We all feel anxious sometimes and these feelings can be intense, debilitating, and persistent, often interfering with daily life.
According to the DSM, anxiety disorders refer to a group of mental health conditions characterized by excessive fear, worry, or nervousness. These are the most common mental illnesses in the U.S. and affect over 40 million adults, or 19.1% of the population.
Hence, understanding what anxiety disorders are and learning how to deal with them becomes crucial.
Difference between Anxiety and Fear
The most common way to distinguish between fear and anxiety is to determine whether a clear and obvious source of danger is present that would be regarded as real by most people. When the source is clear the experienced emotion is called fear but with anxiety, we frequently cannot specify what the danger is. For example, you would say “I am in danger!”, but with anxiety the response is usually “I am worried what might happen!”.
Anxiety often creates a state of tension, or overarousal and may create a strong tendency to avoid situations where danger might be encountered but the immediate urge to flee is not present in anxiety.
Symptoms of Anxiety Disorders
The symptoms for anxiety disorders can vary for people and no two people have the same experience. Each anxiety disorder has some specific symptoms but the ones listed below are the most common ones, according to the diagnostic manual:
- Difficulty in sleep
- Irritability
- Feelings of nervousness, fear, unease
- Restlessness
- Irregular heart beat
- Nausea
- Sweaty hands or feet
- Dizziness
- Dry Mouth
Types of Anxiety Disorders
There are several types of anxiety disorders. According to the DSM 5 they are classified into:
Specific Phobia
All of us have things that we are afraid of. It could be clowns, scary movies, creepy crawlies and what not. But having such fears is normal. However, a specific phobia is said to be present when we show a prolonged irrational and persistent fear for something or a situation. In such a case, our ability to function on a daily basis can be severely impaired and it causes a significant distress in our lives.
In specific phobias people can go to great lengths to avoid encountering such situations. For example, a person who has a fear of closed spaces might not enter an elevator and prefer stairs even though they live on the 15th floor.
Generally, People with specific phobias recognise that their fear is somewhat excessive or unreasonable although occasionally they may not have this insight.
A unique phobia for contemporary times is nomophobia, when a person experiences feelings of discomfort, anxiety and nervousness when they are unable to use their mobile phone.
Social Anxiety Disorder
Social anxiety disorder (also called social phobia) is characterized by fear in unfamiliar social situations. People feel that they will be exposed to the negative evaluation of others which will lead to embarrassment and humiliation. Because of this, people with social phobia may avoid social situations to a great extent. One example of social phobia is fear of public speaking. It typically begins during adolescence or adulthood (Bruce et al., 2005).
Panic Disorder
Panic disorder is characterized by the occurrence of panic attacks that come ‘out of the blue’. It involves having recurrent panic attacks and anxiety about upcoming attacks. Panic attacks are but they are very intense and involve increased heart rate, difficulty in breathing and usually last from 10 to 20 minutes. People who have panic disorder tend to avoid social situations because they fear they might have another attack in public because of the abrupt nature of panic attacks.
However, panic attacks occur occasionally when the person is in a particular anxiety provoking situation.
Agoraphobia
Agora is a Greek word for ‘open space’. In agoraphobia, individuals fear and avoid situations such as crowded streets or public places such as malls, subways, theaters, etc. Sometimes, agoraphobia can develop as a consequence of panic attack. As mentioned before, people fear that they will have another panic attack and thus avoid being in places or situations from where escape would be difficult or help might be hard to come by.
When agoraphobia initially develops, people often avoid particular places or situations but it soon becomes generalized to other places as well.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Everyone gets anxious sometimes or worries and there is nothing wrong about it. But some people worry about many different aspects of life including minor events as well. They find it difficult to control their worry and feel restless, fatigued, and irritable most of the time, making it exhausting for coping with anxiety. People suffering from GAD often live in a relatively future-oriented apprehensive state. There is apprehension about almost everything and because of this individuals with GAD find themselves continually upset or discouraged. GAD affects 6.8 million adults or 3.1% of the U.S. population and most unfortunately do not receive treatment for the same because of various reasons.
Causes of Anxiety Disorders
The causes of anxiety disorders are complex and multifactorial, often involving (according to the DSM):
Genetics: A family history of anxiety disorders may increase the likelihood of developing one.
Brain Chemistry: Imbalances in brain chemicals called neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine can contribute to feeling anxious.
Environmental Stressors: Traumatic events, chronic stress, and childhood adversity can trigger anxiety.
Medical Factors: Certain medical conditions, medications, or substance abuse may lead to anxiety symptoms.
Personality Traits: Individuals with certain personality traits, such as perfectionism or high sensitivity, may be more prone to anxiety.
Treatments and Coping
Anxiety disorders are treatable, and various approaches can help manage symptoms:
Psychotherapy: With anxiety disorders, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) tends to work better. It focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviors. In case of phobias gradual exposure to feared situations or objects is used to reduce anxiety.
Medication: Psychiatrists might prescribe medications to some people so that the neurotransmitters work properly, to manage intense heartbeat, to relieve stress in case of acute anxiety symptoms, etc.
Lifestyle Changes: A coping mechanism for anxiety disorder also includes regular physical activity and practices like meditation and deep breathing can help calm the mind to reduce anxiety. Having a healthy diet and avoiding caffeine, alcohol, can also influence anxiety levels.
Support Systems: Sharing experiences with others facing similar challenges such as in a support group can provide comfort. Additionally, a strong social support involving family and friends can alleviate feelings of isolation and help in coping.
Self-Care: Ensuring adequate rest and establishing a sleep routine along with organizing tasks and setting realistic goals can help in reducing anxiety for the future.
Managing anxiety often requires a combination of these strategies.
Conclusion
Anxiety and anxiety disorders are one of the most common and widespread mental health issues that people face. Recognizing if you are struggling with anxiety can be tough which is why it is better to stay present with your feelings and emotions and seek professional help. If constant worry starts affecting your professional, personal and social life then talking to United We Care’s AI powered wellness coach Stella can help provide you with support and even recommend the right professional for you. Thus, do not be afraid to start your mental health journey.
References
Anxiety and Depression Association of America. (2022, October 28). Anxiety disorders – facts & statistics. Anxiety and Depression Association of America; ADAA. https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/facts-statistics
Bruce, S. E., Yonkers, K. A., Otto, M. W., Eisen, J. L., Weisberg, R. B., Pagano, M., Shea, M. T., & Keller, M. B. (2005). Influence of Psychiatric Comorbidity on Recovery and Recurrence in Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Phobia, and Panic Disorder: A 12-Year Prospective Study. American Journal of Psychiatry, 162(6), 1179–1187. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.162.6.1179
James Neal Butcher, Hooley, J. M., Mineka, S., & Swinburne University Of Technology. (2014). Abnormal psychology : this book is compiled from: abnormal psychology, 16th edition Butcher, Hooley & Mineka. Pearson Australia.
Facts & Statistics | Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA. (n.d.). Adaa.org. https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/facts-statistics#:~:text=Facts%20and%20Statistics%20Generalized%20Anxiety%20Disorder%20%28GAD%29%20-
