The term anxiety disorder is used as a general term that includes a wide variety of conditions where fear, stress, and anxiety of an abnormal proportion affect the mental and physical health of the individual involved. There are many people that suffer from one or more types of anxiety disorder including about one fifth of the American population.
There are various types of anxiety disorders that are caused by different things. There are panic disorders which is a long-lasting anxiety which is usually experienced by older adults, and concerns non-specific fears. Phobias are also considered as anxiety disorders but this concerns many ages and is related to one or more specific thing such as the fear of spiders, of heights and so on. Others include social anxiety disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and separation anxiety.
There may be number of causes for having an anxiety disorder as well as contributing factors. The amygdala which is a part of the brain that controls anxiety and fear sometimes has disruptions in its functioning. When this occurs it can cause these disorders. Many anxiety disorders are associated with individuals being exposed to various chemicals that cause malfunctions in the brain. Alcohol and drug abuse are also factors and can make pre-existing conditions worse. There is also the stress factor, in which when a person is experiencing high levels of stress from various things such as chronic illness or even life situations like work and finances. This over time can be the cause of such disorders.
Symptoms of these disorders vary widely and may not be experienced by all individuals with this condition. Such things as headaches, sweating, hypertension, heart palpitations, fatigue or exhaustion, and muscle spasms are quite common. There may be mental disorders that accompany this such as clinical depression and sexual function may also be affected. Normally these symptoms include avoidance, the inability to obtain or maintain excitement, or even pain during intercourse. Sometimes even panic attacks during sexual arousal may occur for those who are pre-disposed for this condition.
Diagnosis of these conditions may be through a series of consultations with the doctor, various blood tests to check for other associated conditions and so on. They vary according to which anxiety disorder is suspected.
The treatment also differs according to the patient. There are various methods of psychotherapy that may be used including cognitive behavioral therapy and well as classes given on how to manage stress levels. Some doctors will prescribe medications to control the symptoms such as anti-anxieties or other types depending on the situation. There are a large number of these which can be prescribed but patients have to take caution because there may be addictive side effects or withdrawal symptoms. For those who prefer the route of alternative medicines, there are various herbal treatments and Chinese medicines available. There are treatments from the practices of naturopathy and homeopathy as well. Factors that may assist any type of treatment include a healthy diet and exercise which should be maintained on a regular basis.
