| ANXIETY disorders are psycho-somatic | | | | after the event but can also appear years |
| conditions that fill the person's mind with | | | | later. |
| fear and uncertainty. Near 40 million | | | | |
| Americans aged 18 years and above suffer from | | | | - Social Anxiety Disorder: This is also |
| some kind of anxiety disorders in a given | | | | called Social Phobia and happens to people |
| year. It should however be noted that anxiety | | | | who are excessively self-conscious in social |
| or worry that can be attributed to a specific | | | | environments. Symptoms include blushing, |
| external event (such as a first date or the | | | | reticence, trembling, nausea, etc. This kind |
| first time one has to speak in public) is NOT | | | | of disorder may be specific to a certain |
| an anxiety disorder in medical parlance. | | | | situation or may be generalized in almost any |
| These kinds of worries or anxieties last for | | | | situation outside of the family. |
| a short while. For a worry, anxiety or fear | | | | |
| to be clinically diagnosed as an anxiety | | | | - Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): The |
| disorder, the condition must last a minimum | | | | person has persistent thoughts or obsessions |
| of six months and aggravate with the passage | | | | that produce anxiety and resorts to abnormal |
| of time. In many cases, anxiety disorders | | | | rituals to alleviate the anxiety. An example |
| arise in connection with one or more mental | | | | of such a ritual could be washing hands over |
| or physical ailments including abuse of | | | | and over again, or repeatedly checking |
| alcohol of narcotic drugs. | | | | things, without reason. This problem often |
| | | | comes with eating disorders. |
| Symptoms: There are several types of anxiety | | | | |
| disorders, with different and sometimes | | | | - Specific Phobias: The main symptom of this |
| overlapping symptoms, with different | | | | disorder is excessive fear of something |
| intensities. Yet, all the symptoms of all | | | | without adequate justification, e.g., fear of |
| types of anxiety disorders center on | | | | dogs, heights, water, flying, etc. |
| excessive fear and dread. | | | | |
| | | | - Generalized Anxiety Disorders: This is a |
| Types: The following are some of the | | | | condition in which the person is excessively |
| principal and common types of anxiety | | | | and abnormally worried of day-to-day matters |
| disorders and their symptoms: | | | | even though there is no reason for such fear; |
| | | | e.g., fear of losing job, money, status, etc. |
| - Panic Disorder: Sudden attack of terror | | | | Trembling, twitching, hot flashes, sweating, |
| fears, perspiration, weakness, pounding | | | | headaches, fatigue, etc are common external |
| heart, dizziness. The person may feel chilled | | | | symptoms. |
| and may experience a vomit sensation, chest | | | | |
| pain, etc. A fear of impending catastrophe | | | | Treatment: All types of anxiety disorders are |
| engulfs the person's mind. | | | | treatable by a combination of medicines and |
| | | | psychotherapy. The medicines usually |
| - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): This | | | | prescribed are one of the many |
| happens after a traumatic event happens to a | | | | anti-depressant drugs. However, since these |
| person or to someone else who may be a loved | | | | drugs come with potentially serious |
| one or a stranger. The event could be rape, | | | | side-effects (some of which could be fatal), |
| murder, serious physical harm, etc. PTSD | | | | the physician - preferably a psychiatrist - |
| symptoms usually appear within three months | | | | must be consulted. |