Anxiety Disorders

Unlike popular belief, anxiety is a lot more than just worrying about the future. It also has

behavioral and physiological components to it such as chronic overarousal and tension.

We all experience some degree of anxiety- be it about a loved one’s health or examinations.

However, we cannot call these a full fledged anxiety disorder. It can be characterized as a

disorder only if it meets the criteria as laid out in the DSM-5. Some of these include persistence and impairment. Anxiety disorders are characterized by unrealistic, irrational fears or anxieties that cause significant distress and/or impairments in functioning.

Among the disorders recognized in DSM-5 are:

1. specific phobia- a specific phobia is said to be present if a person shows strong and persistent fear that is triggered by the presence of a specific object or situation and leads to significant distress and/or impairment in a person’s ability to function.

2. social anxiety disorder (social phobia)- Social phobia (or social anxiety disorder) is characterized by disabling fears of one or more specific social situations (such as public speaking, urinating in a public bathroom, or eating or writing in public.

3. panic disorder- Panic disorder is defined and characterized by the occurrence of panic attacks that often seem to come “out of the blue.”

4. Agoraphobia- In agoraphobia the most commonly feared and avoided situations include streets and crowded places such as shopping malls, movie theaters, and stores. Standing in line can be particularly difficult. Sometimes, agoraphobia develops as a complication of having panic attacks in one or more such situations.

5. generalized anxiety disorder- worry about many different aspects of life (including minor events) is common but if it becomes chronic, excessive, and unreasonable, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) may be diagnosed.

Most anxiety disorders are caused by either biological factors such as genetics or abnormal

activity (too high or too low) in some region of the brain. Biochemical dysfunctions can also be a causal factor for anxiety disorders. Apart from these, some psychological factors also contribute to these disorders. These include perceptions of uncontrollability and

unpredictability, unconscious conflicts etc.

Once the cause is determined with the help of a mental health professional, successful treatment of anxiety disorders are completely achievable! The treatment can range from medications to cognitive behavioral therapy. Its best to discuss with a mental health professional to determine what will work best for you!

Lastly, step one to treatment is ALWAYS APPROACHING FOR PROFESSIONAL HELP!