When an individual faces a dangerous or problematic situation, anxiety is a common occurrence.
Likewise, when an external threat is perceived it also felt.
Anxiety disorder is the result of long-term and irrational anxiety.
The various causes and triggers are what determine the type of anxiety disorder the individual has.
Below are some common forms of anxiety disorders.
Generalized anxiety disorder General Anxiety Disorder is characterized by a long period of continued anxiety that really has no basis.
A person with GAD cannot even explain the reason behind their anxiety.
The majority of sufferers are women and the time this type of anxiety lasts for is around six months.
The problem is, because this type of anxiety is so persistent the person often experiences headaches, dizzy spells, insomnia, and heart palpitations caused by the constant worrying of the anxiety sufferer.
Specific phobia While someone with generalized anxiety disorder does not know the precise reason behind their condition, a person who has a specific phobia experiences extreme and often irrational fear of a certain situation or object.
This goes beyond a simple phobia that most people experience.
People with specific phobias exhibit signs of intense fear like nausea, shaking, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations when exposed to the object or situation they fear.
The fear that a person this condition feels can be so extreme that he or she may disregard safety just to escape the situation.
Common specific phobias include fear of heights, blood, enclosed spaces, and animals.
Post-traumatic stress disorder Post-traumatic stress disorder may occur after a person has experienced a severely and emotionally damaging traumatic event such as having one's life threatened or being present at someone's death.
If a person with PTSD comes into contact with stimuli that he or she associates with the traumatic event, he or she may literally re-experience the event by crying uncontrollably, panicking, or losing control.
Subtler symptoms include insomnia and avoidant behavior.
PTSD may manifest itself immediately after the traumatic event or even years after.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder People with obsessive-compulsive disorder experience anxiety caused by a persistent obsession or compulsion or both.
Obsessions tend to be unwelcome thoughts, images, or impulses.
When the person tries to suppress such thoughts even greater stress results.
Typical compulsions are repetitive behaviors which are driven by obsessions or rules that the person has made up in their head that if not followed will result in some terrifying consequence.
Panic disorder Panic disorders are characterized by recurring panic attacks which are often unexpected.
Symptoms are usually shaking, chest pains, dizziness, fear of losing control, and reluctance of being alone.
This is why they avoid public situations and being alone.
People with panic disorder are aware that their panic is usually unfounded and illogical.
Social phobia Social phobia is also known as social anxiety disorder (SAD).
When an individual with social phobia finds him or herself at the center of attention or in the company of many people, whether strangers or not, he or she may exhibit similar symptoms like those of panic disorder.
Shaking, dizziness, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations are the most common symptoms.
The techniques and methods of treating anxiety disorder specifically target symptoms of anxiety and deal with anxiety triggers by developing coping mechanisms.
Determining the the type of disorder is paramount in knowing which method of anxiety treatment to use.
Only after thorough diagnosis can treatment and recovery for anxiety disorders really commence.