Anxiety Disorders


What Is Anxiety?



Liam had always looked out for his younger brother Sam. But whenever
Sam took the late bus after soccer practice, Liam worried about him so
much he couldn't concentrate on his homework. Liam watched the clock,
worrying and imagining the worst — picturing bus accidents and fearing,
for no particular reason, that Sam might be injured or dead. Only when
Sam arrived home safe could Liam finally relax.

It's completely normal to worry when things get hectic and
complicated. But if worries become overwhelming, you may feel that
they're running your life. If you spend an excessive amount of time
feeling worried or nervous, or you have difficulty sleeping because of
your anxiety, pay attention to your thoughts and feelings. They may be
symptoms of an anxiety problem or disorder.

Anxiety is a natural human reaction that involves mind and body. It
serves an important basic survival function: Anxiety is an alarm system
that is activated whenever a person perceives danger or threat.

When the body and mind react to danger or threat, a person feels
physical sensations of anxiety — things like a faster heartbeat and
breathing, tense muscles, sweaty palms, a queasy stomach, and trembling
hands or legs. These sensations are part of the body's fight-flight responsefight-flight response.
They are caused by a rush of adrenaline and other chemicals that
prepare the body to make a quick getaway from danger. They can be mild
or extreme.

The fight-flight response happens instantly when a person senses a
threat. It takes a few seconds longer for the thinking part of the brain
(the cortex) to process the situation and evaluate
whether the threat is real, and if so, how to handle it. If the cortex
sends the all-clear signal, the fight-flight response is deactivated and
the nervous system can relax.

If the mind reasons that a threat might last, feelings of anxiety
might linger, keeping the person alert. Physical sensations such as
rapid, shallow breathing; a pounding heart; tense muscles; and sweaty
palms might continue, too.Normal Anxiety



Everyone experiences feelings of anxiety from time to time. Anxiety
can be described as a sense of uneasiness, nervousness, worry, fear, or
dread of what's about to happen or what might happen. While fear is the
emotion we feel in the presence of threat, anxiety is a sense of
anticipated danger, trouble, or threat.

Feelings of anxiety can be mild or intense (or anywhere in between),
depending on the person and the situation. Mild anxiety can feel like a
sense of uneasiness or nervousness. More intense anxiety can feel like
fear, dread, or panic. Worrying and feelings of tension and stress are
forms of anxiety. So are stage fright and the shyness that can come with
meeting new people.

It's natural for new, unfamiliar, or challenging situations to prompt
feelings of anxiety or nervousness. Facing an important test, a big
date, or a major class presentation can trigger normal anxiety. Although
these situations don't actually threaten a person's safety, they can
cause someone to feel "threatened" by potential embarrassment, worry
about making a mistake, fitting in, stumbling over words, being accepted
or rejected, or losing pride. Physical sensations — such as a pounding
heart, sweaty hands, or a nervous stomach — can be part of normal
anxiety, too.

Because anxiety makes a person alert, focused, and ready to head off
potential problems, a little anxiety can help us do our best in
situations that involve performance. But anxiety that's too strong can
interfere with doing our best. Too much anxiety can cause people to feel
overwhelmed, tongue-tied, or unable to do what they need to do.Anxiety Disorders



Anxiety disorders are mental health conditions that involve excessive
amounts of anxiety, fear, nervousness, worry, or dread. Anxiety that is
too constant or too intense can cause a person to feel preoccupied,
distracted, tense, and always on alert.

Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions.
They affect people of all ages — including adults, children, and people
in their teens. There are many different types of anxiety disorders,
with different symptoms. They all have one thing in common, though:
Anxiety occurs too often, is too strong, is out of proportion to the
present situation, and affects a person's

daily life and happiness.


Symptoms of an anxiety disorder can come on suddenly, or they can
build gradually and linger until a person begins to realize that
something is wrong. Sometimes anxiety creates a sense of doom and
foreboding that seems to come out of nowhere. It's common for those with
an anxiety disorder to not know what's causing the emotions, worries,
and sensations they have.

Different anxiety disorders are named to reflect their specific symptoms.

• Generalized anxiety. With this common anxiety
  disorder, a person worries excessively about many things. Someone with
  generalized anxiety may worry excessively about school, the health or
  safety of family members, and the future. They may always think of the
  worst that could happen.
  
  Along with the worry and dread, people with generalized anxiety have
  physical symptoms, such as chest pain, headache, tiredness, tight
  muscles, stomachaches, or vomiting. Generalized anxiety can lead a
  person to miss school or avoid social activities. With generalized
  anxiety, worries can feel like a burden, making life feel overwhelming
  or out of control.
  
• Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). For a person
  with OCD, anxiety takes the form of obsessions (bad thoughts) and
  compulsions (actions that try to relieve anxiety).
  
• Phobias. These are intense fears of specific
  situations or things that are not actually dangerous, such as heights,
  dogs, or flying in an airplane. Phobias usually cause people to avoid
  the things they are afraid of.
  
• Social phobia (social anxiety). This intense anxiety is triggered by social situations or speaking in front of others. An extreme form called selective mutism causes some kids and teens to be too fearful to talk at all in certain situations.
  
• Panic attacks. These episodes of anxiety can occur
  for no apparent reason. With a panic attack, a person has sudden and
  intense physical symptoms that can include a pounding heart, shortness
  of breath, dizziness, numbness, or tingling feelings causes by
  overactivity of the body's normal fear response. Agoraphobia is an intense fear of panic attacks that causes a person to avoid going anywhere a panic attack could possibly occur.
  
• Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This type of
  anxiety disorder results from a traumatic or terrifying past experience.
  Symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, or constant fear after the
  fact.
  

How Anxiety Disorders Affect People



For people dealing with anxiety disorders, symptoms can feel strange
and confusing at first. For some, the physical sensations can be strong
and upsetting. For others, feelings of doom or fear that can happen for
no apparent reason can make them feel scared, unprotected, and on guard.
Constant worries can make a person feel overwhelmed by every little
thing. All this can affect someone's concentration, confidence, sleep,
appetite, and outlook.

People with anxiety disorders might avoid talking about their
worries, thinking that others might not understand. They may fear being
unfairly judged, or considered weak or scared. Although anxiety
disorders are common, people who have them may feel misunderstood or
alone.

Some people with anxiety disorders might blame themselves. They may
feel embarrassed or ashamed, or mistakenly think that anxiety is a
weakness or a personal failing. Anxiety can keep people from going
places or doing things they enjoy.

The good news is, doctors today understand anxiety disorders better
than ever before and, with treatment, a person can feel better.


What Causes Anxiety Disorders?



Experts don't know exactly what causes anxiety disorders. Several
things seem to play a role, including genetics, brain biochemistry, an
overactive fight-flight response, stressful life circumstances, and
learned behavior.

Someone with a family member who has an anxiety disorder has a greater chance of developing one, too. This may be related to genes
that can affect brain chemistry and the regulation of chemicals called
neurotransmitters. But not everyone with a family member who has an
anxiety disorder will develop problems with anxiety.

Things that happen in a person's life can also set the stage for
anxiety disorders. Frightening traumatic events that can lead to PTSD
are a good example.

Growing up in a family where others are fearful or anxious can
"teach" a child to view the world as a dangerous place. Likewise,
someone who grows up in an environment that is actually dangerous (if
there is violence in the family or community, for example) may learn to
be fearful or expect the worst.

Although everyone experiences normal anxiety in certain situations,
most people — even those who experience traumatic situations — don't
develop anxiety disorders. And people who develop anxiety disorders can
get relief with proper treatment and care. They can learn ways to manage
anxiety and to feel more relaxed and at peace.How Are Anxiety Disorders Treated?



Anxiety disorders can be treated by mental health professionals, or
therapists. A therapist can look at the symptoms someone is dealing
with, diagnose the specific anxiety disorder, and create a plan to help
the person get relief.

A particular type of talk therapy called cognitive-behavior therapy
(CBT) is often used. In CBT, a person learns new ways to think and act
in situations that can cause anxiety, and to manage and deal with
stress. The therapist provides support and guidance and teaches new
coping skills, such as relaxation techniques or breathing exercises.
Sometimes, but not always, medication is used as part of the treatment
for anxiety.

What to Do



Getting the problem treated can help a person feel like himself or
herself again — relaxed and ready for the good things in life. Someone
who might be dealing with an anxiety disorder should:

• Tell a parent or other adult about physical sensations, worries, or fears.
  Because anxiety disorders don't go away unless they are treated, it's
  important to tell someone who can help. If a parent doesn't seem to
  understand right away, talk to a school counselor, religious leader, or
  other trusted adult.
  
• Get a checkup. See a doctor to make sure there are no physical conditions that could be causing symptoms.
  
• Work with a mental health professional. Ask a
  doctor, nurse, or school counselor for a referral to someone who treats
  anxiety problems. Finding out what's causing the symptoms can be a great
  relief.
  
• Get regular exercise, good nutrition, and sleep. These provide your body and brain with the right fuel and time to recharge.
  

Try to stay patient and positive. It can take time to feel better,
and courage to face fears. But letting go of worry allows space for more
happiness and fun.