Anxiety is a feeling that all people can experience. It can occur before an important interview or exam, when you’re facing your fears, in certain social situations, or when making an important decision. Some people suffer from anxiety disorders which go beyond the average moments of just being nervous. These disorders include, but are not limited to: panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders go much beyond the everyday stress and nervousness that we all are prone to experience from time to time. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness and can cause anxiety to rule your life in many unhealthy ways.
Panic Disorder: Those suffering from this disorder frequently have “panic attacks” which can happen suddenly and at any time. Panic attacks usually occur when the stress of a situation is so great that it suffocates you causing a literal feeling of a heart attack. Other symptoms include sweating, heart palpitations, increased heart rate, hyperventilation, and more.
Social Anxiety Disorder: Social anxiety disorder causes major stress when dealing with common social situations. Often, people with this disorder are self-conscious about themselves in social settings, fearful that they may be the cause of embarrassment or ridicule, and worry about the judgement of others. These may sound like common feelings, but they are heightened to an extreme level that is rather unhealthy.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder: This is a common disorder that causes excessive worry, panic, and stress over common situations. This type of anxiety disorder does not need much provocation.
Many people suffer from anxiety disorders without realizing that they have a disorder. Making anxiety tolerable and controlled requires professional help and sometimes medication.
Signs You May Have an Anxiety Disorder
Excessive Worry
Do you find yourself constantly worrying about a variety of things, big or small? Excessive worrying leads to fatigue and occurs frequently over a period of at least six months. Such stress and worry typically interferes with your daily routine and overall happiness.
Sleep Deprivation
Are your stresses, fears, and concerns keeping you up at night? Anxiety disorders can
cause a major change in your sleeping habits leading to frequent insomnia. It may be
normal to struggle sleeping the night before a big interview or something related, but if
you find yourself struggling to sleep because of frequent anxiety over small things, then
there may be a problem.
Chronic Indigestion
Anxiety may begin in your mind, but if you have a disorder it can easily spread to other
parts of the body, including your stomach. Anxiety can cause Irritable Bowel Syndrome
among other digestive problems. If you also find yourself constantly battling strained
muscles, that is also a potential sign of high anxiety.
Frequent Panic Attacks
Panic attacks can actually happen to anyone, and just because you have had a panic
attack does not mean that you have an anxiety disorder. However, if you find yourself
suffering from frequent panic attacks, sometimes for no reason at all, then you may have
an anxiety disorder.
There are many other possible symptoms that can be reflective of having an anxiety disorder, but if you have any other questions and live in New York City, specifically SoHo, then you may want to meet with Dr. Anthony Termine who has been in private practice for over fifteen years.
SOURCES:
http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/guide/mental-health-anxiety-disorders
http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20646990,00.html