Anxiety Disorder is what comes after the occurrence of stress. It occurs when a person is already experiencing anxiety that turned out to be extreme, disproportionate and irrational to the point of being inoperative. There are five main types of Anxiety Disorder and these are the following: First is Generalized Anxiety Disorder. This is characterized by the following:
- persistent anxiety;
- excessive worrying;
- exaggerated tension.
The aforementioned occurs even without provocation or even if the reason is not too trivial. A person may be diagnosed with such if he or she is exceedingly worried about typical dilemmas in six months. Second is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. This is characterized by the following: intermittent unnecessary thoughts, which are technically referred to as “obsessions”, as well as, recurring behaviors technically known as “compulsions” .
This is characterized by the following: unforeseen and constant episodes of extreme horror accompanied by physical symptoms like “chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, or abdominal distress”. A person may be diagnosed with such if “Either four attacks within four weeks or one or more attacks followed by at least a month of persistent fear of having another attack”. Fourth is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
This is brought about by the occurrence of a petrifying event or suffering wherein momentous physical harm happened or was threatened. It may occur, for instance, after the occurrence of traumatic events like “violent personal assaults, natural or human-caused disasters, accidents, or military combat”. A person may be diagnosed with it if “they persist beyond three months”. Last but not least is Social Phobia or Social Anxiety Disorder. This is characterized by overpowering nervousness and unwarranted shyness in everyday social state of affairs.
A person may be diagnosed with it if “the person experiences extreme anxiety with exposure to the object or situation; recognizes that his or her fear is excessive or unreasonable; and finds that normal routines, social activities, or relationships are significantly impaired as a result of these fears. Treatment There are ways to treat Anxiety Disorder. The first thing to do is to visit the family doctor to be able to get confirmation that it is indeed anxiety disorder that’s bothering you. If it has been confirmed then the second step is consult a mental health professional to be able to carry out “cognitive-behavioral therapy” or “behavioral therapy” and/or medications.
If the type of treatment has already been chosen then the third step is to “work with the mental health professional”. If on medication, do not just stop it, the doctor’s advice should always be strictly followed with regards to this aspect of stopping administration of drugs.
Fifth is to consider joining a support group to whom dilemmas and even triumphs may be shared. If not comfortable with such setting, it is highly recommended to confide emotions, ideas, etc to a close friend, co-family member, co-church member, etc. Sixth, get yourself to stay calm by learning the art of meditation, as well as, management of stress. Last but not least, co-family members should be trained and informed about how to successfully help to be able to attain success in curing anxiety disorder.
