Mental Anxiety Disorder Symptoms

Sometimes everyone can feel anxious, but people having anxiety disorders generally experience worry and fear that is both excessive and intense. These feelings are commonly followed by physical tension and other cognitive and behavioral symptoms. Feeling nervous or tense for a long time are included in mental anxiety disorder symptoms. They are challenging to control, cause major distress and can last for a prolonged period if left untreated. Anxiety disorders interfere with common life activities and can damage family, school, social or working life of a person.

 

It is estimated that 4% of the global population experience an anxiety disorder currently. In 2019, worldwide 301 million people had an anxiety disorder, making anxiety disorders the most common of all psychological or mental disorders.

 

Although highly efficient treatments for anxiety mental disorders exist, only around 1 in 4 people (27.6%) in need  receive any treatment. Barriers to care generally include lack of attention that anxiety is a treatable health condition, social stigma, lack of investment in psychological health services, and lack of trained health care providers.

Types of mental anxiety disorder

Following are types of anxiety disorders:

• Generalized anxiety disorder

• Panic disorder

• Social anxiety disorder

• Specific phobias

• Separation anxiety

• Selective mutism

• Medicated-induced anxiety disorder

• Agoraphobia

 

Mental anxiety disorder symptoms

 Common mental anxiety disorder symptoms

 General symptoms of anxiety disorder may include:

• Feeling tense, restless or nervous

• Trembling

• Sweating

• Feeling tired or weak or tired

• Having trouble sleeping

• Experiencing a sense of panic, impending danger,or doom

• Facing an increased heart rate

• Breathing rapidly (hyperventilation)

• Trouble thinking or concentrating about a particular thing other than the present worry

• Having gastrointestinal (GI) problems

• Having trouble controlling worry

• Having the desire to avoid things that worsen anxiety

 

Symptoms of agoraphobia mental anxiety disorder

If you have agoraphobia you avoid situations and places that make you feel:

• Helpless

• Trapped

• Embarrassed

 

Symptoms of anxiety as a result of a medical condition

Symptoms of anxiety due to a medical condition may include:

• Panic attacks

• Intense anxiety

These symptoms are caused due to a physical health problem.

 

Symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder

It often occurs with depression or anxiety disorders and symptoms may include:

• Excessive anxiety

• Persistent worry

 

Symptoms of panic disorder

Symptoms of panic disorder may include:

• Frequent episodes of sudden feelings of extreme anxiety

• Panic attacks (terror or fear that reach a peak within a few minutes

• Shortness of breath

• Pounding heart (heart palpitations)

• Chest pain

• Avoiding situations that cause panic attacks

 

Symptoms of selective mutism

Symptoms of selective mutism commonly include frequent failure of children to speak in particular situations, like school. This interferes with work, school and social functioning.

 

Symptoms of separation mental anxiety disorder

Symptoms of separation anxiety disorder may include:

• Complications being away from parents or other loved ones.

• Excessive tension regarding harm to loved ones.

• Excessive worry about danger to self.

• Difficulty sleeping

• Difficulty leaving your house, even goingto school.

• Feeling physically down when away from loved ones.

 

Symptoms of social phobia

 Symptoms of social phobia may include:

• Avoidance of situations

• Fear

• Anxiety

All these symptoms occur as a result of feelings of self-consciousness, embarrassment, and concern about being viewed or negatively judged by others.

Symptoms of specific phobias

Symptoms of specific phobias may include:

• Feeling dizzy, nauseous, or fainting.

• Fast heartbeat

• Chest tightness

• Difficulty breathing

 

Symptoms of substance-induced anxiety disorder

Symptoms of substance-induced anxiety disorder commonly include:

• Sleep disturbance

• Fatigue

• Restlessness

• Difficulty concentrating

• Intense feelings of worry that are out of proportion to the present situation

 

Causes of anxiety disorder

 The exact cause of anxiety is not known. But a combination of factors play an important role in developing this disorder.

They may include:

• Parents or loved one with anxiety disorder

• Medical conditions such as diabetes or depression

• Child abuse

• Situations such as occupational hazard or surgery

• Substance use

• Stress

 

Risk factors of mental anxiety disorder

For each type of anxiety disorder, this is a different risk factor. But some general risk factors may include:

• Life history

• Genetics

• Personalitytraits

• Substance abuse

• Thyroid and other health conditions

 

Diagnosis of anxiety disorder

Your doctor will ask you regarding symptoms you face and how they affect your daily routine activities. They generally use a detailed questionnaire for this. The more detailed answers about what you’re going through help your doctor to better understand your disorder.

 

You may be diagnosed with an anxiety mental disorder if your symptoms are affecting your ability to perform at home, work, or school.

 

Your doctor may suggest some tests to find out some other health conditions.Your doctor will diagnose the type of anxiety disorder you have experienced on the basis of recognized criteria. The criteria are listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). This is a handbook used by mental health professionals for the identification and diagnosis of mental illness.

 

Treatment of anxiety disorder

Sometimes, depression, alcohol dependence, or other underlying health conditions should be treated before the treatment of anxiety mental disorder.

Treatment generally consist of:

• Self treatment (stress management, exercise regularly, maintaining support networks, relaxation techniques)

• Counseling (psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy or a combination of both)

• Medications (benzodiazepines, antidepressants, tricyclic antidepressants)

• Additional drugs a person can use to treat anxiety disorder are beta-blockers, buspirone, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)

 

Prevention of anxiety mental disorder

There are many ways to reduce the risk of anxiety disorders. Keep in mind that anxious feelings are a natural factor of life, and facing them is not always a sign of presence of a mental health disorder.

 

Tips that are beneficial for many people may include:

• Exercise regularly

• Get quality sleep of about 6-8 hours daily

• Limit caffeine intake

• Maintaining a balanced diet that contain all the essential nutrients

• Avoid cannabis, alcohol, and other recreational drugs

• Talk to a mental health professional before starting herbal or over-the-counter remedies