What Is Anxiety Disorder?

ANXIETY

The feeling of anxiety is common to all and we have all felt it many times in the course of our lives. But when  anxiety  becomes an excessive, irrational dread of everyday situations, it becomes a  disorder .

Nearly 40 million people above the age of 18 are affected by this disorder in a given year.  Anxiety   disorder  may be caused by a mental condition, a physical condition, the effects of drugs, or from a combination of these.

Some of the common Types of  Anxiety   Disorders  are:

I PANIC DISORDER

This condition is characterized by periods of intense fear or a psychological distress that lasts for about half an hour.

II GENERAL  ANXIETY   DISORDER  (GAD)

This condition is characterized by excessive anxiety and worry, occurring more days than not for a period of at least 6 months, about a number of events or activities. Having this disorder means always anticipating disaster, often worrying excessively about health, money, family, or work. Sometimes, though, the source of the worry is hard to pinpoint.

III PHOBIC DISORDERS

These are persistent, unreasonable, intense fears (phobias) of situations, circumstances, or objects giving rise to anxiety and avoidance. Phobic disorders are classified as general (agoraphobia and social phobia) or specific.

A) Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia literally means "fear of the marketplace". Therefore, people with agoraphobia are afraid of open or public places. In reality, most people with agoraphobia are actually afraid of having a panic attack in these settings, especially settings in which there will be no one to help in case of panic attack or an actual emergency.

B) Social  Anxiety   Disorder 

The person suffering from this disorder has an excessive and unreasonable fear of social situations. The anxiety in this case arises out of the fear of being closely watched, judged or criticized by people around you.

C) Specific Phobias

A specific phobia is fear of and anxiety about a particular situation or object. Specific phobias are the most common  anxiety   disorders . Among the most frequent are fear of animals zoophobia), heights (acrophobia) and thunderstorms (astraphobia or brontophobia).

i) Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

OCD is a type of disorder involving two elements: obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are repetitive unwanted thoughts that make you feel anxious. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors and rituals that the patient feels compelled to perform as performing them temporarily reduces the anxiety.

ii) Separation Anxiety

This form of anxiety is a normal developmental stage experienced by a child when separated from the primary caregiver. It typically manifests itself as crying and distress when the child is away from a parent or from home.

ANXIETY MANAGEMENT & TREATMENT

At Home: In certain cases, it is possible to treat anxiety at home. However, these cases are limited to ones where the attack is of a short duration and where you know the reason for the attack. In such cases, stress can be relieved by practicing activities such as: Meditation, Watching TV, Deep breathing , Resting in a dark room etc.

Medical Treatment: When the nature of attacks is more serious in nature then the patient has to turn to medical treatment. Medical treatment depends on the cause of the anxiety.

There are cases when the cause cannot be identified. In such cases, the only way to treat is control of symptoms.

Medication does not cure  anxiety   disorders , but it helps to keep them under control while the person receives psychotherapy. With proper treatment many people with  anxiety   disorders  can lead normal, fulfilling lives.

Virtual Reality Therapy for Anxiety

Virtual reality therapy (VRT) can cure traumatic stress and anxiety in people. During the treatment, patients repeatedly see simulated environments to overcome difficulties of the past. This therapy has complex procedures, which is why only skilled doctors can perform it.

This therapy can successfully cure alcoholism, eating disorder, fear of public speaking, fear of flying, and more. A virtual environment is made based on patient's memory. Visuals and sounds are added in this virtual environment for making it close to real situation. Patients who are afraid of flaying may see simulation of airplane, and sexual assault victims may see a person approaching in a dark place. During the treatment, therapists continuously communicate with patients.

What Science says about this Therapy

Scientific evidence is available, Virtual therapy and hypnosis (also known as virtual hypnosis therapy) can cure fear of public speaking, anxiety, stress, and emotional pain. Many scientific theories suggest applying three-dimensional technology and hypnosis together to help patients.

Not long ago, a research report provided evidence that virtual hypnosis is effective against neuropathic pain. During this research, tests were conducted on a female patient that had 5 years of failed treatment. Patient was able to overcome her condition up to 36% in 33 sessions. These virtual sessions were effective as compare to non-virtual hypnosis treatment. The title of this research was “Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking”.

Another research that combined emotional therapy with virtual reality, suggests that positive emotions can enhance activity management in people. The research was conducted to represent acceptability, satisfaction, and efficiency of this therapy for promoting positive emotions. This research provides evidence that this therapy can cure anxiety and stress.

In 2015, two tests were conducted to find efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy. The aim of this study was to unlock negative memories and modify behavior and emotional state. 163 female patients were given treatment. Some of them were given standard behavioral program (SBP), and others were given SBP plus virtual reality. There wasn't significant difference between both the treatments, but odds show that patients who had virtual treatment had greater possibility of improvements.

Aim of this Therapy

Traumatic Stress is not the only condition that can be cured using this therapy. As the cost of this therapy is coming down, scientists are looking to treat autism and phobias using it. Virtual reality therapy is an effective treatment that can cure fear of things, emotional pain, and anxiety.

Test and Performance Anxiety

Almost everyone becomes anxious prior to taking a test. When test anxiety negatively affects the performance of a student, this can become a significant problem. Importance placed on tests such as the SAT, ACT, GRE, and other standardized tests can create major issues for children and their parents. Serious consequences are associated with tests success, for example graduation, promotion, class rank, and college acceptance. Once test anxiety is recognized, there are several strategies for decreasing test anxiety and performing well.

Test anxiety can be identified by physical, emotional, cognitive and behavioral signs and symptoms. Physical symptoms include headaches, nausea or diarrhea, extreme body temperature changes, excessive sweating, shortness of breath, light-headedness or fainting, rapid heartbeat, and dry mouth. Emotional responses to anxiety are excessive feelings of fear, disappointment, anger, or, taken to extreme levels, depression, uncontrollable crying or laughing, and feelings of helplessness. Behavioral signs that a child may be dealing with test anxiety fidgeting, pacing, substance abuse, avoidance, cursing. Cognitively test anxiety can produce racing thoughts, 'going blank', difficulty concentrating, negative self-talk, feelings of dread, comparing oneself to others, difficulty organizing one's thoughts.

Before the test, there are methods to decrease some anxiety. For parents, you can talk to your child about their anxiety and the pressures they feel. It may be simply talking with their parents may help the child to feel better, and as if they can perform well. Parents can help with test anxiety by being gently encouraging throughout the school year, and not just before a major test. Developing good study and preparation habits go a long way towards decreasing test anxiety. Cramming the night before a huge test will not produce good results. Start studying your material each day of the semester or term and review a little bit at a time, and as a test approaches ramp up your efforts. Alert your teachers or instructors that you have test anxiety and ask for any suggestions of help that they can provide you; your teachers are there to help you succeed. Following good physical health habits can also decrease test anxiety and increase performance such as avoiding caffeine and getting a good night's sleep, eating well - make sure to eat breakfast, and exercising regularly.

When the day of the test has arrived, there are strategies to deal with the test. During the test, make sure to read the directions carefully, follow a specific strategy to completing the test, and review all of your answers before turning the test in. A common test taking method is to answer all of the hardest questions first, and then completing easier questions - skip the questions you do not know the answers to and return to them after you have answered all of the other questions. Reread your answers, and double-check your math work, there is so no reward for turning in your test first. Try hard not to worry about other people turning in their test before you do, only focus on your test and grades.

If you start to feel overwhelmed by your anxiety remember to tell yourself to relax, take a moment and breathe deeply and slowly. To make sure you breathe deeply inhale for to the count of 4, hold that breathe to you count to 7, and exhale to the count of 8; repeat this four to eight times to momentarily distract yourself and decrease your heart rate. Keep a positive attitude and acknowledge that you prepared and that you are doing your best throughout this test. Ask the teacher for clarification if you do not understand what is being asked for on the test. As you are wrapping up your test, look over the material and make sure you answered every question that you can, double check your work and make sure you put your name on the test.

Test anxiety can be overwhelming with all of the consequences for not doing well, but with preparation, practice and knowledge test anxiety can be controlled and you can succeed at test taking.

How to Fix Anxiety - A Review of Treatments

There are many different types of anxiety and around twice as many treatments. There are therapies that can treat anxiety, and medications that can help it, and many people also manage to cure their own anxiety. So how do you choose what treatment to go for? How can you decide how to fix your anxiety?

There are many types of therapies. These can be very expensive, however, with some professionals charging hundreds per hour. There are so many types of therapy that it can be confusing choosing the one that is best suited to your particular type of anxiety. These therapies often require a long time before you are able to live a normal life, sometimes meaning that patients are in therapy for months or years.

Medication is another way to treat anxiety, but unless you're a doctor this can be a frightening idea. Many medications only treat the symptoms of anxiety, meaning that your anxiety may come back as soon as you stop the medication. Many medications also have uncomfortable side effects that include physical effects and mental effects. SSRIs for example can increase suicidal urges in some people! Stronger medications are addictive meaning that the dosage has to be continually upped or that patients can only use them for a short period of time before being dropped back into their anxiety.

Self-help techniques are plentiful. From visualization techniques to meeting your "spirit guide," thousands of books claim they can fix your anxiety forever. But very few techniques work for all anxieties, and not very many work at all! Self-help can be effective, but it doesn't have the encouragement element that therapy has where there's always someone working with you and helping you use the techniques. This makes treating your own anxiety somewhat of a trial and error process. That could mean that it takes years to get through all the set backs.

One approach to anxiety is to face it head on. Instead of avoiding situations in which anxiety occurs, the patient goes through their normal life until they find themselves feeling anxious. When they do, they do not run away from the situation, they simply observe the anxiety as it passes by. This proves that the panic attack or anxious feelings are not harmful. It also proves that the situation is not harmful. This technique is based in Buddhist meditation in which the meditator watches thoughts without becoming attached or avoiding them.

Severe Test Anxiety - 4 Steps to Stop the Panic and Pass the Exam!

Severe test anxiety is a terrible thing to experience. Your body becomes tense all around and spirals into a heap of anxiety. I've been there! The thought of a deadline simply makes matters more severe.

Here is what a Test Anxiety Cycle looks like

- You sit down to study.

- You Become dissatisfied with your progress up to that point.

- Your mind starts to bounce, searching for easier material to absorb.

- You focus on deadlines and negative consequences.

- You tense up and your body becomes stressed.

- Your mind locks and a panic sets in.

And the cycle repeats, getting more severe each time...

Most anxiety cycles have a downward spiraling effect. Feeling fatigued in the mind from other classes and losing sleep with poor nutrition only makes matters worse. Below are 4 steps to help you pull out of severe test anxiety.

#1) Stop and Justify Your Cause To Panic!

The worst thing you can do in a panic is get mad at yourself and panic more as a result of panicking. This is like smothering the exit to a volcano. Eventually it just gets explodes. So for a moment, justify your anxiety. Tell yourself it's OK to feel anxious and then go over the reasons why you feel severe anxiety.

Say something like.. " Of course I'm upset.. I really have wanted to do well on this test, I've have done my best in life and now I only have a little time left to study!"

#2) Now narrow it down further and identify what you're truly afraid of.

Feeling severe anxiety for a test means there are some more specific consequences that scare you. Briefly identify what it is you are truly afraid of so you can face it to erase it! You might be afraid of what people think of you if you fail or you might be afraid that you'll never be successful if you don't pass the test etc.

#3) Now breath deep while talking yourself out of it.

Become your own coach as a voice inside your head. Realize you will get through this rough time because you always do. Say to yourself "My mind is becoming focused again.. I'm so glad I ended up finding a solution to studying that actually worked!"

#4) Go for a brief walk outside while doing nothing but visualizing success!

Visualize success about studying well for that test as you go for a brief walk outside for about 10 minutes. Drink a tall glass of water to lubricate your system and see yourself smiling next to those books!

Overcoming Anxiety and Test Anxiety

It's normal to feel a little tension before an exam. Many of us experience it, and sometimes can even help to perform better.

The problem is that too much nervousness can prevent you from thinking clearly and can adversely affect your performance on the exam.

Test anxiety is actually a part of a wider phenomenon called performance anxiety.

You might feel it when you participate in any event where your performance really matters and you are evaluated by others.

To overcome the tension, you must first understand your anxiety, in terms of its type, causes, symptoms, and effects.

Then you can choose the best coping mechanisms for your particular situation.

Students who have experienced, or have a fear of, blanking out on tests or the inability to perform in testing situations can develop anticipatory anxiety. Worrying about how anxiety will effect you can be as debilitating as the anxiety itself.

This kind of anxiety can build as the testing situation approaches, and can interfere with the student's ability to prepare adequately.

Lack of preparation is another factor that can contribute to test anxiety.

Poor study habits, and lack of organization can lead to a student feeling overwhelmed.

Being able to anticipate what the exam will cover, and knowing all the information has been covered during the study sessions, can help students to enter the testing situation with a more positive attitude. Test anxiety can also develop genetically.

The pressure to perform well on exams is a great motivator unless it is so extreme that it becomes irrational.

When a student's self-esteem is too closely tied to the outcome of any one academic task, the results can be devastating.

Most students experience some level of anxiety during an exam.

However, when anxiety affects exam performance it has become a problem.

In case that it is not the case of a disorder, developing good study habits and strategies may reduce the fear. Taking a step by step approach to build a strategy and not get overwhelmed, organizing the material to be studied helps a lot.

Reviewing your past performance on tests, improving and learning from your experience, using whatever strategies you can, may personalize your success. Treating the exam as an opportunity to show how much you've studied will be a reward for the studying you've done and may help you to pass further.

Avoid speaking with any fellow students who have not prepared, who express negativity, who will distract your preparation.

Get a good sleep the night before the exam. Don't go to the exam with an empty stomach. Fresh fruits and vegetables are often recommended to reduce stress.

Take a small snack, or some other nourishment to help take your mind off of your anxiety. Avoid high sugar content which may aggravate your condition.

I also recommend you to to look for Dr. Joe Barry McDonagh and to try his Natural Treatment for Anxiety and Panic Attack.

If you want to know more visit my blog.

Autism Anxiety Overload

The renowned autism expert Tony Atwood is fond of putting it this way: "Autism is anxiety looking for a target." Autism and anxiety go hand-in-hand. Autism affects a person's ability to communicate with others or to understand the world around him, and that's bound to cause anxiety and panic sometimes.

Anxiety becomes even worse when there is a change in the autistic child's routine. Even positive and "fun" changes, like a school field trip or a visit to the zoo, can increase anxiety and aggressive behaviors.

For parents, the best course of action is to anticipate upcoming changes and help your child prepare for them. Many parents find it helpful to use stories and pictures to prepare children for impending disruptions. If it's a field trip to the zoo, for example, use pictures to show your child what he'll see at the zoo, what the zoo will be like, and what sort of things to expect. Do this each day for three or four days prior to the trip. That way, when the trip actually happens, the child won't be entirely out of his element, but will already understand and appreciate some of what will be happening.

Other changes in the routine are less enjoyable but still necessary. Getting a new teacher can be traumatic, as can moving to a new house. If at all possible, try to spread out the major changes. If you move to a new house, try to do it during the summer, so that your child won't have to deal with the added anxiety of getting a new school and new teacher mid-year.

You can also introduce your child to the concept of "change" in a positive way by practicing with non-negative things. For example, just for practice, give him a little extra TV time instead of homework time one night, to show that changes in the routine can often be fun and good. Then practice with a neutral change (homework after dinner instead of before dinner), then with a negative one (changing play time into chore time). This process can help your child grow accustomed to the idea of change and learn to adapt without becoming anxious.

For continual, ongoing anxiety, many parents have begun using anti-anxiety medications for their autistic children. Usually, the medications are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and are also used for obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression. Prozac, Luvox, Zoloft and Anafranil are all common for anxiety in autistic children.

For behavioral problems, antipsychotics such as Haldol, fluphenazine and chlorpromazine can be prescribed. These can reduce aggression in autistic kids, but sometimes also cause sedation and muscle stiffness.

All patients are different. You and your doctor should monitor your child's progress very closely, using the lowest dose of medication possible, to see if what improvements it makes and whether there are any adverse reactions. Medication should be the last resort for autism, not the first one. There are a number of natural remedies available if you don't want to go down the drug route. But try behavioral and dietary modifications first, to see what improvements can be made naturally.