as an airplane or crowded areas such as a shopping mall.

Phobia is excessive, irrational, and exaggerated fear over simple things that generally present little or no danger. Common phobias are heights, snakes, spiders, dark, and flying. People with phobias tend to avoid the things they are afraid of in order to escape anxiety attacks. However, avoidance only strengthens the phobia.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is an anxiety disorder that happens after a life-threatening or a traumatic event. People with PTSD show symptoms such as hyper-vigilance, avoiding situations or places that remind them about the event, nightmares and flashbacks about the things that happened, startling easily, and isolation.

Social anxiety disorder or social phobia is fear of being seen negatively by others or fear of getting humiliated in public by other people. Social anxiety is often mistaken as an ordinary extreme shyness. People with this kind of disorder usually isolate themselves from others or event and places where crowd usually gathers. Stage fright is the most common type of social anxiety.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD is a condition where a person has unwanted behavior or thoughts which appear to be impossible to control. People with OCD can have certain obsession such as worries that they might hurt someone or that they have forgotten to turn the lights off. They can also have uncontrollable compulsion. The most common is washing of hands repeatedly.

Do you experience anxiety attacks?

• Are you always worried, tense, and on the edge?

• Do you feel like you are in danger whenever you are in confined places?

• Are you afraid of mingling with strangers, meeting new friends or even meeting relatives?

• Do you feel that something bad or catastrophic will happen if certain things are not done according to plan?

• Do you experience worry, fear and anxiousness that affect your relationship, work, healthy, and other responsibilities?

• Do you feel irrational fear but couldn’t shake it?

• Does your anxiety force you to avoid everyday situations and activities?

Take into extreme, this condition may lead to agoraphobia where you begin to avoid much of the activities you usually do. To avoid this, consider the following advices:

1. Consult your medical doctor. Symptoms attributed to panic attacks such racing heart, chest pain, heavy breathing, profuse sweating, agitation, etc., are also common to other physiological and psychological conditions. Seeking for proper diagnosis from your doctor, therefore, will rule out any cause unrelated to anxiety. Tell him your symptoms, when did the attack happen, and how intense the attack was. Your doctor will ask about your past medical history and may run some tests (e.g. urine test, blood test, drug screens, etc.).

2. See a therapist who is properly trained to handle such psychological condition. No, you are not crazy (people who go to a therapist are not crazy). The reason why you have to see a therapist is to process your emotion and prevent future attacks. Do not wait too long to seek help. Left untreated, a panic attack can lead to more severe conditions. Your therapist may subject you to cognitive-behavioral therapy and exposure therapy to process your thoughts.

3. Find the cause of the attack. Some cases of panic attacks may show a “pattern” – certain activity, thoughts, time or person you are with at the time of the attack. These give you important clues to eliminate later symptoms.

4. Learn some relaxation techniques you can practice at home or while out. Music, meditation, yoga, and breathing techniques are not only helpful in reducing the symptoms during the actual attack but also in strengthening your body’s relaxation response.

5. Do not add more fear. Absorbing all the fears and other negative thoughts that come with anxiety attack only adds to more fear which worsen the negative impact even further. Instead, recognize that you are afraid and make it work to your advantage.

6. Practice healthy lifestyle (regular exercise, balanced diet, and enough sleep). Studies prove that at little as 30 minutes of physical activity 3 to 5 times a week is a great stress buster, helpful in preventing future attacks. Balanced diet keeps the supply of nutrients and maintains the balance of chemical in the body. Sleeping at least 8 hours each day recharges the body, refreshes the mind, and calms the muscles.

7. Remove all unnecessary stress. Since, panic attacks are closely linked to stress, avoiding things, people, and situations that stress you out help reduce the chance of future attacks.

8. Educate yourself about panic attacks. There are many resources where you can learn more about the condition. Reading books, health magazines and internet articles about panic attack will definitely equip you with the right information on how to combat any negative effects it brings.