Anxiety is a normal response to stress that can serve a useful purpose: helping us avoid situations that threaten our sense of security. Anxiety disorders, however, occur when the degree of anxiety experienced is disproportionate to the threat posed by given circumstances. There are differnt types of anxiety disorders including generalised anxiety disorders, social anxiety disorder, phobias, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and post traumatic stress disorder. Anxiety disorders arise from complex interactions between the brain, the body’s stress response network, and even the gut microbiome. Untreated, anxiety disorders may lead to depression.
Overview
What is Anxiety & Anxiety Disorders?
Symptoms
What are the signs of Anxiety & Anxiety Disorders?
The main features of an anxiety disorder are fears or thoughts that are chronic (constant) and distressing and that interfere with daily living. Other symptoms of an anxiety disorder may include:
Panic or anxiety attacks
Hot and cold flushes
Rapid heartbeat
Tightening of the chest
Shortness of breath
Restlessness/difficulty concentrating
Sleep disturbances
Feeling tense, wound up and edgy
Excessive fear, worry, catastrophising, or obsessive thinking
Avoidance behaviour
Causes
What are the causes of Anxiety & Anxiety Disorders?
Everyone experiences anxiety and fear at times – these are normal and helpful human emotions that help us deal with danger. However, some people experience excessive and irrational anxiety and worries that become ongoing and distressing, and that interfere with their daily lives. Some risk factors associated with anxiety disorders include:
Personal or family history of anxiety disorder or other mental illness
Gender – women are nearly twice as likely as men to develop an anxiety disorder
Chronic stress
Experiencing traumatic or stressful events
Lifestyle factors, including smoking, illicit drug and alcohol use
Diagnosis
How do I know if I have Anxiety or Anxiety Disorders?
Diagnosing anxiety disorders involves screening through careful history-taking, ruling out other causes of anxious symptoms, and use of diagnostic surveys, usually performed by a psychologist or psychiatrist. Additional tests that may assist the process include:
Stress hormone profile