Anxiety is a natural stress response. We face stressful situations daily, so we tend to experience anxiety often. Anxiety is an unpleasant emotion with the expectation but not the certainty of something untoward happening.
Some of the most common feelings include apprehension or fear of thinking about the challenges we are about to face. Feeling anxious about doing something completely new, like starting a new job, taking a test, or moving to a new place, is perfectly okay. Even though anxiety is unpleasant, it encourages us to perform better, adapt and learn.
What are anxiety disorders?
Anxiety becomes a problem when it can be felt without reason or cause to worry. When this constant or recurrent anxiety disrupts day-to-day functioning, it becomes a disorder. Ignoring the condition earlier can worsen, causing avoidance and isolation, leading to devastating consequences.
Anxiety disorders are pretty common and can affect people of any age. Early evaluation and anxiety treatment in Delhi can make the person lead a healthy and happy life Anxiety disorders are of multiple types based on the cause of anxiety and associated symptoms.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Are you unable to concentrate on your studies as you fear that you will fail your exams?
Do you repeatedly check your watch, worried you will be late for work even when you start early?
Do you fear that the worst may happen when your partner gets late from work?
Do you fear that child might have a life-threatening disease when he or she gets a headache?
Do you fear your son will get divorced because he fought with his wife?
Generalised anxiety disorder is characterised by free-floating, persistent, and excessive worry. This anxiety doesn’t disappear with time and may worsen if left untreated. If you feel that most things make you anxious for no apparent reason, you may be dealing with a generalised anxiety disorder (GAD). It can last for a few months to several years. It’s essential to get in touch with the best anxiety doctor near me to help you make yourself feel better.
What are the Symptoms of GAD?
The patient may experience some of the following symptoms:
- A constant worry for no apparent reason
- Despite trying, you can’t stop worrying
- You can’t recall the last time you felt relaxed and didn’t fear that something would go wrong
- You think of a contingency plan for the fear that something will go wrong
- It is challenging to deal with uncertainty, and avoidance feels like a better choice
- Taking a decision is difficult for fear that it will go wrong
- You cannot concentrate easily
- It takes a very long to fall asleep
- Tiredness throughout the day
Physical Symptoms of GAD
- Muscle tension
- Nausea, Stomach ache, Diarrhoea
- Headache, giddiness, twitching
- Palpitations, breathlessness, sweating
All the above-mentioned symptoms occur without any physical illness.
Social Anxiety Disorder
Your friends are having a social gathering, and you are invited. You have no reason not to go, yet you decide not to show up even when everyone asks you repeatedly.
Social anxiety disorder is a condition where the person experiences the fear of scrutiny or getting judged by people, thereby leading to avoidance of social situations. Meeting even one or two people may cause anxiety, self-consciousness and embarrassment.
Severe anxiety can disrupt routine social interactions that form part of personal relationships at work, school, or other activities. The following tasks may become highly challenging for a person with social anxiety disorder:
- talking to strangers
- speaking in public
- making eye contact
- entering rooms full of people
- using public restroom
- going to parties/dinners
- talking to a cashier
- going to school or work
- starting a conversation
What are the Symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder?
Some of the following symptoms may be experienced by people dealing with social anxiety disorder:
- You don’t want anyone to know that you are anxious, so you avoid all social scenarios
- Anxiety is felt before any big gathering that may even start weeks before the event
- Experiencing panic attacks before or during the social interaction
- Feeling judged or scrutinised during a social interaction
How can Social Anxiety Disorder Impact your Life?
Avoiding social situations can lead to an impact on your personal life and may lead to the following:
- Low-self esteem
- Sensitivity to criticism
- Poor social skills
- Trouble being assertive
- Difficulty maintaining social relationships
- Low academic and professional achievements
Panic Disorder
You were usually working and suddenly experienced a strong feeling of terror even when there was no real threat. The feeling peaks in ten-fifteen minutes, at which point you feel the worst will happen.
What is a panic attack?
A panic attack is characterised by the sudden onset of palpitations, chest pain, choking sensations, dizziness, and feelings of unreality. There is often also a secondary fear of dying or losing control.
It develops into a panic disorder when you have recurrent panic attacks and harbours a fear of another attack. You may associate the attack with where it occurred and avoid it.
What are the Symptoms of Panic Disorder?
During a panic attack, you may experience the following:
- Sweating profusely
- Chest pain
- Difficulty in breathing
- Headache
- Ringing in ears
- Cramps in stomach
- An intense feeling of terror
- Detachment from reality or oneself
- Fear of losing control or going crazy
- Fear of death
Phobia
Do you avoid standing near windows in a tall buildings for fear of height?
Do you do everything to ensure no lizards are in your room?
Do you fear entering an elevator or an enclosed space? You could be dealing with phobias if you constantly fear certain situations, activities or objects. They are overwhelming and irrational fears that make your body and mind weak.
What are the Symptoms of Phobia?
The following may happen when you encounter things you fear:
- It feels as if your heart is pounding very hard
- There is difficulty in breathing
- You speak too fast or can’t speak at all
- Nausea
- Shaking or trembling
- Choking sensation
- Dizziness
- You are drenched in sweat all of a sudden
- It feels as if everything is coming to an end
What are the Causes and Risk Factors associated with an Anxiety Disorder?
The followings are the common causes and risk factors for an anxiety disorder:
- Biological factors like imbalance in neurochemicals and it may run in the family
- Traumatic childhood or past traumatic events
- Experiencing sudden adverse life event
- Certain personality traits can make one more prone to anxiety disorders.
How can Anxiety Disorders be Treated?
Psychotherapy and/or medications form the first line of anxiety disorder treatment in Delhi
Medications:
- Anxiolytics
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
- Beta-blockers
Psychotherapy:
- Cognitive behaviours therapy (CBT)
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy
- Relaxation therapy
- Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
- Exposure therapy
- Group therapy
We Can Diagnose and Treat Your Condition. We can help you get better. Reach us today for further assistance.
Call +91 9811006930 and speak to any office staff to learn more or schedule an appointment.
