We all have stress in our lives one way or another, whether it is at work or simply getting to work on time.
Stress is imposed on us by the challenges we face each day - the jobs that need to be done so that we can justify our wages at the end of the week, or the examination we have to pass in order to further our career.
Anxiety is our reaction to stress and is quite normal.
It is the body's response to a challenge.
Anxiety helps to concentrate our minds, to focus on what needs to be done and to build up our energy reserves to enable us to get the job done.
If anxiety becomes excessive however, it becomes counter productive and class this as a disorder.
If anxiety levels overload our system the body, in attempting and failing to cope, can display any number of unpleasant symptoms.
Five main types of anxiety disorder that are described are: * Generalised anxiety disorder * Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) * Panic disorder * Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) * Social anxiety disorder Anxiety disorders are some of the most common types of mental problems that people suffer with.
The different types have many features in common that cause disruption in a person's life, but also have their own peculiar symptoms.
Sometimes one type, especially panic disorder, may exist on top of a more generalised anxiety.
Symptoms of anxiety disorders can include any of the following: * Unfounded fear or apprehension * Undue tenseness and irritability * Sudden attacks of panic * Uncontrollable obsessive thoughts * Repeated flashbacks of traumatic experiences * Repeated headaches * Upset stomach or diarrhoea * Tightness of the chest or shortness of breath * A lack of self confidence * Difficulty concentrating * Lack of interest in sex * Depression The treatment of Anxiety stress disorder will vary depending on which particular type of disorder is diagnosed or paramount.
Treatment often involves some kind of psychotherapy or medication, or both.
Usually a patient's doctor will carry out a thorough physical examination first to makes sure there is no medical condition present that could contribute to the symptoms.
Unfortunately some anxiety sufferers seek to find relief in alcohol or drugs which then produce other co-existing mental problems such severe depression or dysfunction and these conditions may have to be addressed first.
One of the often used types of therapy is called cognitive-behavioural therapy and, through a series of sessions with a trained professional the patient is helped with identifying their mistaken thinking patterns that underpin their fears.
This can lead to them changing their way of thinking and help dispel the anxiety.
For example a person suffering from PTSD may be supported trough a recall of their traumatic event whilst in a perfectly safe situation, and that helps them to lessen their fears gradually as they recall the event in the future.
Cognitive-behavioural therapy may last a few weeks and be conducted either on a one to one basis or in a group.
Group therapy seems particularly effective for social phobias.
Medication that is sometimes used is directed towards reducing depression or anxiety by altering brain chemical balance.
The most recent types of drugs for this purpose are called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs and have been quite successful and without many of the side effects of many of the older antidepressants.
Other drugs that are used are tricyclics, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and benzodiazepides amongst others.
Medication by itself will not cure anxiety disorders but it helps to control them while the person receives psychotherapy and often a combination of approaches is needed to adequately overcome anxiety disorders.
Stress is imposed on us by the challenges we face each day - the jobs that need to be done so that we can justify our wages at the end of the week, or the examination we have to pass in order to further our career.
Anxiety is our reaction to stress and is quite normal.
It is the body's response to a challenge.
Anxiety helps to concentrate our minds, to focus on what needs to be done and to build up our energy reserves to enable us to get the job done.
If anxiety becomes excessive however, it becomes counter productive and class this as a disorder.
If anxiety levels overload our system the body, in attempting and failing to cope, can display any number of unpleasant symptoms.
Five main types of anxiety disorder that are described are: * Generalised anxiety disorder * Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) * Panic disorder * Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) * Social anxiety disorder Anxiety disorders are some of the most common types of mental problems that people suffer with.
The different types have many features in common that cause disruption in a person's life, but also have their own peculiar symptoms.
Sometimes one type, especially panic disorder, may exist on top of a more generalised anxiety.
Symptoms of anxiety disorders can include any of the following: * Unfounded fear or apprehension * Undue tenseness and irritability * Sudden attacks of panic * Uncontrollable obsessive thoughts * Repeated flashbacks of traumatic experiences * Repeated headaches * Upset stomach or diarrhoea * Tightness of the chest or shortness of breath * A lack of self confidence * Difficulty concentrating * Lack of interest in sex * Depression The treatment of Anxiety stress disorder will vary depending on which particular type of disorder is diagnosed or paramount.
Treatment often involves some kind of psychotherapy or medication, or both.
Usually a patient's doctor will carry out a thorough physical examination first to makes sure there is no medical condition present that could contribute to the symptoms.
Unfortunately some anxiety sufferers seek to find relief in alcohol or drugs which then produce other co-existing mental problems such severe depression or dysfunction and these conditions may have to be addressed first.
One of the often used types of therapy is called cognitive-behavioural therapy and, through a series of sessions with a trained professional the patient is helped with identifying their mistaken thinking patterns that underpin their fears.
This can lead to them changing their way of thinking and help dispel the anxiety.
For example a person suffering from PTSD may be supported trough a recall of their traumatic event whilst in a perfectly safe situation, and that helps them to lessen their fears gradually as they recall the event in the future.
Cognitive-behavioural therapy may last a few weeks and be conducted either on a one to one basis or in a group.
Group therapy seems particularly effective for social phobias.
Medication that is sometimes used is directed towards reducing depression or anxiety by altering brain chemical balance.
The most recent types of drugs for this purpose are called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs and have been quite successful and without many of the side effects of many of the older antidepressants.
Other drugs that are used are tricyclics, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and benzodiazepides amongst others.
Medication by itself will not cure anxiety disorders but it helps to control them while the person receives psychotherapy and often a combination of approaches is needed to adequately overcome anxiety disorders.