Anxiety Disorders There many types of anxiety disorders that include panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, post traumatic stress syndrome, social anxiety disorder, specific phobias, and generalized anxiety disorder.

What Are the Types of Anxiety Disorders?

There are several recognized anxiety disorders, including: An anxiety disorder is a serious mental illness. For people with anxiety disorders, worry and fear are constant and overwhelming, and can be crippling. Panic disorder : People with this condition have feelings of terror that strike suddenly and repeatedly with no warning. Other symptoms of a panic attack include sweating, chest pain, palpitations (irregular heartbeats) and a feeling of choking, which may make the person feel like he or she is having a heart attack or "going crazy." Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) : PTSD is a condition that can develop following a traumatic and/or terrifying event, such as a sexual or physical assault, the unexpected death of a loved one, or a natural disaster. People with PTSD often have lasting and frightening thoughts and memories of the event, and tend to be emotionally numb. Specific phobias : A specific phobia is an intense fear of a specific object or situation, such as snakes, heights or flying. The level of fear usually is inappropriate to the situation and may cause the person to avoid common, everyday situations. What Are the

Symptoms of an Anxiety Disorder?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) : People with OCD are plagued by constant thoughts or fears that cause them to perform certain rituals or routines. The disturbing thoughts are called obsessions, and the rituals are called compulsions. An example is a person with an unreasonable fear of germs who constantly washes his or her hands. Social anxiety disorder : Also called social phobia, social anxiety disorder involves overwhelming worry and self-consciousness about everyday social situations. The worry often centers on a fear of being judged by others, or behaving in a way that might cause embarrassment or lead to ridicule.

How Are Anxiety Disorders Treated?

Feelings of panic, fear and uneasiness, Uncontrollable, obsessive thoughts, Repeated thoughts or flashbacks of traumatic experiences, Nightmares, Ritualistic behaviors, such as repeated hand washing, Problems sleeping, Cold or sweaty hands and/or feet, Shortness of breath, Palpitations, An inability to be still and calm, Dry mouth, Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet, Nausea, Muscle tension Fortunately, much progress has been made in the last two decades in the treatment of people with mental illnesses, including anxiety disorders. Although the exact treatment approach depends on the type of disorder, one or a combination of the following therapies may be used for most anxiety disorders: Medication : Medicines used to reduce the symptoms of anxiety disorders include anti-depressants and anxiety-reducing medications. Cognitive-behavioral therapy: People suffering from anxiety disorders often participate in this type of psychotherapy in which the person learns to recognize and change thought patterns and behaviors that lead to troublesome feelings. Dietary and lifestyle changes Relaxation therapy Psychotherapy : Psychotherapy or counseling addresses the emotional response to mental illness. It is a process in which trained mental health professionals help people by talking through strategies for understanding and dealing with their disorder.