How To Know If You Suffer From Anxiety

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Social anxiety is a form of anxiety in which the individual has trouble interacting in social situations. Speaking in front of a large group causes them distress. They may feel self-conscious, or fear judgment and criticism. They may also be anxious when they are the center of attention, being introduced to other people, and being teased or criticized .

Get Help Finding Treatment

Here are tools to find a healthcare provider familiar with treatment options:

• Psychologist Locatorexternal icon, a service of the American Psychological Association Practice Organization.
• Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Finderexternal icon, a research tool by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry .
• Find a Cognitive Behavioral Therapistexternal icon, a search tool by the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies.
• If you need help finding treatment facilities, visit MentalHealth.govexternal icon.

You Have Specific And Irrational Fears

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These fears are called phobias, and theyre more common than you might think. According to some studies, 12.5 percent of Americans will experience a phobia at some point in their lives. People have phobias to many different things, but some examples might be a particular type of animal, natural disasters, objects such as needles, or environments. Agoraphobia, for instance, is a fear of open and public spaces. If you find that there are certain situations or objects that trigger irrational levels of fear, it may be characteristic of an anxiety disorder.

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Is Anxiety Similar To Adhd

The symptoms of ADHD are slightly different from those of anxiety. ADHD symptoms primarily involve issues with focus and concentration. Anxiety symptoms, on the other hand, involve issues with nervousness and fear. Even though each condition has unique symptoms, sometimes the two conditions mirror each other.

Can Anxiety Disorders Be Prevented

You cant prevent anxiety disorders. But you can take steps to control or reduce your symptoms:

• Check out medications: Talk to a healthcare provider or pharmacist before taking over-the-counter medications or herbal remedies. Some of these contain chemicals that may make anxiety symptoms worse.
• Limit caffeine: Stop or limit how much caffeine you consume, including coffee, tea, cola and chocolate.
• Live a healthy lifestyle: Exercise regularly and eat a healthy, balanced diet.
• Seek help: Get counseling and support if you experienced a traumatic or disturbing event. Doing so can help prevent anxiety and other unpleasant feelings from disrupting your life.

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Recovery Is Possible With Treatment

Recovery from an anxiety disorder is possible with the right treatment and support. Effective treatments for anxiety disorders may include:

• Cognitive behavioural therapy aims to change patterns of thinking, beliefs and behaviours that may trigger anxiety.
• Exposure therapy involves gradually exposing a person to situations that trigger anxiety using a fear hierarchy: this is called systematic desensitisation.
• Anxiety management and relaxation techniques for example deep muscle relaxation, meditation, breathing exercises and counselling.
• Medication this may include antidepressants and benzodiazepines.

Why Are Anxiety And Depression Often Co

Its a cycle, says Sally R. Connolly, LCSW and therapist. When you get anxious, you tend to have this pervasive thinking about some worry or some problem. You feel bad about it. Then you feel like youve failed. You move to depression.

These two disorders anxiety and depression have a complicated relationship:

• The chance of acquiring depression is much higher when an anxiety disorder already exists. Nearly half of those with major depression also suffer from severe and persistent anxiety.
• People who are depressed often feel anxious and worried. One can easily trigger the other, with anxiety often preceding depression.
• People with post-traumatic stress disorder are especially prone to developing depression.
• A biological predisposition for both of these conditions if often at the root of an individuals battle. This seems to be true with anxiety disorders even more than with depression. Connolly explains, Some people are just worriers and pass it down.

People with an anxiety disorder should speak with a psychiatrist, therapist or other healthcare professional about their symptoms. Treatment for an anxiety disorder should not be delayed. If not caught in time, depression may find the door wide open for moving in and setting up house in those individuals.2

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How To Tell If Your Teen Is Suffering From Anxiety Disorders:

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder occurs after being directly involved, witnessing or hearing about a frightening traumatic even. Symptoms: upsetting vivid memories, nightmares, flashbacks of the event, and avoidance of reminders.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder having obsessions to things, or having unwanted negative thoughts that making them anxious. They will engage in repetitive behaviors or mental acts in an attempt to reduce the anxiety they are experiencing. Examples of compulsions are:

Example of an intrusive thought could be I might get sick touching a doorknob because of all the germs that are on it.

Phobias are characterized by persistent, excessive and unreasonable fears of an object or situation interfering with quality of life and are beyond voluntary control. Some common fears for teens include:

Social Anxiety Disorder these teens have an intense fear of social and/or performance situations with an excessive concern about being embarrassed or humiliated. They will avoid social activities like going to parties, performing in recitals, speaking in public or even going to school.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder is characterized by excessive worry in an uncontrolled manner about daily life events. These worries include potential negative events in the future, minor matters, a loved one becoming ill or dying, school, and world events such as war and natural disasters.

What Might Indicate That Both Anxiety And Depression Are Present

Traits that may signal the presence of both anxiety disorder and depression include:

• Irrational worries or fears that wont go away
• Physical symptoms, such as fatigue, headaches, rapid heartbeat, labored breathing or abdominal pain
• Difficulty going to sleep or staying asleep
• Changes in eating habits either too much or too little
• Trouble remembering, making decisions or concentrating
• Constant feelings of sadness or worthlessness
• Loss of usual interest in activities or hobbies
• Feeling often tired and cranky
• Inability to relax and live in the moment
• Suffering from panic attacks, including the sense of losing inner control2

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Other Types Of Anxiety Disorder

There are several other types of anxiety disorder, including:

• panic disorder a condition where you have recurring, regular panic attacks for more information, see anxiety, fear and panic
• phobias an extreme or irrational fear of something, like an animal or a place
• agoraphobia a fear related to situations such as leaving home, being in crowds or travelling alone
• obsessive compulsive disorder a condition that usually involves unwanted thoughts or urges, and repetitive behaviours
• post-traumatic stress disorder a condition caused by frightening or distressing events

What Causes Anxiety To Flare Up

Stress. Daily stressors like traffic jams or missing your train can cause anyone anxiety. But long-term or chronic stress can lead to long-term anxiety and worsening symptoms, as well as other health problems. Stress can also lead to behaviors like skipping meals, drinking alcohol, or not getting enough sleep.

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Treatment And Medication Options For Anxiety

Anxiety disorders are treated through medication and therapy. You might feel embarrassed talking about the things you are feeling and thinking, but talking about it, say experts, is the best treatment.

A particular form of therapy is considered most effective: cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT for short, which offers patients strategies to help change the negative thought patterns that have reinforced their anxiety.

Antidepressants the types of medication most frequently used to treat depression are the drugs that also work best for anxiety disorders. Anti-anxiety medications are also used.

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Panic Attacks Are A Common Symptom

A panic attack is a sudden feeling of intense terror that may occur in certain situations or for no apparent reason. A panic attack does not mean a person is necessarily suffering an anxiety disorder. However, a panic attack is a common feature of each type of anxiety disorder.

Symptoms of a panic attack may include:

• shortness of breath

The cause of panic attacks is unknown, but they may be related to a chemical response in the brain, caused by actual threatening or stressful events or by thinking about stressful events. The brain response leads to physiological changes in the body, such as shallow breathing and rapid heartbeat.

Panic attacks can be frightening. Some people say they feel like they are going to die or go crazy. People affected by panic attacks may avoid situations in which they think attacks might occur. In some cases, this may lead to the development of other anxiety disorders including agoraphobia.

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What Does Social Anxiety Look Like

Social anxiety is a feeling of anxiety and apprehension when interacting with new people or situations. It can be worse in people who are already anxious or have a history of anxiety. Social anxiety typically affects people in their early 30s and up.

People with social anxiety often have Phobias, which are fear-based responses toiroclusters of images or thoughts that cause an individual great anxiety. Social anxiety can also be related to a persons history of anxiety, specific traumatic experiences, or a family history of anxiety.

People with social anxiety often have a history of low self-esteem, feeling like they are unworthy of love or respect. They may feel like they are not good enough or like they are not worth the time or energy they put into their social life.

People with social anxiety often have a fear of rejection and feeling like they will be ridiculed or embarrassed. They may feel like they cant go out in public or they may feel like they will be the only one who feels this way.

People with social anxiety often have a fear of failure or feeling like they will be embarrassed in front of others. They may feel like they cant win at any activity they try or they may feel like they are too shy to ask for help.

People with social anxiety often have a fear of the unknown or feeling like they are in danger when meeting new people. They may feel like they cant make new friends or they may feel like they cant get along with other people.

Do I Really Have Anxiety

ANXIETY is a feeling of worry, anxiety, or fear that is accompanied by a bodily sensation of tightness around the chest, an increased heart rate, or a decrease in blood flow to the brain.

The purpose of this document is not to provide a cure for anxiety, but to provide a more detailed understanding of anxiety and how it can affect us.

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Types Of Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety becomes a disorder when its irrational, excessive and when it interferes with a persons ability to function in daily life. Anxiety disorders include:

• Generalised anxiety disorder
• Social phobias fear of social situations
• Specific phobias for example a fear of open spaces or enclosed spaces
• Panic disorders frequent and debilitating panic attacks.

Symptoms Of Anxiety Disorders

The main features of an anxiety disorder are fears or thoughts that are chronic and distressing and that interfere with daily living. Other symptoms of an anxiety disorder may include:

• Panic or anxiety attacks or a fear of these attacks.
• Physical anxiety reactions for example trembling, sweating, faintness, rapid heartbeat, difficulties breathing or nausea.
• Avoidance behaviour a person may go to extreme lengths to avoid a situation that they think could bring on anxiety or panic.

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What Are The Signs And Symptoms

Worrying and the symptoms of anxiety can creep up on you gradually. This can make it hard to know how much worrying is too much.

Some common anxiety symptoms include:

• hot and cold flushes
• snowballing worries that get bigger and bigger
• a racing mind full of thoughts
• a constant need to check things are right or clean
• persistent worrying ideas that seem ‘silly or crazy’ .

If you think you have any of these symptoms, you might want to look at the different types of anxiety disorders below.

Can Drinking More Water Help Anxiety

Water has been shown to have natural calming properties, likely as a result of addressing dehydrations effects on the body and brain. Drinking enough water is an important step in managing your anxiety. Even if youre not experiencing anxiety, drinking sufficient water can create feelings of relaxation.

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You Answered Yes To Question

If you answered yes to one or more of the questions, you might have an anxiety disorder. Most people deal with stress in their lives, but when stress begins to significantly interfere with our functioning and/or causes impairment, it might be more problematic than âeveryday stressâ. The good news is that anxiety disorders can be successfully treated. If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, and think that they are negatively interfering with your life, it might be time to seek treatment!

It will be important to begin with a structured clinical evaluation by a professional to see if you meet criteria for an anxiety disorder, which will inform your treatment plan. Our mental health impacts many aspects of our lives, such as our physical health and our quality of life, which is why it is so important to address any mental health problems with effective treatments!

This material is not a substitute for the advice of a licensed professional. To begin your search for a mental health professional, go to the ADAA’s Therapist Directory.

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How To Cope With Anxiety And Depression

Anxiety and depression often go hand in hand. Heres what you need to know if they strike simultaneously.

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Do you sometimes worry so much that it interferes with your everyday activities? Or feel so blue that it completely clouds your outlook? Do you often experience these or similar feelings together? Youre not the only one.

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America , anxiety disorders which include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder are the most common mental health problem among U.S. adults, affecting 18.1 percent of the population each year. And mood disorders which include major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, and seasonal affective disorder are the leading cause of disability.

Moreover, the incidence of developing depression in addition to an anxiety disorder or vice versa is high. Many people with major depression also suffer from severe and persistent anxiety, notes Sally R. Connolly, LCSW, in Louisville, Kentucky. And some experts estimate that 60 percent of people with anxiety will also have symptoms of depression, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness .

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Effects Of Anxiety On Your Mind

These can include:

• feeling tense, nervous or unable to relax
• having a sense of dread, or fearing the worst
• feeling like the world is speeding up or slowing down
• feeling like other people can see you’re anxious and are looking at you
• feeling like you can’t stop worrying, or that bad things will happen if you stop worrying
• worrying about anxiety itself, for example worrying about when panic attacks might happen
• wanting lots of reassurance from other people or worrying that people are angry or upset with you
• worrying that you’re losing touch with reality
• low mood and depression
• rumination thinking a lot about bad experiences, or thinking over a situation again and again
• depersonalisation a type of dissociation where you feel disconnected from your mind or body, or like you are a character that you are watching in a film
• derealisation another type of dissociation where you feel disconnected from the world around you, or like the world isn’t real
• worrying a lot about things that might happen in the future you can read more about these sorts of worries on the Anxiety UK website.

“I could feel all these physical symptoms building inside me, literally filling every part of my body until I felt completely light-headed and disembodied.”

Anxiety and physical health problems

Having a physical illness or disability can also make you feel stressed and anxious, so it might sometimes feel like your anxiety problems and physical health problems are part of a vicious circle.

Panic Attacks Stress And Anxiety

Oftentimes, panic attacks can be linked to anxiety. Have you ever thought you might be having one? A panic attack is a sudden and rapid onset of intense apprehension, fear, or terror which is disproportional or inappropriate for the circumstances in which it is occurring, explains Thomas.

Thomas says the symptoms can make you feel like youre having a heart attack. Your heart might be racing, you may notice shortness of breath, sweating, dizziness.

You dont have to have a panic attack to experience anxiety though. What you consider stress, may be anxiety. Sometimes these terms are used interchangeably, says Thomas. We all experience stress and anxiety as a normal part of life. Stress and anxiety become a problem if they are interfering with what we call activities of daily living, such as work, relationships, school, physical activity, healthy eating, etc.

But if youre not sure, Thomas says, The best advice is to see your primary care provider who can discuss your symptoms, examine you and administer a very basic screening test called the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 which will help with the diagnosis.

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