What Are Anxiety Disorders and When to Seek Help

It is safe to say that everyone experiences stress or anxiety in their life occasionally. It could be preparing for  an interview, waiting to hear about that new job, giving a presentation to peers, or simply meeting a new group of people. That kind of stress can fine tune your skills, and the anxiety is normal and actually is expected. When those anxieties become part of your everyday life and affect your ability to function, you have stepped into another realm—a disorder. Let’s dive into what anxiety disorders are and when to seek help.

Different Types of Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders are a group of mental health conditions characterized by excessive and persistent feelings of fear, worry, and unease. These disorders can manifest in various ways, and there are several different types of anxiety disorders.

It’s important to note that these are not the only types of anxiety disorders, and the symptoms and severity of these disorders may vary from person to person. It is important to consult Dr. Gardner for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

This is a common type of anxiety that leads to fear of almost anything; what could happen in the person’s life, what might happen in the world, any potential fear making them perpetually worried.

Agoraphobia

This is an extreme fear of being somewhere you cannot escape. This fear takes over someone’s life and causes them to be fearful of going anywhere. They fear they will panic in front of others and therefore avoid most, if not all, social situations. Extreme cases cause someone to be afraid to leave their home entirely.

Panic Disorder

Someone with a panic disorder can be suddenly afraid of nothing in particular. They occur without warning and are accompanied by rapid heartbeat and pure terror. Panic attacks have no rational cause.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Someone with this disorder fears being in any social situation. They assume they are being scrutinized by everyone else, so they avoid going out in public. Physically they may shake, have a stomach upset, or an exaggerated heartbeat.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and PTSD

These two are no longer officially known as anxiety disorders, but they do have symptoms of anxiety.

Risk Factors

There are risk factors that can contribute to developing anxiety disorders.

They include the following:

• Someone who has experienced abuse or those who have witnessed a traumatic event are more prone to anxiety disorders.
• Stress from illness caused by significant worry about treatments and the future can increase an individual’s risk for anxiety disorders.
• Stress buildup from life situations can trigger excessive anxiety. Examples include death, work stress, and financial worries. COVID may have added to this factor.
• Certain personality types can be more prone to an anxiety disorder.
• Other mental disorders like depression can increase someone’s risk.
• Having a blood relative with an anxiety disorder increases a person’s risk.
• Drugs and alcohol use or misuse can increase an individuals’ risk.