Anxiety is our body's response to stress and often serves important functions. Those feelings of fear or apprehension about what is to come can motivate us, allow us to be focused and alert, enable us to perform well, and keep us out of harm's way. However, anxiety becomes problematic when emotions become excessive, all-consuming, and when they interfere with day-to-day life.

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An anxiety disorder is characterised by persistent, intense, excessive worry and fear. It can present itself across a range disorders. It is very distressing and can become disabling if not addressed. It is possible for an individual to experience more than one type of anxiety disorder. Individuals with an anxiety disorder will feel high levels of distress a good deal of the time, sometimes even when they are aware there is no actual reason for concern. 

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Anxiety also has a number of physical symptoms as a result of the body readying itself to prepare for the perceived threat. These symptoms may include: rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, feelings of choking, excessive sweating; trembling, stomach pains and nausea, muscle tension, headaches, sweating or choking, and feeling faint. Anxiety can also result in feeling excessively tired.

 

Overcoming an anxiety disorder is possible with the right treatment and support. Effective treatments 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(known as systematic desensitisation).

• Anxiety management and relaxation techniques such as progressive m uscle  relaxation, meditation, mindfulness, and breathing exercises.

• Medication

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Types of Anxiety Disorders 

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Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Individuals who have GAD feel stressed, anxious and worried a great deal of the time, and not just during times of increased stress. They experience intense, persistent, uncontrollable worries that interfere with normal life. Worries can be in relation to virtually any aspect of day-to-day life (e.g., work, school, performance, relationships, family, money, health, daily tasks and responsibilities, being late), and generally relate to a number of issues concurrently, rather than just one worry. 

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Specific Phobia

A specific phobia is defined by an excessive fear specific situations, events, activities, animals or objects. This is not simply the normal fear most people have when confronted by spiders, snakes, heights and so on. Individuals may react to objects, activities or situations (the phobic stimulus) by imagining or irrationally exaggerating the danger. Feelings of panic or fear are completely out of proportion to the actual threat. For some individuals, just imagining the phobic stimulus, or seeing it on television, will result in extreme anxiety or a panic attack. Often individuals with specific phobias are aware that their fears are out of proportion or irrational, but feel their anxiety is automatic or uncontrollable. Some commmon examples include an excessive fear of heights, flying, spiders, enclosed spaces, injections, blood or vomiting.

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Panic Attacks

During a panic attack individuals experience overwhelming physical sensations that may include a pounding heart, choking, nausea, faintness, dizziness, chest pain, hot or cold flushes and perspiration. Panic attacks often occur in cases of panic disorder, specific phobia and social anxiety.

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Panic Disorder

Panic Diorder is characterised by unexpected and repeated episodes of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms that may include chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, or abdominal distress . These episodes occur “out of the blue,”  and are not directly as a result of a specific or known fear. Panic disorder can become quite disabling due to its unpredictable nature. 

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Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia is a type of anxiety disorder. People who have agoraphobia are afraid to leave situations or environments they  think of  as safe (e.g., home). People may avoid leaving their home for days, months or even years. 

Agoraphobia responds well to treatment. The treatment options suggested by your doctor or therapist will depend on your circumstances and preferences, but may include: 

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• cognitive behaviour therapy and exposure therapy

• relaxation training

• support groups

• instruction in self-help strategies

• medication

 

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Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)

People with Social anxiety disorder have an excessive and debilitating fear being judged, criticised, riduculed, laughed at, embarrassed or humiliated in front of other people. This can present across many different day-to-day situations (e.g., talking in a group, or just making conversation in general, going out with friends, eating in front of other people; being trained or being observed at work.......).  ​Social phobia can be limited to specific situations, or more global across a range of social situations.

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