An Overview of Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety is characterized by intense, prolonged feelings of fear and worry about daily activities, often difficult to control and potentially worsening over time if not addressed. In some cases, anxiety involves sudden and escalating episodes of panic known as panic attacks. Common symptoms of anxiety include increased heart rate, sweating, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, sleep disturbances, and more.

According to recent data from the World Health Organization, women are more susceptible to experiencing anxiety in their daily lives compared to men. Anxiety ranks as the most prevalent mental illness in India, affecting approximately 38 million adults aged 18 and above annually.

While occasional anxiety is normal, symptoms of anxiety disorders encompass conditions such as social anxiety disorder (social phobia), generalized anxiety disorder, specific phobias, separation anxiety disorder, or a combination thereof. Many anxiety treatment centers in India, particularly in Amritsar, offer a range of treatments including medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of both to address anxiety disorders.

Symptoms of Anxiety

As mentioned in the introductory section, anxiety can of different types and thus the symptoms also vary depending on the type of anxiety.

Generalized Anxiety consists of the following symptoms:

• Feelings of restlessness, nervousness, or tension.
• Feeling tired or easily fatigued.
• Difficulty in concentrating
• Having a sense of irritation.
• Frequent headache, stomach ache, or muscle aches
• Difficulty in controlling worry.
• Sleep disorder.

Panic Disorder consists of the following symptoms:

• Increased Heart Rate
• Frequent sweating
• Feelings of tremble.
• Pain in Chest.
• A sense of impending disaster
• Feeling out of control

Social Anxiety Disorder consists of the following symptoms:

• Frequent perspiration, blushing, or shaking.
• Increased Heart Rate
• Frequent stomach ache
• Stiff body posture or speaking in a low voice
• Having a hard time making eye contact or being around strangers
• Feelings of embarrassment or fear that people are making negative judgments

Phobia-related Disorder consists of the following symptoms:

• May have unreasonable or undue concerns about encountering the feared object or situation.
• Taking positive steps for avoiding the feared object or situation.
• Experiencing immediate and intense fear when encountering the feared object or situation.
• Endure inescapable things and circumstances with intense anxiety.

Social Anxiety Disorder consists of the following symptoms:

• Avoid meeting new people.
• Avoiding performance in public.
• Avoid making/ taking phone calls.
• Avoid use of public restrooms
• Avoid seeking help in a store, restaurant, or other public place.
• Avoid answering questions in public.
• Avoid eating out in public.
• Avoid taking part in an interview.

Separation Anxiety Disorder consists of the following symptoms:

• Recurrent undue stress due to expectations or absence from home or loved ones.
• Constant and excessive worry about losing parents or loved ones to illness or disaster
• Constant fear of being lost or kidnapped and separated from parents and loved ones.
• Refuse to leave home for fear of separation
• Don’t want to be alone at home without a parent or loved one
• Reluctance or denial to sleep away from home when a parent or loved one is not around
• Frequent nightmares of separation.
• Common complaints of headaches, stomach pains, or other symptoms when anticipating separation from a parent or other loved one.

Causes of Anxiety

While researchers have not pinpointed the exact cause of anxiety, several factors contribute to the development of this mental disorder, as outlined below:

Genetics: An individual's genetic makeup plays a significant role in predisposing them to anxiety.

Brain chemistry: Dysfunctional circuits in the brain can trigger fear and emotions associated with anxiety disorders.

Environmental stress: Stressful life events experienced throughout one's lifetime, such as childhood abuse, the sudden loss of a loved one, witnessing violence, or being subjected to attack, contribute to anxiety.

Chemical imbalance: Prolonged or severe stress can disrupt the chemical balance that regulates mood, potentially leading to anxiety.

Drug misuse: Certain substances, including alcohol and cocaine, are sometimes used to alleviate symptoms of anxiety, though they can exacerbate the condition in the long term.

Medical conditions: Specific medical conditions such as heart disease, thyroid disorders, respiratory issues, diabetes, and others can either cause anxiety disorders or exacerbate anxiety symptoms.

Diagnosis of Anxiety

Healthcare providers offering anxiety treatment in Amritsar typically begin by examining the patient and inquiring about their medical history. Psychologists in Amritsar and surrounding areas can diagnose anxiety and provide psychotherapy.

For diagnosing anxiety, psychiatrists may:

Conduct a psychological evaluation: Psychiatrists discuss the patient's thoughts, feelings, and behavior to diagnose the issue and assess for any related complications. Anxiety often coexists with other mental health issues such as depression or substance misuse, which can complicate detection of the disorder.

Compare symptoms with the criteria outlined in the DSM-5: Mental healthcare providers utilize the criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) to diagnose anxiety disorders.

Treatment of Anxiety

Treatment of anxiety typically involves psychotherapy, medications, or a combination of both, depending on the patient's condition.

Psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy or psychological counseling, is an effective treatment for anxiety disorders. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a particularly effective form of psychotherapy, helping individuals with anxiety learn to transform negative thoughts and behaviors into positive ones, enabling them to approach and manage challenging situations more effectively. Some clinics offering anxiety treatment in Amritsar also provide family CBT sessions as a long-term solution.

Medications are prescribed based on the type of anxiety disorder:

Antidepressants: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs) like escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac), duloxetine (Cymbalta), and venlafaxine (Effexor) are commonly prescribed.

Bupropion: This medication, which works differently from SSRIs and SNRIs, is used to treat chronic anxiety.

Benzodiazepines: Medications like alprazolam (Xanax) and clonazepam (Klonopin) may be prescribed for persistent anxiety or panic feelings, but should be used cautiously due to the risk of dependency.

Beta-blockers: These drugs are prescribed to alleviate symptoms like increased heart rate or shaking during acute anxiety attacks.

Anticonvulsants: Sometimes prescribed for epilepsy, these medications may also be used to treat anxiety disorders.

Antipsychotics: Low doses of these medications may be prescribed alongside other treatments for better and faster results.

Buspirone (BuSpar): Prescribed for chronic anxiety, it typically requires several weeks of use to achieve full symptom relief.

In addition to medications and counseling, lifestyle changes such as staying active, avoiding alcohol and recreational drugs, following a healthy diet, and ensuring adequate sleep can help alleviate anxiety disorders.

FAQs

Anxiety Disorder

How common is anxiety?

While occasional anxiety is a normal part of life experienced by everyone, anxiety disorder occurs when anxiety persists for prolonged periods and significantly impacts daily functioning.

What are the various coping factors to deal with anxiety?

Various coping strategies for dealing with anxiety include avoiding loneliness, maintaining a social circle, engaging in a healthy social life, prioritizing physical activity and fitness, and seeking solace in religious or spiritual practices.

What are some of the common symptoms of anxiety?

What are some of the common symptoms of anxiety?Some of the common symptoms of anxiety are an increased heart rate, sweating, restlessness, trouble in concentrating, sleep disorder and many more.

Is anxiety a gender specific ailment?

Anxiety is not gender specific, but as per data received from World Health Organization women are more prone to face anxiety in their daily activities as compared to their male counterpart. Hence anxiety is more generalized in female population.

What are the various types of anxiety disorders?

Stress can be categorized into short-term stress stemming from daily hassles and long-term stressors that instigate significant life changes. While daily stressors can typically be managed on a day-to-day basis, long-term stress, which precipitates substantial life alterations, requires more serious attention.

What are different examples of stress management techniques?

Generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder(social phobias), generalized anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder or a combination of any of these are the various in which anxiety can manifest itself.