What Are Anxiety Disorders
Its normal to feel anxious about moving to a new place, starting a new job, or taking a test. This type of anxiety is unpleasant, but it may motivate you to work harder and to do a better job. Ordinary anxiety is a feeling that comes and goes, but does not interfere with your everyday life.
In the case of an anxiety disorder, the feeling of fear may be with you all the time. It is intense and sometimes debilitating.
This type of anxiety may cause you to stop doing things you enjoy. In extreme cases, it may prevent you from entering an elevator, crossing the street, or even leaving your home. If left untreated, the anxiety will keep getting worse.
Anxiety disorders are the most common form of emotional disorder and can affect anyone at any age. According to the American Psychiatric Association, women are more likely than men to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.
Put Your Anxiety To Rest
Theres no way to completely cure any anxiety disorder, but the right combination of solutions can provide much-needed relief. In fact, treatment helps most people with anxiety reduce their symptoms enough to regain full control over their daily lives.
If youre ready to put your anxiety disorder to rest for good, we can help. our office in West Los Angeles, California, or to schedule a visit with one of our experienced mental health specialists.
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What Is Panic Disorder
Severe anxiety and panic attacks originate when the fear center of the brain, the amygdala, overreacts to some stimulus, causing stress hormones to spike. The sudden surge of adrenaline causes many of the physical symptoms associated with a panic attack. The panic attack usually lasts 10-15 minutes, after which the body will slowly return to normal. Panic disorder can be a frightening and debilitating manifestation of anxiety.
Panic disorder is in the anxiety spectrum of mental health disorders, and is fairly uncommon, with an estimated 2-3% of Americans suffering from it, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. About twice as many women than men experience panic disorder.
Panic attacks can come out of nowhere, and, without warning, involve symptoms that are very similar to those of a heart attack. The symptoms are so upsetting that, over time, people with panic disorder become prisoners of the disorder, choosing to isolate themselves in hopes of avoiding a future attack.
It is difficult to manage panic disorder because it is so unpredictable and the attacks so random. In some cases there is no obvious cause for the panic attack, but in others it is a direct result of anticipating an anxiety-provoking situation such as public speaking. Although it may feel like you will die while in the panic attack, they are not life threatening.
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Combining Psychotherapy And Medication
Both psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy have been shown to be more effective than control groups. However, whereas drugs are mostly compared with placebo controls, the evidence for psychotherapy in anxiety disorders is mainly based on comparisons with a wait-list, a control method that was used in 70% to 75% of the studies in adults and children.,, Because pill placebos have higher effect sizes than waitlist controls, the effect size differences between active and control conditions cannot be compared between psychotherapy and medication studies. Therefore, our research group conducted a large meta-analysis of all available controlled short-term studies for anxiety disorders and compared the pre-post effect size differences between medications and psychotherapies. In this meta-analysis, which was based on studies with around 35 000 patients, medications were associated with a significantly higher average pre-post effect size than psychotherapies . It was also found that patients included in psychotherapy studies were less severely ill than those recruited for medication trials.
The meta-analysis also showed that combinations of psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy had a relatively high effect size . However, only a few combination studies were available for this comparison, and some of these have not been conducted with the most powerful drugs.
How Do I Know If My Child Has An Anxiety Disorder
Anxiety-related problems in children share four common features. The anxiety:
- Is typically a fear or fixation that interferes with the ability to enjoy life, get through the day or complete tasks.
- Is puzzling to both the child and parents.
- Does not improve after logical explanations to address the worries.
- Is treatable.
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How Do Anxiety Disorders Affect Children
Its normal for children to feel some amount of anxiety, worry or fear at certain points. For example, a child may feel scared of a thunderstorm or barking dog. A teenager might get anxious about an upcoming test or school dance.
But sometimes, children approach these situations with overwhelming dread or they cant stop thinking about all the fears tied to one of these events. It may seem that none of your comforts help. These children often get stuck on their worries. They have a hard time doing their daily activities, like going to school, playing and falling asleep. Theyre extremely reluctant to try something new.
When thinking about your childs anxiety levels, getting stuck is key. It separates the regular worries of childhood from an anxiety disorder that needs professional help. If the anxiety or worry interferes with your childs ability to function, it may be time to seek help
Psychotherapy And Relaxation Therapies
Psychotherapy includes many different approaches, such as cognitive behavior therapy and applied relaxation .33,34 CBT may use applied relaxation, exposure therapy, breathing, cognitive restructuring, or education. Psychotherapy is as effective as medication for GAD and PD.11 Although existing evidence is insufficient to draw conclusions about many psychotherapeutic interventions, structured CBT interventions have consistently proven effective for the treatment of anxiety in the primary care setting.34â36 Psychotherapy may be used alone or combined with medication as first-line treatment for PD37 and GAD,11 based on patient preference. Psychotherapy should be performed weekly for at least eight weeks to assess its effect.
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Behavioral And Other Psychotherapies
Anxiety disorder patients who do not respond to ordinary behavioral strategies could utilize more extensive CBT treatment. This treatment is usually provided as an intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization or residential treatment., Many of these programs specifically targeting OCD are currently available around the country. The programs generally offered different length of treatment ranging from several weeks to several months and different degree of intensity.
Many authors recognized limitations of narrow behavioral approach in the treatment-resistant population. Other psychotherapeutic modalities including focused cognitive, mindfulness, meditation, interpersonal and psychodynamic have recently been tried in anxiety populations with various degree of successes., , It is clear that a complex patient may require a long-term complex psychotherapeutic approach rather than a brief behavioral strategy.
How To Make The Most Of Therapy
Trying to make a change can be a challenge. Being in therapy for anxiety is no exception. However, if you are persistent, you should see improvement.
Here are a few ways to make the most of your therapyand actually see some results:
- Don’t pretend to be OK
- Ask questions
- Tell your therapist anything and everything
- Do the work outside your sessions
- Focus on your goals
- Make sure you have a social support system
- Reduce stress in your life that makes your anxiety worse
In this way, you can see that putting in an effort and being present throughout the therapy process will have the biggest impact on how well it works for you.
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I Need Relief And I Need It Now
So where does that leave you if youre suffering? Even when anxiety relief comes with side effects and dangers, that can still sound like a fair trade when panic and fear are ruling your life.
The bottom line is that theres a time and place for anxiety medication. If you have severe anxiety thats interfering with your ability to function, medication may be helpfulespecially as a short-term treatment. However, many people use anti-anxiety medication when therapy, exercise, or other self-help strategies would work just as well or better, minus the drawbacks.
Anxiety medications can ease symptoms, but theyre not right for everyone and theyre not the only answer. Its up to you to evaluate your options and decide whats best for you.
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Where To Get Help
For mild to moderate anxiety, these strategies might be enough to manage your symptoms. Still, it’s a good idea to discuss your efforts with your primary doctor, who can make more personalized suggestions about anxiety treatment without medication.
If these strategies don’t work, or if you have severe or worsening anxiety, talk to your doctor immediately. He or she will want to screen you for underlying medical conditions that could contribute to your anxiety. Your doctor might also recommend prescription medications or refer you to a mental health specialist for therapy.
Just remember that you’re not alone. Anxiety disorders are common and treatable. There’s no shame in seeking help, and nothing to gain by suffering in silence.
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How Do Vets Determine The Cause Of Cat Anxiety
Your veterinarian will first want to rule out other conditions that might be contributing to your cats behavior, such as pain or thyroid disease.
This consists of a thorough physical exam, blood tests, and urine tests. Additional tests may be recommended depending on your cats results.
A thorough history is an essential part of establishing a diagnosis, and any videos you have of the behavior are also helpful. These will provide clues to the stimuli and situations that cause your cat to be anxious, if there is no medical cause found.
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How Is Irritable Bowel Syndrome Related To Anxiety Disorders
Some people feel the effects of stress in their stomachs. People with IBS have uncomfortable problems with digestion, including stomach pain, constipation and diarrhea. They also frequently have anxiety and depression, which can make symptoms worse.
The connection between IBS and anxiety comes from the nervous system partly controlling the colon. The nervous systems response to stress may affect the stomach. Among people who get treated for IBS, anywhere from 50% to 90% may also have an anxiety disorder or depression. Treatment for IBS may include stress management and psychotherapy to relieve symptoms.
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Steer Clear Of Alcohol
Drinking alcohol may take the edge off at first, since its a natural sedative. However, suggests theres a link between anxiety and alcohol consumption, with anxiety disorders and alcohol use disorder occurring hand-in-hand.A 2017 review that looked at 63 different studies showed that decreasing alcohol intake can improve both anxiety and depression.
Heavy drinking can interfere with the balance of neurotransmitters, which can be responsible for positive mental health. This interference creates an imbalance that may lead to certain symptoms of anxiety.
Anxiety may temporarily increase in early sobriety but can improve in the long run. Alcohol has also been shown to disrupt your bodys natural ability to sleep by interfering with sleep homeostasis. And as well later point out, a good nights sleep is incredibly helpful when combating anxiety.
Medication For Severe Anxiety
Lifes daily demands can sometimes be overwhelming, quickly ratcheting up our anxiety levels. Worries about everyday stressors, like finances, parenting issues, work-related problems, and family strife can leave us feeling perpetually anxious. Anxiety is the most common type of mental health disorder, with 40 million U.S. adults struggling with an anxiety disorder, according to the National institute of Mental Health.
One severe form of anxiety is manifested in panic attacks or a panic disorder. A panic attack comes on for no known reason, when suddenly you are overcome with an intense version of the fight or flight response. These attacks leave you breathless, with a racing heart, nausea, dizziness, shaking, and basically frozen in fear.
The fight or flight response, or the acute stress response, is an innate physiological reaction to a perceived threat. The body responds by unleashing a flood of adrenaline, cortisol, and norepinephrine into the bloodstream, which tells a human to either fight for their life or to run for their life. To some extent, this biological function is present with all anxiety disorders, not just panic disorder.
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Why Its A Problem
Chronic anxiety can prevent you from meeting your daily responsibilities, at work, at home or socially. It gets in the way of getting along with other people, both meeting new people and maintaining existing relationships, says Jane Timmons-Mitchell, associate clinical professor of psychiatry at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.
The physical effects can be wide-ranging, as well. Anxiety can impact physical health in almost any way you can imagine, Zucker says. Its very, very powerful. It can contribute to sleeplessness, gastrointestinal difficulties, breathing problems, back pain and cardiovascular disease.
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How Anxiety Impacts Our Life
Anxiety disorders have the potential to cause significant impairment in daily functioning. When intense fear consumes someone, it can lead to avoidance and isolating behaviors, which then cause disruption to careers, relationships, and families. Someone who suffers from anxiety may adopt unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as substance dependency only leading to further impairment. Anxiety disorder can profoundly impact our lives, beyond the common symptoms of sensitivity to stress.
One of the ways anxiety can disrupt our daily lives is through impaired cognitive functioning. Anxiety and inability to focus, or foggy thinking, appear to be interconnected. As anxiety symptoms escalate, the mind struggles to stay on task. Short-term memory functions are affected by anxiety as well, causing difficulty in remembering tasks or projects that are due, only adding to the work performance challenges. Anxiety can also result in increased fatigue, also impacting work performance and overall functioning.
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What Is An Anxiety Attack
An anxiety attack is a feeling of overwhelming apprehension, worry, distress, or fear. For many people, an anxiety attack builds slowly. It may worsen as a stressful event approaches.
Anxiety attacks can vary greatly, and symptoms may differ among individuals. Thats because the many symptoms of anxiety dont happen to everyone, and they can change over time.
Common symptoms of an anxiety attack include:
- feeling faint or dizzy
Researchers are not sure of the exact cause of anxiety. But, its likely a combination of factors play a role. These include genetic and environmental factors, as well as brain chemistry.
In addition, researchers believe that the areas of the brain responsible for controlling fear may be impacted.
Current research of anxiety is taking a deeper look at the parts of the brain that are involved with anxiety. Learn more about what the researchers are finding.