1 year, 7 months ago
via health-qna.com
When are my symptoms considered an anxiety disorder?
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M$1 Answer
I am not a doctor or a therapist.
Anxiety disorder is actually a group of disorders which are physical manifestations of mental problems. Some examples are OCD, hoarding, hypochondria and all phobias. The physical symptoms, which vary slightly by disorder, include but are not limited to: heart palpitations, racing thoughts, and difficulty breathing hyperventilation. It is important to remember that these are all caused by anxiety and so do not necessarily require medication(s) in order to be successfully treated.
If you have any of the symptoms I described above to a degree that hinders your ability to perform daily tasks and have no physical illness which explains them, you have an anxiety disorder.
From The National Institutes of Mental Health (www.nihm.nih.gov)
-quote
Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress. It helps one deal with a tense situation in the office, study harder for an exam, keep focused on an important speech. In general, it helps one cope. But when anxiety becomes an excessive, irrational dread of everyday situations, it has become a disabling disorder.
-endquote
It is not uncommon for anxiety disorders to flare up more during the holidays, as these can be stressful times anyway and anxiety disorders are caused by stress (hence the name).
Anxiety attacks (and anxiety disorders) can be prevented and treated in two ways. There are anti-anxiety medications available by prescription which cause you to feel less anxiety. While very effective, these medications also have potentially dangerous side effects. For that reason, their use should be discussed carefully with your doctor or therapist.
The other way anxiety disorders and their attacks can be prevented and treated is through therapy. Both traditional (Congnitive Behavioral Therapy) and hypnotherapy can be as effective as the anti-anxiety medications. Often, CBT is combined with anti-anxiety medication(s) in a patient's treatment plan.
From The National Institutes of Mental Health (www.nihm.nih.gov)
-quote
Effective treatments for anxiety disorders are available, and research is yielding new, improved therapies that can help most people with anxiety disorders lead productive, fulfilling lives.
-endquote
It is difficult to outgrow an anxiety disorder and often, the reverse is true. Anxiety disorders, if left untreated, usually grow more debilitating over time. You probably got one as a result of a traumatic event or series of events that happened in your past.
Good luck to you! I hope you found this information helpful.
Anxiety disorder is actually a group of disorders which are physical manifestations of mental problems. Some examples are OCD, hoarding, hypochondria and all phobias. The physical symptoms, which vary slightly by disorder, include but are not limited to: heart palpitations, racing thoughts, and difficulty breathing hyperventilation. It is important to remember that these are all caused by anxiety and so do not necessarily require medication(s) in order to be successfully treated.
If you have any of the symptoms I described above to a degree that hinders your ability to perform daily tasks and have no physical illness which explains them, you have an anxiety disorder.
From The National Institutes of Mental Health (www.nihm.nih.gov)
-quote
Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress. It helps one deal with a tense situation in the office, study harder for an exam, keep focused on an important speech. In general, it helps one cope. But when anxiety becomes an excessive, irrational dread of everyday situations, it has become a disabling disorder.
-endquote
It is not uncommon for anxiety disorders to flare up more during the holidays, as these can be stressful times anyway and anxiety disorders are caused by stress (hence the name).
Anxiety attacks (and anxiety disorders) can be prevented and treated in two ways. There are anti-anxiety medications available by prescription which cause you to feel less anxiety. While very effective, these medications also have potentially dangerous side effects. For that reason, their use should be discussed carefully with your doctor or therapist.
The other way anxiety disorders and their attacks can be prevented and treated is through therapy. Both traditional (Congnitive Behavioral Therapy) and hypnotherapy can be as effective as the anti-anxiety medications. Often, CBT is combined with anti-anxiety medication(s) in a patient's treatment plan.
From The National Institutes of Mental Health (www.nihm.nih.gov)
-quote
Effective treatments for anxiety disorders are available, and research is yielding new, improved therapies that can help most people with anxiety disorders lead productive, fulfilling lives.
-endquote
It is difficult to outgrow an anxiety disorder and often, the reverse is true. Anxiety disorders, if left untreated, usually grow more debilitating over time. You probably got one as a result of a traumatic event or series of events that happened in your past.
Good luck to you! I hope you found this information helpful.
You can leave an optional "tip" with Mahalo's virtual currency, Mahalo Dollars. If you are asking a difficult question that might require some research, or if you'd like a wide variety of feedback, a higher tip often leads to more answers to your question.
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