Anxiety is a disorder that is quite massive, with several different types of anxiety that can vary in severity.
You may think of anxiety as a funny feeling in your tummy when you’re in a social situation, or you may picture it as so debilitating you can’t leave your house. It’s a spectrum that can be mild or severe, and there are several different ways it can manifest. Let’s look at some of them.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
GAD is chronic. It makes a person have anxiety every single day without fail. GAD can come in the form of racing thoughts that just won’t go away or odd sensations throughout your body. It can make living life difficult, especially when it comes to making decisions or taking risks.
GAD can be a combination of several forms of anxiety, which we will soon discuss.
Social Anxiety
There are many people who have occasional social fear. Maybe you’re nervous about a public speech. Perhaps you’re worried about being judged. These are common human worries and not a sign of an anxiety disorder. Social anxiety is also not someone who is a little more introverted than the usual person.
Social anxiety is extreme fear. You worry that everything you say is going to be scrutinized. It doesn’t just mean the fear of public speaking, but it can cover small talk.
Phobias
Phobias are a form of anxiety. For some people, phobias are rational. For others, they are irrational. For example, fearing flying when you’re not afraid of driving. Again, this is a common human emotion. If your stomach drops a bit when you’re high up, it’s not a sign you have a disorder.
However, if you are afraid of going outside due to agoraphobia, this can be a sign that you need help.
Panic Disorder
Panic disorder is unpredictable. When you have it, you tend to have panic attacks. For those who are not aware, panic attacks are when you have an intense feeling of dread, shortness of breath, chest pain, and other uncontrollable sensations.
When you have a panic attack, you may feel like you’re having a heart attack. You may end up going to the ER even if there is nothing wrong with you.
Panic attacks can happen to anyone, but panic disorder describes a person who has them frequently, or who has a fear of having them for a month. This is a disorder that can be quite debilitating, so it’s important you talk to a doctor if you have it.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
This is a disorder where someone performs rituals due to anxious thoughts in their mind. For instance, the best known is example is excessively washing your hands. Someone with OCD may wash their hands multiple times in a row due to anxious thoughts.
This is a disorder that can be debilitating due to your thoughts and actions taking over your life. It is something you do need to go to the doctor about if possible.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD is when you experience an event that causes trauma. It’s commonly associated with soldiers who saw bloodshed in war, but anyone can experience it. Having a car crash can cause PTSD. So can being assaulted.
This disorder can make it difficult for you to live a normal life. You may see something that reminds you of your trauma, and it can lead to an intense moment in anxiety. If you are having these symptoms for a month, you may have PTSD.
Treating Anxiety
Lifestyle Changes
In order to free yourself from anxiety, learning to make changes to your lifestyle is the first step. Performing relaxation techniques to calm your mind, avoiding situations that make you anxious, and learning to accept and embrace your fears is a good first step.
In addition, working out, exercising, and sleeping well are some other ways for you to relieve your anxiety.
Medication
Some medicines may be good for treating anxiety. However, these pills will not cure your anxiety. Quite often, they will relieve symptoms while you make changes to your life to eliminate the root cause.
Therapy
Getting therapy is another way for you to relieve your anxiety. Therapy can teach you techniques to calm you down, help you to cope with any trauma that could have caused your anxiety, and help you to live a better life overall.
If you want to seek therapy, it’s important you get a diagnosis. For those who have anxiety so bad, they are unable to leave the house, being diagnosed online can be a valuable first step. For more information on being diagnosed, please click the link below in order to get started with your anxiety treatment journey.
https://www.mind-diagnostics.org/blog/anxiety
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