It is normal to be anxious but there are cases that anxiety can be very disabling and can prevent you from doing activities that you normally do. When you are experiencing anxiety to the point that you find it hard to function normally on your everyday life, you might be suffering from anxiety disorder. It is important to know that anxiety disorder is a treatable condition. Understanding and knowing anxiety disorder is important to know what you are dealing with.
There are different types of anxiety disorder:
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). People with generalized anxiety disorder are chronic worrier. They have constant and exaggerated worries about common everyday things like health, family, work and money even though there is little or nothing to worry about. On severe cases, their worries are so intense that they find it hard to relax, concentrate and accomplish even the simplest daily tasks.
Panic disorder. This is a sudden terror or panic even if there is no real danger. The extreme fear suddenly occurs from out of the blue and it is usually accompanied by disabling symptoms like trembling, sweating, chest pain, pounding heartbeat, dizziness and feeling of going crazy or losing control. Sufferers may think that they are having a heart attack. Panic attacks may occur anytime without warning and sufferers cannot predict when the next attack will happen. Thinking and worrying about the next episodes of attacks make them more anxious and worried.
Social anxiety disorder. This is a condition where a person is overly self-conscious in social situations. Sufferers have extreme fear of doing common things in front of other people. They are afraid of being judged and watched. We normally get shy in front of other people but people with social anxiety disorder worry about facing feared social situations for weeks before they happen. This condition can be very disabling. Sometimes they end up staying at home to avoid social situations that might embarrass them. This condition can keep them from enjoying the company of their family and friends.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). People with OCD are controlled by obsessive thoughts that trigger their anxiety. To control their anxiety, they usually perform obsessive habits or rituals. For instance, if they have obsessive thoughts about burglars, they will repeatedly check their windows and door locks many times before going to bed. Because of their obsessive thoughts, they repeatedly check things, count things, clean things, etc. and they keep doing these rituals even though they are interfering with their daily lives.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A person may develop PTSD after a traumatic experience. Sufferers are disturbed and anxious about traumatic incidents that happened months or years ago. It may be death in the family, divorce, brutal experiences like physical or sexual abuse and natural disasters like earthquakes. People with PTSD tend to withdraw or lose interest on things they used to enjoy, become cold or less affectionate and irritable. They are having flashbacks, a condition where they believe that the traumatic incident is happening all over again.
Specific phobia. This is an irrational fear on specific things like blood, spiders, elevators, being in an enclosed area, driving, etc. Facing the feared object or situation causes anxiety attacks on sufferers. They tend to avoid facing the feared object to the point that the avoidance interferes with their daily lives.
Understanding and knowing anxiety disorder is important if you want to get your life back and free yourself from the disabling symptoms of anxiety disorder. Knowing what you are dealing with is the first step in seeking treatment.
Aside from understanding and knowing anxiety disorder, you should know that anxiety disorder in whatever form is a treatable condition. It is important to find a treatment that will work for you. Of course it is best to seek professional help to know the best treatment that will work for you.
