Types Of Anxiety Disorders
by Helen Peters
http://www.freeanxiety.com
Anxiety disorders vary as to symptoms and treatments. No
matter the type, anyone suffering from one or more, knows
how debilitating they can be. One such disorder is known as
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Those who are afflicted
with GAD are unable to lead a normal life. They are
constantly tense and worried, apparently without valid
reasons. They constantly fret about things such as money or
health and everything in between.
Individuals who experience GAD find it virtually impossible
to let down there guard and relax. As a result, they are
often tired, stressed and irritable. Not uncommonly, some
people with GAD will also suffer from additional mental
health problems, including depression, substance abuse or
addictive behaviors.
Another type of anxiety disorder is a panic disorder.
People who suffer from a panic disorder will have frequent
panic attacks that cause them to have an overwhelming and
unnatural fear that they are in some type of danger.
During a panic attack these people may experience certain
types of phobias that include a specific phobia to a
certain condition, social phobia, or agoraphobia. All of
these phobias are an unnatural, uncontrollable, and most
times unstoppable fear of a certain situation, object, or
action. People that have this type of anxiety disorder
will go to any length to avoid the source of their phobia.
A person that has a social phobia will avoid many types of
social situations that make them afraid and cause a panic
attack. This includes meeting new people or speaking in
public. Agoraphobia will cause a person to be fearful of
being in a situation where they may have difficulty in
escaping or where they may feel some type of embarrassment.
In extreme cases of agoraphobia a person may have great
difficulty in leaving what they think is the safety of
their home. When a person with an anxiety disorder has a
specific phobia they will be afraid of a particular object
such as dogs or spiders. They often are aware that their
fear is unnatural and unwarranted but will still be unable
to overcome their feelings of fear.
Another type of anxiety disorder is an obsessive-compulsive
disorder (OCD). With this type of anxiety disorder a
person will have frequent thoughts that are irrational but
that will cause great anxiety anyway. These obsessions
include worrying that they forgot to turn off the stove or
an unnatural obsession with cleanliness and germs. Most
times people with this type of anxiety disorder are aware
of their compulsion but are unable to control their
irrational behavior without the help of medication under
the care of a doctor.
People suffering from OCD will often develop rituals that
they carry out in a compulsive manner. Many times these
compulsive rituals will take the person over an hour or two
to complete each day creating a great deal of upheaval in
their life.
Although all of these anxieties are most distressful, there
are treatments available. If you or anyone you care about
exhibits any of these symptoms, don't hesitate to seek
help. There are trained doctors, psychologists and
therapists who can offer assistance in getting the patient
back to a more normal and less stressful life.
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