Anxiety

Everyone experiences anxiety at one time or another. When we give speeches, take tests and wait for their results, or drive in bad weather, most of us will feel some normal anxiety. Normal anxiety helps us prepare to take some action (usually "fight" or "flight"), if necessary.

But people who suffer from intense fear with no apparent cause, or have prolonged worry which impairs their work or social functioning, may be suffering from an anxiety disorder.

Below are descriptions of some types of anxiety. Please note that some of the symptoms listed could be totally normal, depending on the circumstances. For example, if you are about to have surgery or if your child is about to propel down a mountain, you may have symptoms of sweating or trembling or dry mouth. And this would most likely be normal! Some of these symptoms may be the result of specific medical conditions. It is recommended that a person suffering from these symptoms be seen by a medical doctor before pursuing any mental health treatment. But the symptoms below may also be indicative of a problem that can be treated with a number of therapies, relaxation techniques, or medications.

Anxiety conditions include Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Panic Attacks, Phobia, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

A person with Generalized Anxiety Disorder may have unrealistic worries or worry excessively that something bad is going to happen. In order for a diagnosis to be made, these worries must continue for six months or more and should not be related to another physical or emotional disorder. The person will have at least six of the following symptoms:

• Muscle tension, aches, or soreness
• Fatigue
• Trouble falling or staying asleep
• Restlessness
• Sweating, or cold clammy hands
• Dizziness or light-headedness
• Nausea or stomach distress
• Trembling
• Shortness of breath
• Trouble concentrating
• Irritability or edginess
• Palpitations
• Dry mouth
• Hot or cold flashes
• Frequent urination
• Difficulty swallowing
• Exaggerated startle response

Generalized Anxiety Disorder is treatable!

Panic Attacks are sudden overwhelming episodes of terror that occur for no apparent reason. Because some of the body's responses affect the heart and the circulation, people who experience panic attacks often believe they are having a heart attack. (Consult with your medical doctor, rather than wondering!)

In order to diagnose panic attacks, the person will have at least four of the following symptoms:

• Rapid heart beat
• Dizziness or faintness
• Hot or cold flashes
• Shortness of breath or smothering sensations
• Chest pain
• Sweating
• Choking
• Trembling or shaking
• Nausea or abdominal distress
• Numbness or tingling sensations
• A feeling of unreality or detachment
• Fear of losing control or of going crazy
• Fear of dying

Panic disorder is highly treatable and clients often see significant improvement, once properly diagnosed.

A Phobia develops when the client learns to associate a particular situation or object with dread or intense fear. Phobias are common, and many people never seek treatment for them. But some people find that their phobias constrict and disrupt their lives.

Phobias include agoraphobia (fear about being in places or situations from which escape might be difficult or embarrassing), social phobia (fear of the attention of others), and simple phobias (the fear of a specific thing or situation), such as fear of snakes, bridges, heights, or elevators. People who have such fears may go out of their way to avoid the things that they fear. Some people limit their jobs, travel, social, or family activities because of such fears.

If fear is keeping you from leading a normal life, please consider seeking help.

Phobias are highly treatable!

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) may include obsessions, compulsions, or both. Obsessions are thoughts that are intrusive, frightening, and unwanted. They often cause extreme anxiety. Typical obsessions include:

• Fear of contamination by germs
• Fear of hitting someone with a car
• Fear of burning the house down
• Fear a family member will die
• Fear of harming others or of violating social norms by swearing or another unacceptable social behavior.

In order to prevent the feared event, the person develops ritualized behaviors or compulsions. The compulsions do not always relate directly to the obsessions. For example, a person who fears that a family member might die may repeatedly count or touch objects in a ritualistic way because the touching or counting behavior relieves the anxiety.

Some common compulsions are:

• Excessive hand washing
• Excessive house cleaning
• Excessive showering
• Repeated checking or counting
• Repeated phrases
• Repeated hoarding, arranging, or touching of specific objects

Many sufferers are usually aware that their behaviors are irrational, yet, because of the nature of the disorder, they are unable to stop the behaviors, and usually end up feeling guilty about having them! Treatment can be useful for this condition.

People who suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) usually have had some severe trauma in their lives that they later re-experience in disturbing ways:

• Through recurring, vivid memories that can dominate daily living
• Through actual flashbacks, which are recollections so real that the client believes he or she is going through the trauma again
• Through nightmares that keep the client from sleeping
• Through a sudden revival of emotions that come over the client for no apparent reason, particularly grief, fear, and anger

PTSD doesn't always occur immediately. The symptoms may surface months or years after the event.

Treatment may help the client understand how the traumatic episode violated his or her personal values and how to regain a lost sense of safety and trust.

PTSD is treatable!