Image via Wikipedia
Do you suffer from an anxiety disorder? Maybe you know that something is wrong, but you’re just not quite sure what. With so many of them out there, perhaps you’d like a quick guide to help you figure out which one you may have. Well, here it is.
The seven major types of anxiety disorders are:
1. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
This is characterized by constant underlying stress, no matter if you are in a stressful situation or not. These may include worries about finances, health, death, and just about anything else you can think of.
The main criteria for GAD is the constancy of it over a long period of time. If you have been insufferably worried for six months, then this may be your type.
2. Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)
This used to be called “severe shyness.” It is panic or strong anxiety in social situations, such as dating, parties, events, public speaking, or small group gatherings. These people are generally okay when alone, but when around others socially they tend to sweat, shake, blush, and go “blank” (meaning they are so afraid they cannot think of anything to say.) This often leads to them being labeled as “introverts” or “anti-social.” They tend to become loners because of the high stress levels when they are around other people.
There are several sub-types of SAD, including:
Performance anxiety – Panic or anxiety when performing on stage. This is especially common among musicians, actors, comedians, and public speakers.
Sexual anxiety – An extreme fear of “performance” in sexual situations. A person may avoid sex completely due to fears of being inadequate, either physically or due to perceived lack of “skills.”
Shy bladder syndrome – The inability to use a public restroom without severe anxiety.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) – Part social anxiety but also part OCD (see below), this disorder is a type of mental illness in which a person is obsessed with their physical appearance, usually perceving one body part to be severely malformed even though it is not.They avoid people and often retreat from society due to a powerful belief that they are “ugly.”
Image via Wikipedia
3. Panic Disorder
Unlike GAD, panic disorder is a sudden and severe onset of terrifying mental and physical symptoms commonly known as a panic attack. A person can be perfectly fine one minute, but the next they suffer rapid heartbeat, sweating, a choking sensation, shortness of breath, and chest pains. Panic attacks are often confused with heart attacks due to the similarity of physical symptoms.
They strike without warning and for no apparent reason at all. During a panic attack, a person feels as if the world is closing in on them and they are about to die. Panic attacks usually stop as suddenly as they start and the person returns to normal. These may occur frequently or only occasionally. Once is usually enough for a person to seek treatment to rule out heart problems.
4. Agoraphobia
This is a fear of wide-open or public places. People with this phobia tend to become hermit-like, afraid of venturing outdoors. They experience severe anxiety on subways, buses, airplanes, elevators, walking the street, or going into a store or restaurant. They are often afraid to travel because of a fear of being away from family, friends, or familiar surroundings.
5. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
What makes this disorder unique is its cause. A person may never experience panic or anxiety until a traumatic event such as a rape, mugging, torture, robbery, earthquake, fire, flood, terrorist attack, beating, or war. But once exposed to a terrifying situation, they find it difficult to overcome the incident.
This used to be called “shell shock” or “battle fatigue” because soldiers would return from war unable to return to a normal peaceful existence. Flashbacks to the traumatic event or events are common, sometimes to the point where the person cannot tell if they are back in the situation from the past or not.
6. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Image via Wikipedia
A person with OCD suffers with repetitive thoughts or behaviors (obsessions). They experience ruminating thoughts that play over and over in their head, preventing them from functioning normally.
They may also have rituals (compulsions) that they feel must be performed, such as doing things in a particular order, silently repeating words, or counting things. OCD commonly expresses itself as a fear of germs, causing sufferers to wash their hands or bodies excessively.
7. Specific phobias
These are very specific things that trigger panic or anxiety, such as spiders, heights, dogs, and a variety of others. They are individualized to the person and cause anxiety only when exposed to the object or situation.
It is important to know that if you believe you suffer from any of these anxiety disorders, it doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you. Anxiety, even severe anxiety, is a normal human condition that can be modified, controlled, or even eliminated with a variety of therapies.
Do not be ashamed of asking for help. You may be afraid of a doctor actually telling you that you have one of the above. You may think this will confirm your feelings that you are “defective” in some way. There is no need for this.
Millions of highly-educated and successful people suffer from one or more of these disorders. There is nothing wrong with these people. All of us have health issues, whether mental or physical.
Everybody has something. Nobody is perfect. Acceptance of our human frailties is the first step to getting better and feeling good again.
But perhaps you’ve been trying to “laugh away” or pooh-pooh your symptoms for one or more personal reasons. Maybe you’ve always been taught that people in your family “don’t go to those people.” Maybe you have a memory of labeling others as “crazy” and you’re afraid that you might label yourself that way.
You could be putting your health at risk by doing so. Untreated anxiety may lead to other health problems, such as high blood pressure, gastrointestinal problems, and heart issues.
It’s even a shame that anxiety disorders are termed “disorders.” We should come up with a new word, seeing as so many suffer from one or more of them. A case could even be made that it is a disorder NOT to have one of them.
You deserve treatment. Anxiety is a real problem that may be keeping you from living the life you want.
If you think you may have one of the above, do not self-diagnose. Contact a medical professional today. Get the help you need. There is nothing to be ashamed of… and there is nothing wrong with you.
Click here to watch a short video about the ROOT CAUSE of all anxiety.
No related posts.