Types of Anxiety
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): GAD can occur at any age, but occurs most frequently in young adults. A GAD sufferer may live in constant dread of some horrible event happening but it doesn't happen. He may worry incessantly about how he looks or how he performs at work. Although there is no real reason, the individual is under constant and severe worry and stress. Social impairment usually is mild, and the sufferer continues to work and have an active social life.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): This condition is associated with uncontrollable, ritualistic behaviors such as excessive hand washing, checking and re-checking things (did you really turn off the stove), preoccupation with the order of things, etc. These behaviors indicate OCD when they consume at least an hour a day, are distressing and interfere with normal functioning. Although most adult OCD sufferers realize their behaviors are senseless, they can't stop them. OCD often shows up in the teens or early adulthood. Symptoms may come and go, or they may grow progressively worse. OCD may also occur with depression, and it may run in families.
Panic Disorder: A panic attack is a sudden feeling of terror that hits without warning. Those who have panic attacks can suffer from extreme anxiety between episodes, because they wonder when the next attack will occur. Panic Disorder occurs when someone suffers from repeated panic attacks. Panic attack sufferers may have a pounding heart, feel sweaty, weak, faint, or dizzy. Their hands may tingle or feel numb. They may have smothering sensations. Panic attacks can be confused with heart attacks or strokes. Attacks may last a few minutes or as long as an hour or more. Not everyone who experiences a panic attack will develop panic disorder. Panic disorder often is accompanied by other conditions such as depression or alcoholism. Panic attacks can create phobias and can cause the sufferer to severely restrict his life. A tendency toward panic disorder runs in families.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): PTSD is generated by an external, terrifying event. The condition is extreme and can leave the sufferer with persistent frightening thoughts and memories of their ordeal. The event that triggers PTSD may be something that the person witnessed, or it could be something that threatened the person's life or the life of someone close to him. A person with PTSD may repeatedly relive the trauma. They may feel irritable, more aggressive or violent. They may avoid certain places or things that remind them of the incident. The disorder can be accompanied by depression, anxiety or substance abuse. Symptoms may be mild or severe. PTSD can occur at any age. Many Vietnam Veterans suffer from PTSD. Not every traumatized person experiences PTSD. Usually, symptoms begin within three months of the event. The course of the illness varies. Some recover in six months, while others have symptoms for much longer. The condition can be chronic. Persons affected by PTSD can find relief from the symptoms of depression with antidepressants and anxiety-reducing remedies.
Phobias: Phobias are fears of objects or situations. There are three types of phobias: social phobia, agoraphobia and specific phobia. Social phobia typically begins in childhood or adolescence. It is a fear of being painfully embarrassed in a social setting. Small mistakes made by a person with social phobia may seem much more exaggerated or important to them than they really are. Agoraphobia involves intense fear and avoidance of any place or situation where escape might be difficult or help unavailable (for example, an elevator) in the event of developing panic-like symptoms. Adults are most commonly affected by agoraphobia. Specific phobia is the marked and persistent fear and avoidance of a specific object or situation. For example, if someone has an irrational, intense fear of spiders, heights, water, etc., they probably have a specific phobia. This type of phobia most often affects adults.
Compare different types of anti-anxiety medications.
