Anxiety and panic disorders |
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Anxiety is a normal feeling that all people experience when they're facing a threat or danger, or when they're stressed. But some of us will go on feeling anxious and upset even when the stressful event has passed. Sometimes the feelings seem to happen on their own, without any specific event to trigger them. They may be so severe and long-lasting that they interfere with our daily lives and stop us doing what we want to do. These feelings, and the physical symptoms that often accompany them, are caused by a collection of illnesses called anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders are very common. At any one time, around one in 20 Australians will share the symptoms of an anxiety disorder. These symptoms often appear for the first time in young adults, but they can affect children and older people too. Women are also more likely to experience anxiety disorders than men. These disorders change the way we feel, think and behave. If they're not treated, they can cause us considerable distress, and affect our relationships with the people we live and work with. Fortunately, anxiety responds well to treatment and, after the appropriate therapy, many sufferers go on to enjoy symptom-free lives. >> Read about treatment options for anxiety disorders >> Find out when our next Mood Disorder Program starts Symptoms of an anxiety disorderPeople suffering from anxiety disorders often feel:
They also often have intense physical sensations:
Types of anxiety disordersGeneralised anxiety disorderGeneralised anxiety disorder is characterised by intense and uncontrollable worry about everyday things, such as health, family, friends, money or career. The degree of worry is out of proportion to its source: it's often described as being "exaggerated" or "unrealistic". Often there's no one single issue that is the focus of worry, and so the anxiety is called generalised.People with this disorder worry constantly (and without good reason) about harm coming to themselves or their loved ones. They also feel generally fearful and apprehensive. Panic disorderPanic disorder (panic anxiety or panic attack) produces extreme panic attacks in situations where most people would not be afraid.The attacks (also called anxiety attacks) are accompanied by very unpleasant physical symptoms. People have described feeling as if they were having a heart attack, leading them to fear that the attacks may be damaging them physically or that they may die from them, or that they will be totally overwhelmed by them and unable to function at all. People with panic disorder may also develop a fear of being in situations that might be difficult or embarrassing to get way from, or fear that help mightn't be available if needed. This part of the disorder is also called agoraphobia. Fear can be triggered by a trip to the supermarket or department store, crowded places of all kinds, confined spaces, public transport, lifts or expressways. People experiencing agoraphobia may find comfort in the company of a "safe" person or object. This might be their husband or wife, friend, pet, or medicine they carry with them. Specific phobiaEveryone has some irrational fears, but phobias are intense fears about particular objects or situations that are so extreme they interfere with daily life. Common phobias include fear of heights, water, dogs, closed spaces, snakes, or spiders.Someone with a specific phobia is fine when the thing that triggers their fear isn't around. However, when they're faced with it, they can become very anxious and experience a panic attack. People affected by phobias can go to great lengths to avoid situations that would force them to confront the thing they fear. They may restrict their travel or daily routines to minimise the chance of coming into contact with the object of their phobia. Social phobiaSocial phobia is a strong and persistent fear of social or performance situations. People with social phobia fear being closely watched and judged negatively by others.Affected people cope by avoiding particular situations, or force themselves to endure them under extreme stress. They may limit what they do in front of others – especially eating, drinking, speaking, or writing – or withdraw and avoid contact with others. Obsessive compulsive disorderPeople with this disorder experience constant unwanted thoughts intruding on their everyday thinking, and often develop elaborate rituals to try to control or banish these thoughts.The rituals are usually time consuming and seriously interfere with daily life. For example, people may be driven to wash their hands again and again, recheck that doors are locked or the oven is turned off, or do common things in a rigidly precise order. People with obsessive compulsive disorder are often very embarrassed by their rituals and keep them secret, even from their families. Post-traumatic stress disorderPeople who have been through a major trauma such as a motor vehicle accident, fire or personal violence can continue to feel terrified long after the event is over. In countries outside Australia, victims of war and torture also develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – but it's worth pointing out that not everyone who experiences trauma goes on to develop PTSD.People with PTSD repeatedly re-live the traumatic event in their minds. They may have intrusive, distressing memories that take the form of nightmares or flashbacks. Flashbacks are often brought about by triggers related to the experience, which the person then tries to avoid. Feelings of emotional numbness are also linked to PTSD. >> Read more about Post-traumatic Stress Living with an anxiety disorderAnyone living with an anxiety disorder or having promlems with anxiety has to struggle on many fronts: feeling anxious and fearful, worrying that this stress will affect their long-term health, coping with the physical symptoms, and gauging its effect on family, friends and coworkers. When you're overwhelmed by these feelings, it's easy to forget that an anxiety disorder is not an inevitable consequence of your personality, or situation, or who you are. Instead, there's good reason to stay positive. Remember, it's an illness that can be treated with anxiety management and, with the proper guidance, able to be very capably understand anxiety symptoms and manage by yourself.
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