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 GENERALIZED
ANXIETY DISORDER
Generalized anxiety
disorder (GAD) is much more than the normal anxiety people
experience day to day. Without provoking, it is chronic and
exaggerated worry and tension. This disorder involves
anticipating disaster, often worrying excessively about health,
money, family or work. Sometimes, though, just the thought of
getting through the day brings on anxiety.
People with GAD can't shake
their concerns, even though they usually realize that much of their
anxiety is unwarranted. People with GAD also seem unable to relax
and often have trouble falling or staying asleep. Their worries are
accompanied by physical symptoms, especially trembling, twitching,
muscle tension, headaches, irritability, sweating, hot flashes and
feeling lightheaded or out of breath.
Many individuals with GAD
startle more easily than other people. They tend to feel tired, have
trouble concentrating and may suffer from depression. GAD may
involve nausea, frequent trips to the bathroom or feeling like there
is a lump in the throat.
Symptoms
 Pessimism
Worr ies
excessively
on
money, health, family or work, when there are no signs of
trouble
Restlessness
Insomnia
Fatigue,
trembling, muscle tension, headaches, irritability or hot
flashes
Research has shown that
cognitive-behavioral therapy, a form of psychotherapy, is effective
for several anxiety disorders, particularly panic disorder and
social phobia.
Ask
for help, now.
PANIC
DISORDER
A person with panic disorder
experiences sudden and repeated episodes of intense fear accompanied
by physical symptoms such as chest pain, heart palpitations,
breathlessness, vertigo or abdominal distress. Because these
symptoms are so similar to those of a heart attack or other life-threatening
medical conditions, panic disorder may not be diagnosed until
extensive and expensive medical tests have ruled out other serious
illnesses.
Even between panic attacks,
it is common for sufferers to be extremely anxious. These people
often develop phobias about places such as shopping malls—where
previous episodes have occurred. They also develop fears about
experiences that have set off an attack, such as an airplane flight.
As panic attacks become more frequent, the person may begin to shun
situations that might trigger another episode. This avoidance may
lead to agoraphobia, the inability to leave familiar, safe
surroundings because of intense fear and anxiety
Symptoms
Palpations,
pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate
Sweating
Trembling
or shaking
Shortness
of breath or a sensation of smothering
Chest
pain or discomfort
Feeling
dizzy, unsteady, lightheaded, or faint
Fear
of losing control or of going crazy
Numbness
or tingling sensation
Chills
or hot flashes
Panic disorder is treated
with medications and cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychotherapy
that teaches patients to view their attacks in a different way and
demonstrates how to reduce anxiety.
Ask
for help, now.
NIGHTMARES
A nightmare is a dream
occurring during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep that results in
feelings of inescapable terror, fear or extreme anxiety. This
phenomenon tends to occur in the latter part of the night and
oftentimes awakens the sleeper, who is likely to recall the content
of the dream. Most nightmares may be a normal reaction to stress,
and some clinicians believe they aid people in working through
traumatic events.
Frequent occurrence of
nightmares becomes a disorder when it impairs social, occupational
and other important areas of functioning. At this point, it may be
referred to as Nightmare Disorder (formerly Dream Anxiety Disorder)
or "repeated nightmares." "Repeated nightmares" is defined more
specifically as a series of nightmares with a recurring theme.
Nightmares usually begin in childhood before age 10 and are
considered normal unless they significantly interfere with sleep,
development or psychosocial development. They tend to be more common
in girls than boys, and they may continue into adulthood. Adult
nightmares are often associated with outside stressors or exist
alongside another mental disorder. Nightmares might be associated
with anxiety and trauma.
Symptoms
Repeatedly
wakes up with detailed recollection of long, frightening
dreams centering around threats to survival, security or
self-esteem, usually occurring in the second half of sleep
or nap period
Becomes
oriented and alert instantly upon awakening
Results
in distress or impairment of occupational, social or other
important areas of functioning
Symptoms
are not caused by general medical condition or by use of
medications or other substances
Talking about what is on
your mind can go a long way.
Ask
for help, now.
AGORAPHOBIA
The term agoraphobia is
translated from Greek as "fear of the marketplace." Agoraphobia
today describes severe and pervasive anxiety about being in
situations from which escape might be difficult or embarrassing and,
or, from which help might not be available should a panic attack
occur.
Agoraphobia typically
accompanies a panic disorder although on rare occasions, it may also
occur when criteria of a panic disorder are not fully met. In panic
disorder, panic attacks recur and the person develops an intense
apprehension of having another attack. This fear -- called
anticipatory anxiety or fear of fear -- can be present most of the
time and seriously interfere with the person's life even when a
panic attack is not in progress. In addition, the person may develop
irrational fears called phobias, such as agoraphobia, about
situations where a panic attack has occurred. If agoraphobia occurs
with panic disorder, the onset is usually during the 20s, and women
are affected more often than men.
Symptoms
Fear
of being alone
Fear
of losing control in a public place
Fear
of being in places where escape might be difficult
Becoming
house bound for prolonged periods
Feeling
that the body is unreal
Feeling
that the environment is unreal
Unusual
temper or agitation with trembling or twitching
Confused
or disordered thoughts
The goal of treatment is
to help the phobic person function effectively.
Ask
for help, now.
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