Anxiety

Anxiety is often referred to as an abnormal and overwhelming sense of apprehension and fear often marked by physiological signs such as sweating, tension, and increased pulse. Anxiety disorders are the most common form of psychiatric illnesses affecting both children and adults of all races. It's normally caused by a set of factors such as genetics, brain chemistry, personality, and events and occurrences of life.

Anxiety disorders are normally categorized as follows :

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) : GAD is normally characterized by excessive, unrealistic worry that lasts six months or more. In case of adults, the anxiety may focus on issues such as health, money, or career. In addition to chronic worry, GAD symptoms can include trembling, muscular aches, insomnia, abdominal upsets, dizziness, and irritability.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) : OCD is a type of anxiety disorder and is characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviors (compulsions). Repetitive behaviors such as hand washing, counting, checking, or cleaning are often performed with the hope of preventing obsessive thoughts or making them go away. Performing these so-called "rituals," however, provides only temporary relief, and not performing them markedly increases anxiety.

Panic Disorder : Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder and is characterized by unexpected and repeated episodes of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms that may include chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, or abdominal distress. People with panic disorder suffer severe attacks of panic-which may make them feel like they are having a heart attack or are going crazy-for no apparent reason.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, is an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened. Traumatic events that may trigger PTSD include violent personal assaults, natural or human-caused disasters, accidents, or military combat. There are three main symptoms associated with PTSD: "reliving" of the traumatic event (such as flashbacks and nightmares); avoidance behaviors (such as avoiding places related to the trauma) and emotional numbing (detachment from others); and physiological arousal such difficulty sleeping, irritability or poor concentration.

Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia) : Social Phobia, or Social Anxiety Disorder, is an anxiety disorder characterized by overwhelming anxiety and excessive self-consciousness in everyday social situations. Social phobia can be limited to only one type of situation such as a fear of speaking in formal or informal situations, or eating or drinking in front of others or, in its most severe form, may be so broad that a person experiences symptoms almost anytime they are around other people.

Specific phobias : People with specific phobias suffer from an intense fear reaction to a specific object or situation such as spiders, dogs, or heights. The level of fear is usually inappropriate to the situation, and is recognized by the sufferer as being irrational. This inordinate fear can lead to the avoidance of common, everyday situations.

Available Treatments: Anxiety disorders are very commonplace nowadays and most of them can be completely treated with proper care. Psychosocial therapies, medication, or both can be used for treating this disorder . Most commonly used p sycho-social therapies are cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure therapy, anxiety management and relaxation therapies, and psychotherapy. Drugs used to treat anxiety disorders include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines, beta blockers, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).