Anxiety
What is Anxiety?
We all experience anxiety. Anxiety is a mental health disorder, but also a basic human emotion. It is characterized by feelings of worry, fear, dread, and uneasiness that are strong enough to interfere with one’s daily activities. It might cause you to sweat, feel restless and tense, and have a rapid heartbeat. It can be a normal reaction to stress. It is adaptive. It’s the force that gives someone the drive to compete, win at something, practice or study extra hard, or be meticulous with regard to being on time or doing a good job.
Other examples of anxiety include panic attacks, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. These feelings can also be chronic and not based on specific scenarios; and it could indicate an anxiety disorder.
What are the Symptoms of an Anxiety Disorder?
According to the DSM-V (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), several symptoms of anxiety must be present for a specific duration of time in order to meet the criteria for the diagnosis of an anxiety disorder. These may include but are not limited to:
Feelings of fear and uneasiness
Panic attacks
Uncontrollable, intrusive, obsessive thinking
Nightmares
Ritualized behaviors
Changes in sleep patterns
Feelings of loss of control
Ruminations or repeated thoughts of a traumatic episode (flashbacks)
Patients often experience physical symptoms of anxiety as well, such as palpitations, shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, gastric upset, numbness or tingling in the extremities, and lightheadedness.
Anxiety disorders come in a variety of forms and present in a variety of different ways. Some of the more common subtypes include:
Panic disorder
OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder)
PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
Phobias
Anxiety doesn’t have a single cause, but there is some common ground between the disorders, so treatment plans can be quite similar between patients, typically including a combination of medication and psychotherapy. We will look at a patient’s medical history and assess their current state of mind to differentiate the subtype of anxiety disorder. Making an accurate diagnosis is essential since this will have important implications for any treatment decisions.
Anxiety affects millions of people around the world, and although everyone has different reasons for feeling worried and stressed out, you are not alone, and support is always available. Correct diagnosis leads to the proper choice of a variety of different treatment options, which include the types of psychotherapy and psychopharmacologic interventions, both essential to restoring good mental health. If you are overwhelmed with feelings of anxiety and it’s interfering with your ability to lead a happy, fulfilled life, call Kalayil Psychiatry today, or schedule an appointment online.