THE ANXIETY DISORDERSLynne Freeman, PHD., MFT Anxiety disorders afflict over twenty-four million Americans at an estimated annual cost of nearly 42.3 billion dollars. There are twelve classifications of adult anxiety disorders. Some of these are discussed here. Panic DisorderThis anxiety disorder can exit with or without agoraphobia. Symptoms include:
These, along with other symptoms, can result in dramatic episodes of acute anxiety. Experiencing four or more of these symptoms for more than one month meet the criteria for Panic Disorder. AgoraphobiaThis term which literally means, “Fear of the Marketplace” can be misleading. Agoraphobia is more accurately characterized by an avoidance of certain environments, activities and situations which are likely to precipitate a panic attack. Common places and situations that agoraphobics may avoid include:
An individual with agoraphobia usually feels more comfortable with someone familiar and may experience increased anxiety when alone. To understand more about how agoraphobia develops, examine the panic cycle developed by Dr. Lynne Freeman. Panic Attack
If you have experienced at least four of these symptoms, you have had a panic attack. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)GAD is characterized by chronic worry initially occurring in adolescence. The worry is typically about the health and safety of oneself or a loved one; financial or job related. Individuals with GAD are sometimes misdiagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder because they entertain certain thoughts that may appear obsessive or superstitious. The emotional and physical symptoms of GAD include:
Experiencing at least three of these symptoms for a period of six months, may indicate GAD. Specific PhobiaA phobia is an irrational fear of a non-threatening object, place or situation. For example, if a woman lives alone and frequently checks to make sure her doors and windows are locked because she is anxious that an intruder may enter her home, she does not necessarily have a phobia. (One in three women may be sexually assaulted in their lifetime). However, if the same woman continually patrols her doors and windows with a can of insecticide fearing a spider might enter, she probably has a phobia – specifically, arachnophobia. Most spiders are not a threat to her survival so her fears are not warranted.
Post-traumatic Stress DisorderPost-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) may occur in individuals that have experienced a trauma, such as an auto accident, witnessing or being the victim of a violent crime, or surviving a natural disaster. Symptoms may include:
Not all persons who have experienced trauma go on to develop PTSD. Of those that do, some individuals may not develop the first symptoms until six months or later subsequent to the trauma. When this occurs, this is called a ”delayed onset.” Social PhobiaThis condition is a persistent fear of one or more situations in which a person feels anxiety for the following reasons:
Physical symptoms may include:
Social phobics may be able to socialize and can appear outgoing but internally, it is causing much anxiety and diminishes the pleasure of social interaction. Typically, social phobics have been considered consistently shy since childhood. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder affects five million Americans. The symptoms of OCD can be broken down into two distinct features: obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are unwanted and intrusive thoughts that occur repeatedly. Compulsions are the behaviors initiated by those thoughts which are performed in an attempt to minimize anxiety. OCD is considered a spectrum disorder. The symptoms can range from mild to severe and the obsessions and compulsions can be limited or inclusive of multiple themes. Obsessions can include dirt and contamination, sexual themes, the need to arrange objects in a particular order, hoarding, religious themes, illogical obsessions, fear of causing harm inadvertently to another person, superstitious thinking, hypochondriasis. Ritualistic behaviors may include obsessive cleaning, checking repeatedly that doors are locked or ovens are turned off, and excessive desire to ask someone a specific question or make a confession. Counting, touching, an overwhelming need to make lists, asking repeatedly for approval from others, nail biting, and hair pulling are also considered obsessions.
Anxiety Disorder Due to a Medical ConditionUntil recently, the psychiatric community classified anxiety as a psychological disorder presumably stemming from a psychological cause. In 1994, the American Psychiatric Association published the DSM IV and the diagnostic criteria included a new classification labeled, “Anxiety Disorder Due to a Medical Condition.” The same classification now exists for mood disorders. Anxiety initiated specifically from a particular illness may be considered an Anxiety Disorder Due to a Medical Condition. |
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