Anxiety Stress Disorder

We all have feelings of anxiety at some point during our lives, in fact over 18% of adults in the United States, apparently suffers from an anxiety disorder in each year.  Often feeling anxious can be useful in order to keep our minds focused on the task at hand.  It is when the anxiety creeps into our every day lives and becomes excessive, that it turns into a real problem.

The problem isn’t the actual fear or phobia itself, we all have things that we`re afraid of , it’s the effect we allow those feelings to have on us.  There are people who feel threatened by situations and circumstances, where most of us would not give a second thought to.   To a sufferer a harmless event, could become something so traumatic, that they will never repeat the experience again.  As Mark Twain said “Some bad things have happened in my life and some weren`t just in my head”.  The danger is that the sufferer will allow these fears to grow to such an extent that they plunge into a deep depression.  Negative thoughts are the only ones they can think of and these people will always see the downside of any situation. Of course, none of this is by choice and it is important to seek professional help.

If you have physical or emotional symptoms of stress or anxiety that interfere with your ability to lead the life you choose, then you are suffering from a major anxiety disorder.  The symptoms must be present for at least six months.

Below are a few of the most common type of anxiety disorder:

  • General Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
  • Panic Attacks Disorder (PAD)
  • Phobias of Specific Places, People or Items

 

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder usually begins with a shocking event such as war or a violent occurrence.  It leaves the victim so traumatized that they may lose their temper quicker than they used to do, become nervous around people or react with uncharacteristic aggression.  Sufferers may also withdraw into themselves and be reluctant to talk about the event that they witnessed.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder apparently affects approximately 2.2 million adults.  Quite often sufferers will show no outward signs that they have the disorder, but their compulsions to perform specific ritual acts, can become so severe that it takes over their life.  The more anxious they become, the more they will perform the behaviour to relieve the anxiety, until eventually they find it impossible to stop.

Panic Disorders respond very well to treatment, providing sufferers seek help.  Symptoms experienced during an attack can range from confusion to clamminess.

Specific Phobias also responds well to treatment and the person may be asked to imagine themselves faced with their phobia in order to desensitize themselves to it.