Different Types of Anxiety Disorders - Essay Example

Page Psychology 1310 Number: Signed By: Anxiety Disorder Anxiety disorder comprises of a number of different terms that takes the basis of abnormal fears related with anxiety and phobias. Anxiety disorder encompasses of abnormal, pathological anxiety as well as a host of nervous conditions. The anxiety disorder might just impair or distract the body from a normal daily routine. Anxiety disorder stems from the fear within and it is very important to limit this fear so that a person could keep away from this illness. The anxiety disorder means that fear and anxiety have specific scientific implications but since they are so very commonly used, hence they are bracketed alongside each other. A phobia is also defined as an anxiety which is a persistent or irrational fear. On the other hand, a fear is something which is emotional and psychological reaction to a threat which might be externally recognized. Thus anxiety disorder comprises of all these problems and fears that we will discuss next. Anxiety brings with it mood swings as well as different depression habits in which a person finds himself plunged into. He starts feeling as if this is the end of the world and there is no hope for anything in the times to come. Having said that, it must be kept in mind that all these fears and phobias are nothing but fabrications of the emotional being of the person under discussion. Anxiety can bring with it fatigue as well as exhaustion which makes the person feel as if he has had a lot on his mind and there is too much tension in his life, even though the same might not be the case in the first place. In order to diagnose whether or not a person is suffering from anxiety disorder, we need to go into the basics of this state. A good initial assessment courtesy the patient himself is indeed very significant to realize what is actually causing this situation to occur. This diagnosis could be made through a series of questions that could be put forward to the person and then his assessments are sorted out for understanding whether or not he is suffering from this disease and only when it is ascertained with complete guarantee that he is indeed in a state of anxiety disorder, then the treatment process starts to shape up. In the diagnosis process, the evaluation is done by the doctor or a team of experts as well as with the help and facilitation of the person himself. A medical examination thus sets the ball rolling in the right direction as far as the treatment of the person under anxiety disorder is concerned. The symptoms of anxiety disorder are thus studied upon and if the diagnosis finds the same positive then only the treatment process gets the nod otherwise the patient is advised to have rest and start thinking positively so that things could shape up in a better manner for him in the times to come. Also family history of similar anxiety disorders is asked upon and if the hereditary connection is found, then more research needs to be done with regards to the diagnosis process. The different types of anxiety disorders include the generalized anxiety disorder, the panic disorder, the different kinds of phobias, agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic disorder to name a few. We will discuss each one of these in a brief manner. The generalized anxiety disorder is a very common form of chronic disorder which happens in women more than men and thus leads to a general form of impairment within the body. There is long lasting anxiety in the patient and it does not focus on a particular subject or situation for that matter. This kind of anxiety disorder is unspecific and keeps on changing from time to time. Panic disorder contains within it small attacks of panic and fear within the patient where he starts feeling as if this is the end for him in this world and he cannot go any further. It couples itself with dizziness, shaking and difficulty in breathing in a normal manner. Agoraphobia is a common form of complication which is related with the panic disorder. Phobias comprise of strong, irrational fears where there is avoidance for a particular situation on the part of the patient. Persons suffering with phobias have usually strong imaginary skills and they think out of the box. The social anxiety disorder contains within it fears of being negatively evaluated by people around the patient. It is also known as the social disorder or social phobia. One such example of social phobia is the stage fright experience. The obsessive-compulsive disorder is a type of anxiety disorder which encompasses of different obsessions and compulsions within it. These obsessions could somewhat be of a repetitive nature where the images could come back and forth. Compulsions on the other hand are repetitive behaviors that the patient starts feeling or in other words is forced to do something so that his anxiety could be lessened if not relieved for good. Lastly the post-traumatic stress disorder is the form of an anxiety disorder that usually happens due to a traumatic situation or experience meted out on the part of the patient. This could include a war or a fight with injuries all around. The treatment for the anxiety disorder is usually through a combination of therapeutic ways which includes within it the pharmaceutical therapy so as to state. There are also good counselors available which help in behavioral therapy with the passage of time as and when the anxiety disorder gets increased. Apart from all these, a number of drugs are also given to the patients so that they could get themselves free of anxiety disorders but it has been seen, with the aid of research that these drugs contain a great deal of harmful effects. It is best to consult a doctor before a patient hooks onto a particular doze of medicine in order to curb his anxiety disorder. BIBLIOGRAPHY Wikipedia. (2006). Found Online at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anxiety_disorder Nutt, David. (2002). Anxiety Disorders Comorbid with Depression: Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia. Martin Dunitz Maser, Jack D. (2000). Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Contemporary Issues in Treatment. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates March, John S. (2004). Phobic and Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents: A Clinicians Guide to Effective Psychosocial and Pharmacological Interventions. Oxford University Press Word Count: 1,013 Read More