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Living with an Anxiety Disorder

Living with an untreated anxiety disorder is difficult to say the least. Normal, everyday tasks can become insurmountable. In an attempt to avoid triggers an individual can become socially isolated, and employment may become impossible. Without treatment, anxiety disorders tend to worsen over time, and as the suffering increases, the ability to manage daily life decreases.

If you suspect that you, or a loved one, are suffering from an anxiety disorder, please seek professional help without delay. There are many proven successful treatment avenues to explore with a wide variety of mental health professionals available to assist you with your unique challenges. There is no reason to continue suffering with help so readily available. You are not alone; many people in our society experience anxiety, and professionals are well equipped to help you find a way through the pain and uncertainty.

With treatment anxiety disorders are manageable. Peace and happiness are possible. With all of the treatment options available today, you can find one that works for you. Help is within your reach. Make that call, or send that message. Please reach out today.

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Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this post and any associated articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect opinions or policies of eTherapyPro. These posts and articles are shared for your enjoyment and consideration. Read them or not at your sole discretion and liability. They are not intended to replace counseling services rendered by licensed professionals. Consult with your counselor before implementing any content from these articles into your life.

Where do I go for Help?

If you think you or a loved one is suffering from an anxiety disorder it is important to seek professional help. There are many options out there, and with a little bit of research you should be able to find the right fit.

Often the first step people take on their road to recovering from an anxiety disorder is getting a diagnosis. Having a diagnosis is helpful because it can lead you to the most effective type of treatment for your particular type of disorder. Having a diagnosis can also be helpful when dealing with insurance, or when developing a school IEP (individual education plan) for a student.

There are many different diagnostic methods out there, but most involve answering a set of standardized questions and your answers are then evaluated by a trained professional. The mental health professional may have you complete these questions in their office, or at home and bring them in to their office after you have completed them. Depending on your situation, your counselor may suggest you see a medical doctor to rule out any additional physical illnesses that could be causing your symptoms.

 

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Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this post and any associated articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect opinions or policies of eTherapyPro. These posts and articles are shared for your enjoyment and consideration. Read them or not at your sole discretion and liability. They are not intended to replace counseling services rendered by licensed professionals. Consult with your counselor before implementing any content from these articles into your life.

Different Types of Anxiety Disorders

The way anxiety manifests varies from person to person as each of us is biologically unique, as are our life experiences. With all of this variation, anxiety disorders do fall into several distinct categories. Some of the most common are Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Social Anxiety, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Panic Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and phobias.

Social anxiety is much more than just shyness. The world is comprised of people who are extroverts, and those that are introverts, and most are somewhere in the middle. Being naturally shy does not mean you have social anxiety. Some people just don’t enjoy being the center of attention, and are content with a few close relationships.

Social anxiety is one of several anxiety disorders that is characterized by an intense fear of being watched and judged by those around you. It causes a person to fear social settings, meeting new people, and feel very uncomfortable around people, even those they already know. This fear can interfere significantly with daily life often making work and school very difficult. One of the challenges of living with social anxiety is the way it limits a person’s ability to make and keep close relationships. Family and friends provide an important support system, and those with an anxiety disorder benefit greatly from this type of support.

Most people are familiar with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is most commonly associated with military combat veterans. While this portion of our society is at a high risk for developing PTSD, they are not the only ones. Anyone that endures a traumatic event can develop this disorder. Some other common events that can lead to PTSD are being a victim of a violent crime such as rape, or assault, car accidents or witnessing a crime or an accident.

When exposed to a significant trauma our brains are kicked into an automatic response for dealing with the situation – fight, flight or freeze. This response is helpful in the moment but can be very difficult if it lingers. Someone suffering from PTSD is often mentally living as if that tragic event is still happening. They can become very fearful and overwhelmed by the mental and physical response to these memories.

Persons suffering from panic disorder experience panic attacks, or anxiety attacks, when faced with certain triggers in their daily life. These triggers can be just about anything that cause a feeling of fear in the individual. Some examples of these are situations that could present as potentially dangerous, but usually are a minor risk in everyday life, such as heights, crowds, driving, elevators, public speaking, etc.

An anxiety attack, or panic attack, is an intense physical sensation that prevents, or severely hinders, a person from continuing with the immediate task at hand. This feeling can include a racing heart rate, sweating, shaking, trembling, extreme butterflies in the stomach, difficulty breathing, and lightheadedness. These feelings, while intense, usually dissipate fairly quickly. The worry of experiencing an attack of this nature may lead a person to avoid settings where they are likely to occur, thus further limiting their ability to function in daily life.

Phobias are irrational fears that hinder enjoyment of everyday life. They can range from a mild aversion to extreme, debilitating fear. Phobias can begin as a reasonable response to a negative element, such as an angry dog, or a large spider. They become a phobia when the fear and related response grow out of proportion to the perceived threat. While a 5 inch black widow spider crawling on your face warrants an extreme reaction, a ½ inch daddy long legs spider on the window does not. Phobias are a mental disorder classified under anxiety disorders and can be treated effectively by many mental health care professionals. There are several treatment options available such as exposure therapy, CBT, and traditional counseling.

The general population has become more aware of hoarding with the popularity of reality tv shows featuring this mental health disorder. It is more than just someone who has a hard time letting go of stuff. Hoarding is a mental disorder that prevents a person from letting go of items that no longer serve them, and even those that are dangerous, or create a negative environment. Hoarding comes with fear of letting go, and creates a large barrier to social interaction.

The problem of hoarding is not solved by simply tidying up and throwing useless items away. For someone with this mental disorder, they need professional assistance to help them learn healthier ways of coping with their emotions, and learning how to let go of the items they are clinging to. If a loved one steps in and takes care of cleaning up the physical environment without addressing the emotional needs of the individual it can be very traumatic. Treatment from a mental health professional is recommended to help the person not just for the short term immediate physical needs, but for their long term mental health and happiness.

General Anxiety Disorder or GAD, is the diagnosis given when someone presents with signs and symptoms of an anxiety disorder, but it does not clearly fall into one of these other diagnosis. An individual suffering from GAD may experience some, or all of the aspects of each other type of an anxiety disorder. They may experience panic attacks, and have difficulty in social settings. They may have primarily physical symptoms without a clear environmental trigger. Or they may experience anxiety mostly as an extreme emotional response. Each person is unique, but there is help available no matter what form the anxiety takes.

Many people who suffer from GAD have found relief through cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT. This type of therapy focuses on identifying the negative thoughts that lead to anxiety and learning new positive ways to direct those thoughts. It focuses on changing thoughts and behaviors to help the individual experience less anxiety and more contentment in their daily life. If you are suffering from an anxiety disorder, you may want to look for a mental health professional that specializes in CBT.

Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this post and any associated articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect opinions or policies of eTherapyPro. These posts and articles are shared for your enjoyment and consideration. Read them or not at your sole discretion and liability. They are not intended to replace counseling services rendered by licensed professionals. Consult with your counselor before implementing any content from these articles into your life.

How do I know if I have an Anxiety Disorder?


Life is stressful and when that stress is prolonged it can take a toll on your health. There are many symptoms of anxiety, and many of those could easily be mistaken for something else. The physical symptoms of anxiety can mimic those of life-threatening heart disease.

We have all heard the warnings about chest pains and shortness of breath. These are some of the common first signs of a heart attack. You have to act quickly, take an aspirin, and get to the hospital to save your life. Even the numbness and tingling in your arm are present, yet at the hospital the tests come back negative. These symptoms are frightening and the test results are frustrating. You may feel as if you are dying, yet the medical professionals tell you that your heart is just fine. It’s tempting to think they are wrong, and missing something. If you have the means, you might seek a second opinion.

If you are experiencing those physical symptoms and your doctor finds nothing wrong with you, it could be that you are suffering from anxiety. All the years of working too hard and too long for too little reward have caught up with you. Your mind and body have had enough. You can’t keep stuffing all that worry down. Lying awake at night worrying has worn you down even further. Continuing to force yourself through the hell of each day has taken its toll. Your body is calling for a time out.

When we are faced with a threat, our bodies naturally go into fight, flight or freeze mode. This is our biological, adrenaline driven response to danger. It serves us well in many situations. When this response kicks in blood flow is directed towards your arms and legs (think running and fighting) and the area of your brain responsible for making quick decisions. It gives you the boost you need to quickly assess a situation and either get out of there, play dead, or take on that monster. It’s meant to be a short term, immediate response to get you out of danger, not a method for coping with life’s ongoing, daily stressful challenges.

Rarely is running away a great solution to our modern problems. You can’t run from the bill collector. Freezing up when your boss calls on you in a meeting is not helpful. Neither is punching the rude guy who cuts in line in front of you at the DMV. All that adrenaline without a monster to fight is not helpful, and actually creates new problems. The constant stream of unused adrenaline causes your heart to race, and your palms to sweat. Your thoughts are quick and scattered. Restful sleep is pretty much impossible.

If a person stays in this state of flight, flight or freeze for an extended period of time it can lead to an anxiety disorder. If it is triggered too often, or in inappropriate circumstances, this can also lead to an anxiety disorder.

Some people with anxiety experience symptoms that are more of an emotional nature. They may feel an extreme fear that is not based on a true threat. They may be paralysed by this fear and unable to move past it, even when they logically understand that the fear is not rational. These fears may have begun as normal and rational and then over time grew out of control.

An example of an irrational fear could be a fear of driving. Driving certainly can be dangerous. Accidents and even death are not uncommon. We hear of fatal car accidents on the news, and see these images frequently. It’s a fact – people can die while driving a car. For most of us that knowledge leads us to take certain precautions, like wearing our seatbelts, making sure our kids are in appropriate car seats, obeying traffic laws, and driving defensively. We understand the risk, but we still venture out everyday taking our kids to school, and driving to work.

Someone with an anxiety disorder that is fearful of driving may be so focused on all the potential danger involved in getting behind the wheel that they just can’t do it. Their minds are so focused on avoiding an accident that they are unable to focus on the task of driving. Every small movement causes them to overreact, slamming on the brakes, turning the wheel too far, etc. Often they limit themselves to short routes, close to home where they are more familiar, avoid heavy traffic areas, night driving, etc. In extreme instances they may become so fearful that they stop driving altogether and even refuse to ride as a passenger.

A common symptom of anxiety disorders is excessive worry. This happens when the mind will not shut off after an appropriate amount of time trying to work out a problem. It gets stuck in a loop that never resolves in a solution. Often this means playing a conversation from the past, real or imagined, over and over in your mind. Each time the scene is played the intensity of the emotions involved strengthen, and the worry increases. What did they mean by that? Did I say the right thing? Should I have said this instead? Why did I say that? They must hate me. I’m so stupid. I have ruined everything.

There are coping methods to help a person stop these endless worry loops. Help is available. It is not hopeless. If you suspect you are suffering from an anxiety disorder, reach out to a mental health professional.

When a person’s thoughts are full of fear and worry, it’s easy to withdraw socially. Dealing with the added unpredictable input from others can be just too much to handle for someone already stressed to near their breaking point. Social settings are full of the unknown and for someone struggling to control their thoughts, they can be very difficult. Effectively dealing with the emotions of others is also difficult for a person whose own emotions are already at a heightened level. In many cases the individual determines that it is easier if they just stay at home, and avoid social settings as much as possible. This can be very detrimental, making it hard to keep a job and relationships intact.

A person suffering from anxiety needs support from family and friends. A common reaction to anxiety is to withdraw from other people. Unfortunately, when a person withdraws socially to avoid more stressful situations, they distance themselves from the support they really need. With professional help, they can be gently guided back into beneficial social settings that will support their efforts to find happiness and overcome their anxiety. Without professional help, the lack of social connections can intensify the anxiety, and increase their chances of developing clinical depression.

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Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this post and any associated articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect opinions or policies of eTherapyPro. These posts and articles are shared for your enjoyment and consideration. Read them or not at your sole discretion and liability. They are not intended to replace counseling services rendered by licensed professionals. Consult with your counselor before implementing any content from these articles into your life.

History of Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety Disorders

Jan 04, 2021

What we now refer to as anxiety disorders (panic attacks, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, etc.) were experienced by many people throughout the history of mankind. They were often misunderstood, abandoned to asylums, treated inhumanely, and otherwise mistreated. Anxiety disorders were first officially recognized by the American Psychiatric Association in 1980. Prior to this time those suffering in this way might receive a general diagnosis of “nerves” or “stress.” Medical professionals had no training and little understanding; thus very few people received effective treatment. Even if you do not have an anxiety background, the problem can appear. So, you must not take the problem lightly.

Ineffective treatments of the past included herbal preparations, hydropathy (exposing the body to extreme temperatures), harmful drugs and electroshock therapy. During the American Civil War era soldiers suffering from shellshock (what we call PTSD today) were often treated with opium and other calming but addictive drugs.

Fear exposure therapy came into practice in the 1950s. A patient is systematically exposed to the trigger of their fear with the goal of desensitizing them and lessening their anxiety or phobia. This method is still in use today. Whether or not you have history of anxiety, it is necessary to take proper precautions.

In the 1990’s doctors began treating patients with anxiety with antidepressant drugs. They discovered that there was a chemical component that was shared between those with depression and those with anxiety.

Anxiety is the most common form of mental illness in the United States.

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), over 40 million adults (persons over the age of 18) in the US suffer from some form of an anxiety disorder. That is approximately 18% of the population. Of those, 7 million suffer from Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and 15 million suffer from Social Anxiety Disorder. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) affects approximately 7.7 million Americans.

A great many children and adolescents also suffer from various forms of anxiety disorders. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) one in eight children in the United States suffer from an anxiety disorder. With early treatment and support these children can learn to manage their anxiety and approach adulthood with their anxiety in check. https://adaa.org/living-with-anxiety/children#

From these numbers it is clear that anxiety disorders are a pervasive problem in our society. Each of those 40 million adults have family members, loved ones, co-workers, friends and neighbors that are also impacted by these disorders. Seeking effective treatment for these individuals is of great importance. The action must be taken when was anxiety discovered. Feel free to contact us if you are willing to take help from online counseling.

Talk to an Expert about anxiety disorders today! Start a trial of online counseling.

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Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this post and any associated articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect opinions or policies of eTherapyPro. These posts and articles are shared for your enjoyment and consideration. Read them or not at your sole discretion and liability. They are not intended to replace counseling services rendered by licensed professionals. Consult with your counselor before implementing any content from these articles into your life.