What Are Some Results of Untreated Anxiety?

For people that experience anxiety and panic attacks on a regular basis, it's not uncommon for these issues to go untreated for various reasons. Panic attack and anxiety sufferers may be so embarrassed, paranoid, and fearful that others may think they are "crazy" that they just do everything in their power to avoid situations that cause them to become anxious. Over time, many of these people start to lose hope that they will ever stop feeling anxious, and they may lock themselves away from the life and others that they once enjoyed, a mental disorder that's referred to as agoraphobia. When this happens, there can be some serious long-term consequences that the anxiety sufferer will end up with.

Psychological Concerns

Many of the results of untreated anxiety and panic attacks cannot only be devastating psychologically; they can be life threatening as well. A person who continually experiences the physical symptoms of anxiety, such as heart palpitations, stomach and digestive ailments or insomnia, can become physically ill as a result. The anxiety sufferer may become homebound out of fear of having a panic attack in front of peers at a job or in public. The person may decide to avoid the things that cause anxiety, such as driving or performing routine life activities like grocery shopping or spending time with friends and family. Worse yet, the anxiety sufferer may stop getting regular medical care for existing health issues they may have out of fear of being labeled as unstable.

Physical Concerns

In addition, anxiety can cause other health problems to become worrisome or increase in occurrence. In fact, the health problems may be at the root of their worrisome tendency - it's a vicious cycle that has no end. For example, a person who is anxious about their stomach pains may go on to develop ulcers, which are life threatening. The more they worry about dying from their stomach pain, the worse their physical condition becomes. Or the person may become so depressed from not wanting to leave the house may be so worried that they develop social phobias and then even suicidal tendencies.

Anxiety left untreated over time can cause high blood pressure, which can lead to premature heart failure. Anxiety can cause hormonal imbalances in both men and women, which is detrimental to health and well-being. This hormonal imbalance can contribute to thyroid function issues, diabetes, immune deficiencies, and other illnesses that can cause serious consequences. More often than not, people become anxious due to a seemingly small issue, but because they worry so much and can't control the anxiety, the build-up of endorphins causes their body to work overtime. This causes strain on the body as a whole.

Left untreated, anxiety is also a leading cause of obesity. People often eat out of emotional needs and stress. Being tense as a result of having anxiety is one reason that people may overeat and don't get enough exercise. Then the heavier that a person gets, the harder it is to leave the house to exercise, and the worse the anxiety symptoms become. The irony is that exercise has been shown to improve the symptoms of anxiety, and so it's actually beneficial for a person who has anxiety to exercise on a regular basis. Yet, without proper care from a health care professional, many fail to realize they need this regular exercise in order to combat their anxiety.

There are ways that the effects of anxiety can be reduced and in many cases eliminated. Living a healthy lifestyle that includes regular medical care, whole foods that are high in vitamins and nutrients, supplementing with natural products, and a good balance of exercise and rest is the best treatment for anyone experiencing anxiety.

Anxiety Disorder Causes - The Four Major Contributors Explained

The study of anxiety disorders began around the turn of the 20th century. Since that time, studies have compiled four major contributors for anxiety disorder causes. There is conjecture on other possible causes, but these remain the basis for most prognoses.

* Brain chemistry - Both clinical and animal studies highly indicate a relationship between difficulty in maintaining balance and anxiety disorders. The belief is that a malfunction causes signals to be confused within the medial temporal lobes of the brain. The exact area is in the amygdalae, which deal with memory of emotional reactions. Simply put, the person cannot balance a reaction to match a cause, resulting in fear of events that may not be fearful at all.

* Life experiences - Chronic physical illness or worries associated with finances, relationships, or work situations can lead to anxiety disorders. Between 4% and 10% of older adults are diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. This doesn't take into consideration the many who do not seek help because they don't want anyone to know.

* Heredity - Everyone receives genes from their parents and grandparents. Almost everyone who has an anxiety disorder has a parent, grandparent, or other relative with anxiety syndromes of some type. In cases where the child becomes separated from the parent at an early age, certain characteristics will surface that are like those of the parent. This indicates that the disorders are not solely based on life experiences as some have though. Clinical studies substantiate the pass-down-system of anxiety.

* Personality - People who have low self esteem and the inability to cope with life situations are more prone to become depressed and then develop anxiety disorders. The relationships between emotions in these cases are difficult to understand because the person with low self-esteem may be that way because of an anxiety at an earlier age. The origin of the anxiety is not always clearly understood.

Another contributor to depression and anxiety is alcohol abuse. Moderate and sustained alcohol use may increase the levels of depression and anxiety in some people. The good news is that the majority of these anxiety cases can be reversed with prolonged abstinence. Dependency on alcohol or benzodiazepine can lead to panic disorder or social phobias.

Most sufferers of anxiety disorders have combinations of these causes. The ability to treat a syndrome of anxiety is only possible by removing as many of these causes as possible and then focusing on treating what is left. Unfortunately, the human is a complex and diverse being with no set standard to allow a structured common treatment. It is the task of the professional to probe and assess each person individually. In this way, he/she can devise a plan of attack that works.

Anxiety disorder causes are much easier to identify than they are to rectify. Few suffers are able to help themselves, and must be cajoled to seek medical attention.

Anxiety Disorders - Their Form And Manifestation

Every person in her/his life encountered manifestations of anxiety, felt the symptoms of anxiety, saw close ones suffering from it. And this is not surprising. According to the estimations of some experts almost everyone on the planet experienced neurosis of anxiety and each second suffers from anxiety at the present moment.

However what is an anxiety? The simplest definition of anxiety is a feeling of groundless internal uneasiness, agitation. If "anxiety" has a specific reason it is called fear or phobia. Literature describes huge set of fears and phobias like fear of closed spaces, sharp objects, height, darkness, solitude, public appearances, blood, thirteenth number, snakes, spiders, illness, etc. But only when agitation is not related to a specific subject doctors speak about anxiety disorder.

Depending on appearance and nature of manifestation doctors define three basic types of the anxiety: paroxysmal, constant and after-stress (reactive). Manifestations (symptoms) of anxiety can be subdivided into mental and somatic. Most frequently anxiety is recorded in women, especially older than 40 years. However, it can be developed also at the young age and in men. After happening once, anxiety has a tendency toward the prolonged, repetitive (relapsing) flow. Person usually cannot hold anxiety in control, and as a result her/his normal lifestyle is disrupted. Moreover, as a result of continuous fears and agitations, tension, fatigue and increased irritability relationship with close ones can suffer.

Together with the unjustified agitations, anxiety disorders are characterized with increased excitability or the timidity, which is accompanied by the excessive reactivity of the vegetative nervous system. The disturbances of sleep are noted very frequently (suddenly falling asleep or awakening during the night). It is also characterized by fussiness, retardation or awkwardness.

Diverse complaints of the physical health are typical for the anxiety: weakness, head and muscular pains, pain in the spin and the back (frequently treated as "osteochondrosis"), muscular twitching, etc. These symptoms are caused by a chronic increase in the muscular tone, which accompanies pathologic anxiety.

Anxiety is frequently accompanied by other somatic symptoms. Among them are heart palpitations, a feeling of pressure or compression in the breast, heart pain, sensation of air shortage, increase in the arterial pressure, trembling, sweating, "ant" or "goose" skin, nausea, diarrhea, spastic abdominal pains, dryness in the mouth. Other frequent symptoms are vertigo, palling or reddening, itch, hives, suffocation, disturbance of sexual functions.

Anxiety Disorder - The True Causes of Anxiety

The exact cause of anxiety disorder is unknown. Some people think anxiety is a result of weakness or some kind of character flaw. This is not the case. Research shows that these disorders can be caused by changes in the brain or environmental stress. People who are in situations such as unemployment can get anxiety disorder because of the stress connect to it.

Anxiety disorders may also be caused by chemical imbalances in the brain. Long-lasting stress can change the balance of the chemicals in the brain and cause anxiety disorder. People with certain types of anxiety have changes in the brain that control memory or mood. Anxiety disorders can be inherited. Sometimes several members of a family may have tendencies toward these disorders.

Millions of Americans have anxiety disorders. Many of these disorders begin in childhood, teenage years, or early adulthood. Women have them more than men. They occur with the same frequency in whites, African-Americans, and Hispanics.

These disorders are diagnosed by an evaluation by a doctor. He will ask questions about medical history and may perform a physical exam. The doctor may do tests to find out if there is a physical cause for the symptoms.

If no cause is found, you may be referred to a psychiatrist or psychologist. These are mental health professionals that are trained to treat mental illness. They will use an interview and other assessment tools to evaluate people for anxiety disorder.

Diagnosis will be based on a patient's report of how intense the symptoms are. They will also look at the duration of the symptoms. This will include daily functioning with the symptoms and observation of the patient by the doctor. They will look for the behavior and determine if the symptoms and degree indicate a specific disorder.

Progress had been made in this area in the last few years in mental illness including anxiety disorders. The exact treatment approach will depend on the type of disorder, one or a combination of several therapies may be used. These include:

Medication: medicines used include anti-depressants and anxiety-reducing drugs.

Psychotherapy: This is a type of counseling which addresses the emotional response to mental illness. A trained mental health professional will help the patient by talking through strategies for understanding and dealing with their disorder.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy--People can participate in the type of therapy in which the person learns to recognize and change thought patterns and behaviors that lead to troublesome feelings.

Anxiety disorders cannot be prevented, however, there are things that can be done to control or lessen the symptoms. These include stopping or reducing the consumption of caffeine in coffee, tea, cola, or chocolate.

Ask the doctor before buying over the counter medicines or herbal remedies. Some of these may contain ingredients that can increase anxiety symptoms.

Seek counseling.

Anxiety and Associated Disorders

"For god's sake, I am not insane." Yes, you are absolutely right. It's just anxiety.

Every single person who forms a part of this modern pandemonium blabbers these statements more than a few times in their lives. It is absolutely normal to do so. Just because you check on the doors to see if they're locked more than once, have butterflies in your stomach before a meeting or a presentation, forget important things because you are preoccupied with something or scream at a person for no particular reason need not necessarily mean that you are on the verge of insanity. These are just your body's natural way of responding to some threats, changes or new situations. You can call it anxiety.

When and how does anxiety become a disorder? To examine this, we should first have a look at what the term anxiety means.

The dictionary defines anxiety as "distress or uneasiness of mind caused by fear of danger or misfortune; earnest but tense desire; eagerness." It is derived from the Latin word 'angere' meaning to choke, or strangle. Anxiety becomes synonymous with panic which in turn is derived from the Greek god Pan; who legend-wise could inspire overwhelming and irrational fear, especially when disturbed from his sleep. This explanation clearly dispels our mistaken notion of anxiety being of modern twentieth century origin.

Anxiety has been there since time immemorial, only then it did not enjoy the status it seems to enjoy today. Today anxiety and anxiety-related disorders are discussed extensively in medical and non-medical spheres. According to 2010 statistics reports, one and a half percent of the world's population suffers from anxiety disorders. Some famous personalities who were also anxiety disorder victims include Abraham Lincoln, Lord Tennyson, Isaac Newton, John Stuart and Michael Jackson. Among the modern-day victims we have Oprah Winfrey, Johny Depp, Naomi Campbell and Nicholas Cage.

Anxiety as we have seen is a perfectly normal human reaction. It becomes a disorder only when it reaches the extreme. The moment your anxiety interferes with your daily life and prevents you from living life the way you want it, you can confirm that you are having anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorder, in medical terms can be defined as "chronic condition characterized by an excessive and persistent sense of apprehension with physical symptoms such as sweating, palpitations, and feelings of stress."Anxiety disorders can be diagnosed by a self-help test. When you are in a fix as to whether you are suffering from anxiety or anxiety disorder, just take a moment to answer the following questions.

Ask yourself

Do you worry constantly and appear tense for no reason?

Do you feel that something bad is always round the corner?

Do you avoid everyday places and situations out of anxiety?

Do you have trouble concentrating?

Do you always imagine the worst?

Do you sweat profusely; feel tired, restless and irritable most of the time?

If your answers are in the positive for most of these questions, then it's possible that you may be suffering from anxiety disorder.

Different people react differently to anxiety and stress. Medical experts have identified six major types of anxiety disorders.

Six types of Anxiety Disorders

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): In simple terms if you are a person possessed by an excessive irrational fear and worry about ordinary everyday things like money matters, health issues, family problem or workplace problems, you are likely to have GAD. Insomnia, stomach upset, restlessness and fatigue are some tell-tale symptoms of GAD. If the above combination of emotional and physical symptoms continue to persist for a period of 6 months or more, then you can be diagnosed for GAD. Recent studies in GAD reveal that heredity and disposition play an important role in GAD. If you have a parent or relative suffering from chronic worry, there are chances that you may also develop it. When a child sees his mother worrying all the time out of stress, he may also do the same in times of stress. Other reasons include traumatic experiences, abuse or family feuds.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Checking on the door locks once or twice is normal anxiety but waking up in the middle of the night several times to do the same action is an anxiety disorder. OCD is characterised by recurring unwanted thoughts or behaviours that simply refuses to leave you alone. They haunt you to a point where you cannot control them. OCD is caused by the dysregulation or dysfunctioning of a circuit in the brain which in turn is affected by an imbalance in the neurochemical serotonine.

Panic Disorder: Repeated panic attacks or the acute fear and anxiety of experiencing another panic episode are the characteristics of panic disorder. Panic attacks can also cause people to withdraw or avoid certain places and situations like airplanes, social gatherings and the like. Genetics, imbalance in brain's chemical messengers and the sudden trigger of the body's alarm system called the fight-or-flight response are some known factors for causing panic disorder.

Phobia: Unrealistic fear of an object, activity or situation that in reality is of no or little danger is called phobia. Fear of spiders, crowded places and heights are a few examples. You fear them to the extent of completely avoiding them. Certain genetic and environmental factors contribute to the cause of this disorder.

Post-Traumatic-Stress Disorder (PTSD): As the name suggests, PTSD occurs in the aftermath of a traumatic or life-threatening incident. Death of a parent in a terrible accident can cause PTSD in the child who suffers from flashbacks and nightmares about that incident. Such victims tend to startle easily, hyperventilate and also withdraw from others.

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD): SAD is characterised by the intense fear of being looked upon negatively by others. You are so scared of being embarrassed in front of your interviewer that you simply avoid giving interviews for jobs. The thought of not measuring up to others in comparison and lack of self confidence leads to this disorder. 

Back to Life

Anxiety disorders needn't scare you anymore. Modern breakthrough in medicine and psychiatry has come out with effective medication and behavioural therapies capable of eliciting positive responses from Anxiety disorder victims. Apart from this, learn to find time for yourself, read good books, talk to loved ones, eat healthy, drink lots of water, exercise regularly and most important, sleep well. Positive changes in your lifestyle can go a long way in reducing anxiety and anxiety related disorders in your life.

Anxiety Disorders - How to Cure and Eliminate Without Medication

True or false, anxiety disorders are simply random, mysterious, and uncontrollable diseases. Here's a hint: the answer is FALSE! In fact, the exact opposite is true from what has been gathered by the medical profession, but as a previous sufferer, I know it usually feels like they are.

The truth of the matter is that the anxiety is not an illness alone, but actually becomes a condition when an individual becomes physically, and/or mentally, distracted and upset over it.

The move from a "normal" anxiety to full-blown disorder happens after the affect on the mind and body becomes an issue over time. This is typically when a medical professional becomes involved due to it effect on day-to-day life.

Now don't let me get you down in the dumps over this, because there actually is a positive side to this article: this condition can be beat! It is 100% controllable and this can be down without popping pills and spending a fortune on doctors!

That being said medication does have its pros and cons in the fact that it can help lower the amount of power the symptoms have should you suffer an attack, but they should not be viewed as a "cure" or answer for treatment of anxiety disorders.

When the "behind the scene" issues that trigger anxiety attacks are targeted, the disorder will simply fail to exist! This is why medication does nothing but keep you wasting money, it masks the symptoms...but cures the issue? Nope. Elimination of the disorder can be done with proper information and coaching!

By seeking out quality advice from an experienced professional, and targeting the source of the anxiety, you will see positive results and the end to current, and future, attacks. One source that I used was the Treatment for Anxiety Disorders website.

Anxiety and Panic Attack Disorder

In today's society anxiety disorders are more understood and effectively diagnosed and treated than at any other time in human history. These disorders are debilitating and can lead to other illnesses such as substance abuse, depression, and another mental illness called agoraphobia. Treatments are effective and have cured many anxiety disorder sufferers.

Anxiety disorders are America's most common mental illness. Unlike in past centuries, it is now more socially understood. Sufferers should seek out help. It is fear induced and can put the sufferer in serious mental and physical trauma.

For many, panic attacks are the most frightening thing they have ever experienced. It is usually sudden and provoked by an unreal or imagined threat. Some symptoms are chest tightening, hyperventilation, fast pulse, intense fear or the feeling that something bad is about to happen. Many feel they are having a heart attack and about to die. Symptoms usually last 10 minuets sometimes more. It becomes a disorder when this happens multiple times and not just once or twice in a lifetime.

Other disorders are associated with panic attacks. Generalized anxiety disorder(GAD) is usually a pre-requisite to suffering panic attacks. If the issue persists, agoraphobia can become and issue. Interpreted as a "fear of the market place" the individual avoids situations or places were panic attacks make them feel embarrassed or trapped. This is usually in open places and in public. Agoraphobia can happen without first having panic attacks. Social anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder have similar symptoms to agoraphobia.

If someone has excessive worry about multiple things for at least six months, than they may have GAD. In ancient times anxiety was thought to be just nerves and stress and was only a women issue. Today it is common knowledge that GAD is more than just nerves and stress and that it can happen to both men and women. Women do have a higher chance of being diagnosed with anxiety than men.

The exact cause of anxiety disorders are not well defined. It could be related to generic inheritance. If a persons family has a history of anxiety disorders than they are more likely to have it themselves. Anxiety disorders occur most often in adolescence but can happen at any age. Substance, physical and mental abuse may also be a cause. Traumatic situations may also cause anxiety. Anxiety stems from fear so anything associated with fear may be a trigger for an anxiety disorder. In the 19th and 20th century laxatives were prescribed as anxiety medication because it was thought that it was caused by toxins in the bowels.

Treatments are out there. There is medication that is best prescribed by a medical doctor and then there is therapy. There is professional therapy that can be prescribed by a doctor or there is self help therapy from people like Charles Linden, Joe Berry, and John Mercer. Anxiety can be cured. Sufferers can put get the help they need and put their anxiety behind them.

Child Anxiety Disorder

Many people probably don't realize that a child anxiety disorder can happen. Most people probably think a child is too young to go through anxiety.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Not only can it happen, but the good news is that there is also help for these young ones. And help is important, or they could go through a lifetime of agony.

Anxiety Disorders Are More Common Than You Think

All children experience anxiety, but it can reach a disabling stage, causing much distress and anguish. Anxiety disorders are among the most common problems that children go through.

Since children are not as developed and articulate as adults, they express themselves differently. They may cry a lot, totally freeze or avoid a person or situation that is causing extreme anxiety.

Physical sensations like trembling, rapid heart, sweating and tummy aches are just a few things that a child may experience. Believe it or not, a child can also go through depression.

List Of Child Anxiety Disorders

This is a list of some of the anxiety disorders that a child may experience during their childhood:

- panic attacks/panic disorder

- social phobia

- generalized anxiety disorder

- specific phobias

- obsessive compulsive disorder

- separation anxiety disorder

In addition, there's also post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and selective mutism.

Treatment For Child Anxiety Disorders

Treatment can range from several weeks to several months. Cognitive behavioral therapy is quite effective. Although medication can be prescribed, you need to be cautious and work very closely with both child and doctor.

Some of the medications will come with a warning. Some antidepressants can also cause suicidal thoughts. You need to be on top of your game and find out as much as you can before taking the plunge.

If you would prefer a drug-free route, then alternative choices are available and can be just as effective, with less dangers involved. Hypnosis is a wonderful tool to use for anxiety disorders, whether you're 9 or 90.

There are other choices, such as homeopathy that are pretty safe and relatively free of side effects. There is one particular product from Native Remedies that has been effective for many children.

Not only are parents happy with the results, but they worry less knowing that their child is safe and using something that won't make them feel worse before it makes them feel better.

Separation Anxiety Disorders

Separation anxiety disorder is a mental health disorder that begins in childhood and is characterized by worrying that is out of proportion to the situation of temporarily leaving home or otherwise separating from parents or loved ones. Four to five percent of children and adolescents suffer from separation anxiety disorder.

The causes are likely to be a predisposition to a combination of both environmental and genetic factors. Children with a family history of anxiety or whose mothers were stressed during pregnancy with them appeared to be more at risk of developing this separation anxiety disorder.

* The anxiety may take the form of an unrealistic, preoccupying worry about possible harm befalling major attachment figures, or fear that they will leave and not return.

* An unrealistic worry that some untoward event such as the child being lost, kidnapped, admitted to hospital or killed will separate him/her from their attachment figure.

* Persistent refusal to go to school due to fear of separation rather than fear of school events.

* Reluctance to go to sleep without being near a major attachment figure.

* Repeated nightmares about separation

* The occurrence of physical symptoms (nausea, headache, stomachache etc) on occasions that may involve separation from a loved one.

Counselling rather than medication is the preferred choice of treatment. Behaviour modification therapy and cognitive therapy focuses on positive reinforcment and rewarding the child for the independent small steps they take in overcoming their anxiety.

If psychotherapy is unsuccessful or the child's symptoms are extreme, medication may be considered.

Anxiety Disorder Treating

When you suffer from panic attacks you may be wondering about treating anxiety disorder and their symptoms. Although, there has been no conclusive results in determining the causes or reasons for so many individuals to suffer from anxiety disorders, specialists do agree that there are various types of factors that can trigger these attacks.

Suffering from an anxiety attack is no fun at all, it is very real and it is terribly frightening for those who experience episodes of this type of disorder. It is so frightening that those who experience these disorders are often embarrassed as well as irrationally fearful of any particular outside factor that may be in the vicinity, an actual location, person or gathering.

Treating the disorder begins by learning more about it and how to treat the symptoms and fears associated with them. Anxiety disorder symptoms and irrational or unwarranted fears associated with episodes of panic attacks include but are not limited to:

- Increase in heart rate and possible sensations of pounding chest pains

- Claustrophobic feelings associated with breathing difficulties such as suffocation

- Stomach upsets and problems as well as nausea

- Mental and physical sensations of lightheadedness, dizziness, chills and or hot flashes and sweats

- Numbness or tingling sensation of the hands

- Feelings of terror that kick in the Flight or Fright response with the feeling of seeking an escape

- A terrifying feeling of overwhelming fear of dying from a heart attack, because of the likeness of feelings

- The fear of losing control, embarrassment and especially fear of the next episode of a panic attack

Since there is a multitude of millions who suffer from these attacks and that is not counting those who are confused about their personal disorder symptoms and do not seek help or are too embarrassed to search for a solution. It is understandable that the severity levels as well as the types of fears and symptoms those that suffer from these disorders and the attacks will vary from one individual to another.

It seems that various internal, external, behavioral, environmental and genetic factors can contribute to the causes of triggers that signal the symptoms of panic attacks. Some useful treatments for dealing with these attacks are those which ground the individual in reality that they are not mentally imbalanced nor are they dieing from a heart attack even if it may feel as if they are doing so. Finding the calmness in the storm is the key to treating anxiety disorder and panic attack. In fact, one of the most common fears and symptoms of such is the intense fear of another episode of another attack.

Treating anxiety disorder is a very personal and unique matter. It is essential when you or someone you care for suffers from this disorder and panic attacks that you consult with your physician. Learn about the various types of treatments and medications may be the most resourceful for treating anxiety disorder.

The Prevalence of Anxiety Disorders in Children

It was not so long ago that fear and anxiety were considered a normal part of growing up. Now, it is a fact that anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent mental disorders faced by children and adolescents. It may initially seem harsh to classify fear as a mental disorder but consider that if it is felt to a pathological degree, then it may lead to depression, substance abuse and even suicide. Also, if not treated, then it will lead to mental disorders in adulthood.

Everyone feels fearful and anxious at various times in their lives and children are certainly no exception. Fear is an important survival mechanism and we would not want to be without it. For children, fear of the dark, of a new situation like starting school, of being separated from their parents and in the care of a stranger such as a teacher is natural and understandable and, most importantly, temporary. When the fear does not go away and lasts for more than two weeks, then it may develop into an anxiety disorder.

When anxiety starts to impede on their willingness to try new things, to test themselves, to push themselves a little further, then it needs to be examined closely. What is childhood but a time of discovery and learning? If a child is too afraid to do these things, then they are missing out on the joy of being a child. If their timidity does not interfere with daily activities like sleep, school, playing with friends, then you can assume they are timid or shy by nature.

Children's fears are age-specific, which means that there are stages most kids go through. For example, until the age of 2, loud noises, strangers and being separated from their parents will make infants and toddlers afraid. Between 3 and 6 years of age, the imagination plays a major role with ghosts, monsters, the dark and natural phenomenon like thunder and floods. From the age of 7 until mid-adolescence, fear of doing badly at school, death, injury, bad health and the unpredictability of natural disasters like earthquakes and hurricanes are prevalent.

There are seven different types of anxiety disorder which affect children.

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder is diagnosed when the child worries excessively about a broad range of things including things they have said and done, upcoming events, family and school. They worry to such an extent that they become restless, are irritable, tired and have difficulty concentrating. They may be unable to sleep.


• Panic Disorder is present when the child has recurring panic attacks and is anxious and fearful about having them. Avoidance behaviour is one consequence.


• Separation Anxiety Disorder occurs mostly with younger children who are anxious at being separated from their primary caregiver. They child worries about what will become of them in the caregiver's absence or what might happen to the caregiver.


• Specific Phobias occur in response to such things as the dark, spiders, bees and dogs. The fear is present to the extent that normal activities are disrupted or impossible.


• Social Phobia is more common amongst adolescents who dread humiliation in public places to such an extent that they avoid social situations.


• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder occurs when obsessions or intrusive thoughts and compulsions or repetitive behaviours interfere with daily activities. Compulsions are usually the result of the child trying to drown out unacceptable thoughts with rituals like washing their hands repeatedly.


• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder forms as the result of trauma such as the death of a loved one, an accident or divorce. The child becomes over-anxious at the lack of control they had over events and worries about future occurrences.

Anxiety Disorders do react well to treatment but the difficulty with children is that they do not know themselves that what they feel is not felt by all children. Therefore, it is up to the caregivers to recognize the problem and seek treatment for the child.

Anxiety Disorders - What is Anxiety and What Can You Do About It?

If you suffer or someone you love suffers from anxiety disorder, you are fully aware of the devastating effect it can have on your life. The inability to perform regular activities can cause the situation to worsen. If treatment is not sought, the disorder can disrupt the ability to function and live a normal life. Even small, daily activities and personal and professional relationships can be adversely affected. So, what is anxiety?

Anxiety can range from mild to severe depending upon many factors. The causes vary widely from worrying about the smallest situation up to something most would consider a catastrophe. Although there are several categories or types of anxiety disorders, general anxiety disorder is the one most commonly diagnosed. Other types of anxiety disorders can include:

* obsessive compulsive

* post-traumatic stress

* panic

* social anxiety

Diagnosis for anxiety disorders can be difficult because the symptoms can be the same as many other types of illnesses, diseases, or disorders. Some of the more common symptoms are heart palpitations, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, and trembling. Because these signs can be so similar to other problems, seeking treatment is a priority. Advising your physician of all of your symptoms will enable him or her to accurately diagnose your problem.

Treatment most commonly consists of a combination of therapy as well as medications. Therapy can help to learn how to change your thought process to control or avoid an attack. Learning how to modify your behavior can greatly reduce the severity of an attack. Medications can help to ease symptoms or control chemical imbalances. Working with your mental health professional to find the correct solutions will enable you to begin to lead a more normal and peaceful life.

Fortunately, anxiety disorders can be treated successfully. Recognizing there is a problem and seeking help are the first steps to regain control of your life.

Anxiety Disorder - Four Best Foods For Anxiety Disorder

I believe most of us have heard the saying of "You Are What You Eat". You can make many anxiety symptoms less severe by implementing these four best foods for anxiety.

A well balanced diet including a number of foods for it can prop up our immune system function and put a lid on escalating blood pressure.

Fish, it contains rich protein especially salmon, sardines, mackerel and tuna turns out the omega 3- fatty acid DHA and EPA, which contained in these types of fish. It helps to protect against surges in the stress hormones and adrenaline.

Nuts, almond and pistachios are two of the best choices. Almonds contain high vitamin B and E, which help to make our body more resilient when anxiety attacks. While pistachios help in lower blood pressure that help to soften the impact stress hormones have on our body.

Bread, low sugar whole grain cereal and oatmeal, good choices of complex carbohydrates. Carbohydrates help in triggering our brain to make more of the feel good hormone serotonin. However, complex carbohydrates are better because they are digested slower and do not produce blood sugar spikes.

Spinach, it contains high magnesium, to avoid a magnesium deficiency that can cause headaches and fatigue along with a number of other anxiety producing symptoms.

Include these four best foods with sufficient portion of fresh fruits and vegetables in your daily meals to prevent and stay away from feeling depress, nervous and anxious easily. Remember to avoid alcohol, caffeine and nicotine as these can be harmful to our immune system.

Social and Performance Anxiety Disorder

Social and performance anxiety disorder is another type of disorder from which about 15 million Americans suffer from. If you are suffering from this condition, then you must be familiar with the problems that this disorder can bring to your social and romantic life. Social and performance anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is a debilitating condition that can leave you overpowered and sick in seemingly normal situations.

I'm sure that you can relate to the fear and apprehension that we all feel right before a first date, before a major presentation in class or before making a sales pitch in front a big client. However, the anxiety felt by a person who is suffering from this disorder is often seemingly exaggerated and inappropriate for the situation.

Physical symptoms which can be seen in a person with social and performance anxiety disorder include blushing, headaches, profuse sweating, trembling, nausea, rapid heartbeats and shortness of breath. Some may even feel sick even in non-threatening situations like standing in line or when waiting at a restaurant.

Social and performance anxiety disorder is a specific form of anxiety, which leaves you uncomfortable when in the presence of other people in social settings. Specifically, it is the overwhelming fear and anxiety felt by a person about appearing inept or doing something embarrassing in social situations.

You have social and performance anxiety disorder if you feel terrified of embarrassing yourself, and this fear of humiliation can severely affect the way you are able to live your life, from your ability to form and maintain relationships, your ability to go to school to your ability to hold a job and financially take care of yourself. People who suffer from severe forms of social and performance anxiety disorder feel so incapacitated by their condition that they isolate themselves and stop going out altogether.

If you have social and performance anxiety disorder your doctor may prescribe anti-anxiety drugs such Zoloft, Prozac and Xanax. Behavioral therapy also works well. In behavioral therapy, your therapist will help you focus on what your anxiety is and help you identify responses, relaxation techniques as well as setting goals for controlling your anxiety.

Common therapies used by most therapists include assertiveness training and systemic desensitization. In systemic desensitization, your therapist will assist you in gradually confronting anxiety-provoking situations until your anxiety decreases. The reduced anxiety can serve as a positive reinforce until the anxiety is ultimately eliminated.

Severe Generalized Anxiety Disorder - Know the Symptoms and Treatments

Most people feel anxious about real life situations at one time or another and this anxiousness is just temporary. But people with severe generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) are extremely worried about everyday things and many other things even when there is no reason to worry about them. Their anxiousness or fears are so severe that they cannot function normally and cannot do their everyday tasks. They have negative thoughts about almost everything and always think that something bad is about to happen.

The psychological symptoms of severe generalized anxiety disorder includes irritability, difficulty falling and staying asleep, cannot relax and extreme worries about almost anything without a real cause for at least 6 months. These psychological symptoms maybe accompanied by physical symptoms like hot flashes, nausea, heavy sweating, trembling, headache and pounding heartbeat.

It could be very disabling to experience these symptoms and it is important to seek treatment to get rid of these symptoms.

There is help for people with severe generalized anxiety disorder because it is a treatable condition. The first thing that you should do is visit a doctor and talk about your symptoms. A mental health professional can help you determine if the symptoms are caused by a mental disorder or by other health issues. It is best to get the proper diagnosis to get the proper treatment.

Doctors may prescribe medications to help you relieve the symptoms of severe generalized anxiety disorder. It is important to understand that medicines cannot cure anxiety problems but it can keep it under control. Antidepressants, anti-anxiety medicines and beta blockers are commonly prescribed by doctors.

Psychotherapy is very useful in treating severe generalized anxiety disorder which involves talking to a psychiatrist or trained mental health professional. Patients are trained to change the way they think and react to possible triggers of anxiety. Relaxation techniques, stress management and exposure to feared situations are some of the effective exercises in dealing with GAD.

Anxiety Disorder - Coping With Severe Anxiety Disorder

What is it? Severe anxiety disorder is a mental disorder where affected people experience a variety of symptoms - from difficulty in breathing to palpitations. In other cases, it may cause other phobias and may trigger further attacks. It can also be linked to clinical depression, which is why severe anxiety disorder can be very dangerous if left untreated.

Severe anxiety disorder can be classified into several types. There is the generalized anxiety disorder, which is characterized by long-lasting anxiety that isn't focused on anything particular. Those who suffer from this fret constantly and may develop one of several symptoms, all of which make it difficult to cope with daily activities. Panic disorder, another common classification,is characterized by brief moments of intense terror and apprehension, sometimes making the sufferer feel that they are having a heart attack. Other types of severe anxiety disorder include different phobias, social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and obsessive-compulsiveness, among many others.

There are many symptoms for severe anxiety disorder. While panic attacks themselves may not cause any direct harm, the after effects of this disorder may endanger the sufferer and the people who are immediately surrounding him. If the anxiety attack happens, for example, while the sufferer is driving, it may lead to accidents and can be lethal to many involved. Symptoms may include any of the following: muscle tension, headaches, heart palpitations, dizziness, tunnel vision, insomnia, chest pain, difficulty breathing, sweating, and hypertension. This condition may also bring about shaking, confusion, and other anxiety indicators.

There are several effective ways to treat this disorder. Most doctors would suggest medication (commonly anxiolytic agents or anti-depressants or benzodiazepines) along with other treatment options like psychotherapy and changes in lifestyle. The best treatment would depend on the individual.

Tip: Best results can be achieved using medication and therapy.

There are newer options, which involves a technique born from traditional psychology that can help sufferers break free from the fear of suffering panic attacks. The technique, which has been used by thousands of people already, can help clear the anticipation for future attacks, and will not cause any regression once you get over the initial results. For severe anxiety disorder sufferers, this is one of the best ways to deal with the problem without use of medication because it is safer and it can take care of the problem in just a short period of time. It can keep you calmer and ultimately allow you to live your life to the fullest, without fear of another anxiety attack. Click the link below to learn more.

Mental Health Anxiety Disorders

There are many aspects of mental health and there are also many types of disorders under it. One of which is mental health anxiety disorders. When a person is anxious, the way that he thinks and responds to certain stimuli are altered. This is why it is a disorder that needs to be solved.

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health problems encountered by many individuals. Although feeling anxious is normal, but being anxious more than the usual is harmful since it may greatly affect the way that a person moves in times of threat.

Anyone can be affected with anxiety disorders and there are also many ways that anxiety may attack a certain individual. The symptoms may also be different from one person to another so to have a better grasp of this disorder; a person must make sure that what he is aware of the real situation and not fret about it too much.

Anxiety affects people since this condition can upset the individual. When upset, the concentration and line of thinking of the person is affected since even for simple things, he will already feel worried.

In treating mental health anxiety disorders, one can talk to doctors to give a better grasp of his situation. Also, instructions may be done so that he can follow a routine he would have to do once he feels worried. The therapists and friends can also talk to the patients and make them talk about what he thinks about what his happening. Letting him talk will also make him think of the facts and not what he imagines to be true.

Anxiety Disorder - Stop the Suffocation

Fear, apprehension, agitation, unease; these are the emotions which stem from a dark & suffocating place. Imagine suffering from a mental illness that can influence the way you think, feel & behave. Here are the facts and some relief, for the millions of people who suffer from an anxiety disorder.

When your body senses danger, it reacts by increasing your sense of alertness, which prepares you to react. Anxiety is a normal and necessary reaction and we all experience it from time to time, but when anxious feelings start to occur more frequently, last for extended periods, or interferes with your ability to perform daily tasks, it's time to seek help.

Anxiety has a number of "cousins" including phobias, panic disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder & obsessive-compulsive disorder. The defining factor which relates these disorders is the onset of anxious feelings when faced with a threat (either real or imagined) and this can bring about a variety of physical, emotional & behavioural symptoms. Some symptoms may include either one or a combination of (and are not limited to) the following...

• Shallow breathing


• Dizziness, shakiness, or tremor


• Nail biting


• Unrealistic fears of situations


• Upset stomach or "butterflies"


• Excessive worrying


• Muscle tension


• "Freezing" or feeling unable to act


• Avoidance of a feared event


• Rapid heartbeat


• Living in the future and expecting the worst possible outcome


• Either loss of or increased appetite


• Disturbed Sleep

The Cause

Theories of anxieties origins are thought to be the result or even the combination of biochemical imbalances in the brain (possibly genetic), subconscious conflicts arising from childhood trauma, to the favourable idea it is a learned response to unpleasant situations.

The Treatment

The good news is there are many reliable choices to treat your anxiety. These include...

• Aerobic exercise to prompt the release of the bodies "feel good" hormones called Endorphins


• Hands on therapies such as massage, acupressure & reflexology


• Relaxation techniques including deep breathing, yoga, meditation, tai chi and visualization

It is common to combine psychotherapy (cognitive behavioural therapy is preferred) and medicinal treatment to provide effective relief. The benefits of this combination means your symptoms can be controlled (by medication), which enables you to concentrate on the psychotherapy. Medicinal treatments often include antidepressants, which work by regulating serotonin and other neurotransmitters, and beta-blockers, used to reduce the production of adrenalin (which is responsible for all symptoms related to anxiety).

The Alternative Treatments

KAVA (Piper methysticum)

Also know as Kava-kava, Yagona, Kew or Sakau, this herb native to the South Pacific contains a substance called kavalactones. Kava is used for its sedative properties and among other things, to relax skeletal muscles. Studies have revealed excellent results when using kava to treat anxiety. It is comparable to tricyclic antidepressants (such as asendin & norpramin) and to low doses of benzodiazepines (such as xanax). Unfortunately, kava has a number of possible side effects, most dangerously being liver toxicity. Others include nausea, loss of appetite, blurred vision and shortness of breath. Kava can also interfere with prescribed drugs including fragmin and valium. If you are on any medication, it is vital you consult your doctor before taking kava.

Valerian

A herb with clusters of small white or pink flowers and a gigantic root system. This herb has been used in ancient China and Greece to relive anxiety, insomnia and restless states, just like the prescribed drug (which is why it's often referred to as the "herbal valium").

When taken for long periods the side effects of valerian may include irregular heartbeat, headache, uneasiness, restlessness and insomnia and very rarely, gastrointestinal problems. Always consult your doctor before taking valerian.

Tryptophan / 5-HTP

5-HTP, otherwise known as 5-hydroxytryptophan, replaced tryptophan (an essential amino acid the body uses to increase serotonin levels) after a contaminated batch in the late 80's caused many people to suffer from a serious pain syndrome. 5-HTP works in almost the same way to increase the production of serotonin in the central nervous system. The brain uses serotonin to help ease depression, anxiety and the sensation of pain. 5-HTP's possible side effects include nausea, diarrhea, breathing difficulties and may trigger serotonin-syndrome, a potentially life-threatening disorder caused by an abundance of serotonin in your body. Always consult your doctor before taking valerian.

Anxiety Disorder - What is the Difference Between Nerves and Anxiety Disorder?

We've all been there; butterflies in the stomach before a job interview, worry about finances, nerves prior to a big date.

What distinguishes these 'common or garden' anxieties from the feelings of dread associated with an anxiety disorder? Perhaps you feel constantly agitated and just can't put your finger on what is causing the feeling. Maybe you wake up in distress each morning as if facing the world each day is a walk down death row.

Anxiety is a normal, instinctive human function. It prevents us from taking foolish risks. Ever almost stepped on to the road in front of a car? The rush of adrenaline that we feel in such a situation is our body's way of telling us that it is time to get out of the way. This in-built function has allowed the human race to survive and thrive for many thousands of years. It may have prevented our ancestors from being eaten by saber-toothed tigers or from being crushed under the giant feet of a mammoth.

We call this instinct our 'flight or fight' mechanism. Do we face up to the danger? Or, do we avoid the danger?

When you suffer from an anxiety disorder, this mechanism can take hold of you at inappropriate times. Maybe your brain interprets that a busy street presents the same level of danger as a saber-toothed tiger, causing you to seek an escape route. Perhaps a social occasion is perceived as a threat and you find yourself unable to function and interact as you would like to.

The good news is that we can train our brain to change the way it reacts to certain situations and over time we can confine the flight or fight instinct to woolly mammoth scenarios. In the same way that a fire-fighter or soldier can be trained to put their self in danger in order to save others, we can be trained to put ourselves in to the situations that cause us anxiety and learn to control the natural instincts that cause us to panic and go in search of a hiding place.

Characteristics and Definition of Generalized Anxiety Disorder

There is in fact a difference between a nervous disposition and a person who suffers from an anxiety disorder. While being "neurotic" can be a personality trait, an generalized anxiety is a condition caused by the chemical makeup in the brain and must be diagnosed by a doctor.

There are as many forms of anxiety disorders as there are fish in the sea. Your specific diagnosis will depend upon the exact features that manifest in your daily life. For instance, chronic generalized anxiety describes a condition whereby an individual suffers from daily and unrelenting anxiety that is not specific to a particular person, event or stimulus. The treatment course for a person with a general anxiety disorder will be different from the treatment course than a person with a, for instance, social anxiety disorder will be tasked to follow.

The primary characteristic of a generalized anxiety disorder is the fear of a future disaster that the person is unable to prevent. This general fear permeates the person's day to day life causing stress and resulting in specific symptoms. These symptoms include disturbed sleep, loss of appetite, trouble concentrating and thinking, and nausea and vomiting.

Returning to our original thesis, a person who is simply "nervous" will not demonstrate these symptoms and will be generally higher functioning in regard to their anxieties. A key difference is that a person with a nervous disposition will not respond to treatment while a person suffering from a generalized anxiety disorder can and will improve if they follow a prescribed course.

The prognosis for people suffering from generalized anxiety is actually pretty good. The course of treatment usually includes a mood-stabilizing medication, cognitive behavioral therapy, and one-on-one medical supervision by a psychiatrist.

The good news is that anxiety is not a permanently disabling condition and with treatment the symptoms do improve.

How to Handle Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety is a helpful emotion because it keeps you on your toes in the face of danger or stressful situations. But if this emotion restricts you from doing your daily activities then what you have is a disorder.  If you have extreme anxiety or fear over unreasonable things to the point that you cannot function normally in your daily life, then you need to learn how to handle anxiety disorder.

This extreme terror is accompanied by physical symptoms which are really disturbing and disabling. The physical symptoms include chest pain, sweating, nausea, racing heartbeat, trembling, hot flashes, feeling of unreality, numbness and shortness of breath. Imagine what you will do if anxiety attack strikes you while you are driving or while you are shopping in a busy supermarket. The anticipation of attacks is also hard to handle because it takes away your freedom to enjoy life. You will become so restricted that you avoid things that you normally do like driving and even leaving the house without a companion.  Before this disorder could totally invade your life, you have to learn how to handle anxiety disorder.

This disorder is treatable and manageable, you do not have to get embarrassed or hide if you have anxiety disorder. Here are some tips on how to handle anxiety disorder:

See a doctor or mental health professional.  You need a proper diagnosis for you to understand your disorder. It is easier to handle anxiety disorder if you know what you are dealing with. Your doctor can explain to you the things you need to know and how to deal with your disorder.

Be positive. Although the physical symptoms are like those of a heart attack, anxiety disorder is not a life threatening illness, it is a treatable illness. Stay positive and tell yourself that nothing bad is about to happen because you do not have a life threatening disease.

Join support groups. Talking to other sufferers, sharing your experience and learning about their struggles will help you handle it with ease because you know you are not alone.  

Therapy.  Psychotherapy or cognitive-behavioral therapy is one effective way to handle anxiety disorder. Talking to a psychiatrist or a mental health professional is very helpful. Studies have shown that significant improvement is usually seen within 6-8 weeks and up to 90% of patients are responsive to this kind of therapy. It helps sufferers to change their thinking patterns and how they react to their fears.

Medications. Although medications will not cure anxiety disorder, it will help you handle this and keep your disorder under control. Your psychiatrist or mental health doctor can prescribe you with the right medication appropriate for your condition. Common medications are antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs and beta blockers.  

Natural remedies.  This is an alternative treatment to help you handle anxiety disorder without the side effects of drugs. If you have tried a lot of treatments and still suffering from the disabling symptoms, natural remedies are another option.

Two Most Common Anxiety Disorders Treatment Options

The two most common anxiety disorders treatment options are medication (anti-depressants and anti-anxiety drugs primarily) and psychotherapeutic approaches (cognitive-behavioral therapy, e.g.). Research and practice have allowed mental health professionals to develop specific recommendations for which of these approaches-or which combination-is most appropriate for each of the six types of anxiety disorder.

Panic Disorder. The American Psychological Association now recommends Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy as the preferred initial treatment approach for people suffering from panic attacks or panic disorder.

The treatment of panic attacks with cognitive restructuring has three stages: reducing the fear of the attack itself; reducing fear of the physical symptoms that occur during an attack; and reducing fear of the situations or things that the patient associates with the panic attacks and therefore avoids. The process begins with a reconstruction and analysis of the patient's history of panic episodes, and introduces counter-information to contextualize their fears. Controlled behavioral experiments may then be used, during which patients are encouraged to let themselves experience the full impact of a panic attack while applying cognitive observational techniques they have learned. Interoceptive exposure and desensitization exercises are also used in controlled circumstances to help panic sufferers practice dealing with their specific physical symptoms such as dizziness, palpitations or hyperventilation. Exposure and desensitization can also help people lose their over-reactiveness to objects, activities or situations they fear and avoid.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Patients with OCD seem to response less positively with cognitive-behavioral therapy alone, though a variation of exposure therapy called "response prevention" can be helpful. Patients practice completely resisting their ritual behaviors upon being repeatedly exposed (at least 20 hours usually) to the things that trigger the ritual response. Anti-depressants seem to be particularly useful in the treatment of OCD.

Phobias. Specific phobias are among the anxiety disorders most successfully treated through CBT. Once patients overcome their initial reluctance to seek help-which can make it difficult to diagnose the problem in the first place-desensitization through gradual exposure is relatively straightforward and fast. Social phobia is a more complex problem, because the triggers are more internal and rooted in distorted self-assessment. However, social phobia is responsive in many cases to CBT. Group treatment is often useful by helping patients recognize similar distortions and fears as they occur in other people. Beta blockers can also help people with social phobia deal with specific situations, such as a public performance or presentation. SSRIs and MAOI anti-depressants can also be indicated.

Post Traumautic Stress Disorder. People with PTSD often have very severe symptoms (frequently including panic attacks),. The triggers and stimuli they avoid are likely to be complex and numerous. PTSD sufferers are particularly likely to fear that they are "going crazy." They generally need to work with highly experienced and sensitive therapists.

General Anxiety Disorder. This can be one of the least responsive conditions to cognitive-behavioral therapy because it is so generalized that it can be difficult to identify specific targets for desensitization or exposure therapy. GAD sufferers are less likely to have specific avoidance behaviors, so behavioral exposure is not particularly indicated. GAD also tends to be closely associated with depression, and the treatment of choice is often psychopharmacological. The Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most commonly prescribed medications for people with GAD.

Many practitioners recommend and prescribe anti-anxiety drugs (benzodiazepines) as a primary treatment option for anxiety disorders, particularly panic disorder. Others prefer to avoid these drugs in part because they are so immediately effective. Patients may feel so much immediate relief that they are less motivated and willing to undertake the more demanding and time-consuming tasks involved in cognitive-behavioral approaches that lead to more lasting long-term success.

The Different Types of Anxiety Disorders

There are 5 major types of anxiety disorders. They are all classified according to the types of symptoms that are exhibited, although they do have some shared manifestations.

1.   Generalized Anxiety Disorder

This one is quite common and is caused by generally high levels of tension, stress and worry. These will usually come about from every day living, and will be caused by things such as a highly stressful job, a bad relationship, shortage of finances and so on. The reason why it's so common is because a lot of people today live life with these kinds of tensions everyday, but they don't seem to realize that the resulting anxiety can become much more serious.

Its manifestations are everyday feelings of illness, but not quite. You will have headaches, stomach aches, poor concentration, palpitations and many more, but they are never quite serious enough to send you to a doctor. You will know that something is wrong when eventually you are not able to function normally at all.

2.   Panic Disorder

This disorder is less common than generalized anxiety disorder, and its manifestation is much more intense. It comes suddenly and without warning, and one will feel unable to breath, you will sweat, your heart will beat really fast and you will tremble among other symptoms. Sufferers report feeling confused and a sense of doom - feeling as though they were going to die.

The reason why these reactions happen has not quite been found out. Some people will suffer panic attacks often, while for many others, it can be a single episode in life that never repeats. Panic disorder, because it causes panic attacks, can lead one to develop agoraphobia; where you are afraid to be in a certain place because you worry you may get a panic attack.

3.   Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

This is rarer still than the two above, and it's precisely as the name describes. One becomes obsessive and has compulsions that they can't seem to control. The obsessions are rather different from other obsessions, say hobbies that other people would have. One can have a compulsive fear of germs so that they are constantly cleaning and are afraid of catching the germs of others. The compulsions are also uncontrollable - someone may develop a certain way of getting into their house so that they only step on certain tiles on the floor. The cause for this disorder has not been established, but medication and behavioral therapy seem to help.

4.   Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

This one can be rather serious because sometimes sufferers can harm themselves in an attempt to get out of their pain. It is usually experienced by people who have been through a deeply traumatic event; like rape, war, a shooting, a bombing and anything else that can leave someone deeply scarred. They have flashbacks of the event and they keep seeing it as it happens. They suffer insomnia because when they try to sleep they relive what happened.

They tend to become emotionally withdrawn and sometimes have a deep sense of self loathing because they think that they are to blame for what happened. They will usually be irritable and can react physically when reminded of the trauma.

5.   Phobias

These types of anxiety disorders are many and varied, but they are still classified as anxiety disorders especially if they go so far as to affect the every day living of a person.

Fortunately, all anxiety disorders can be treated either through behavioral therapy or through medication or a combination of both. If you feel that you may be suffering from any of these types of anxiety disorders listed here, do not hesitate to seek help.

Anxiety Disorders - When to See a Doctor

Anxiety is a common disorder that may occur to many people without them even knowing that they are actually suffering from a disorder. Anxiety is a common feeling that any person may feel any day, any time. Anxiety disorders are different from ordinary anxiety feelings in a way that disorders happen when specific triggers are exposed to the individual and may also happen for no reason at all. Anxiety disorders are also different in such a way that if interferes with the normal function of a person during any normal day due to things which a person may not necessarily feel apprehensive about.

Symptoms of Anxiety

You know that you are overly anxious because you feel a host of different physical symptoms. A lot of these symptoms focus on the heart, the lungs and the digestive tract. Anxiety is usually accompanied by elevated heart rate, nausea, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing and an upset stomach or even diarrhea. There are actually many other symptoms of an anxiety attack but these are the most common.

As you can see, having severe anxiety attacks can really put a dent on your daily life. An individual may deal with an anxiety attack once or twice a month but having one daily spells big trouble and the need for medical attention. If you do not know if you are having an anxiety attack, but suspect that you may have this disorder, it is best to consult a doctor for the proper diagnosis or also consult an alternative medicine practitioner if you prefer these.

Many of the symptoms for anxiety are commonly found in other diseases and disorders as well. The job of putting two and two together to see if you have a disorder associated with anxiety is a doctor's job. It is also best to consult at least two or three doctors regarding your condition to be on the safe side since many doctors may have a difference of opinion when it comes to disorders that have something to do with one's mental state.

Seeking Help

Many people suffering from anxiety hesitate to seek professional help because anxiety is a disorder that many feels have something to do with one's state of mind. It is also difficult for some people who suffer from anxiety to bring themselves to seek professional help or medical assistance because they do not want to be seen as someone who is unstable and can not quite control oneself.

One should seek medical help if the symptoms of anxiety are so severe that they interfere with the individual's social, personal and professional life. Some people who suffer from a form of anxiety disorder may feel too distraught to face people even when he needs to do this for work. Other symptoms that manifest and disrupt normal everyday life are the nausea, dizziness, diarrhea, chest pains and shortness of breath. If symptoms continue for several days, it is recommended that you consult a doctor or a health professional.

Other forms of anxiety disorders may invoke strong feelings of depression and cause homicidal or suicidal thoughts. If an individual is in these stages of depression, the people around him should be the ones to bring him to seek professional care and help. This is because an individual who dwells on these thoughts may not have enough willpower to help himself in a positive way.

Anxiety Attacks - Can You Inherit an Anxiety Disorder?

There are many factors that contribute to the development of anxiety disorders. All of them play a role in creating the necessary conditions for panic attacks, panic disorder and other phobias and anxiety to play an overwhelming role in your life.

One important factor might be the inherited, long term or sustained risk that predisposes you to panic and anxiety. Inherited risk factors such as biological causes, childhood circumstances and accumulated stress are the long term problems that set the stage for potential panic and anxiety problems. In order for these long term factors to come into play, they usually need to be triggered or activated by short-term problems.

These triggers can include excessive stress, trauma or conditioning. Once panic attacks or anxiety have entered your life, they only stay in your life because you are maintaining the causes that are fueling them.

Your maintenance of panic and anxiety include nervous or agitated self talk, excessive worries, and avoidance of fearful situations.

In people who have panic disorder or some of the other anxiety conditions, the alarm system is triggered even though there is no danger and many scientists don´t know why this happens.

Panic disorder does seem to run in families, which may mean there is a strong biological component but many people with no family history develop panic disorder which suggests that biology is not the only factor at play.

There is a lot of controversy about whether panic disorders, phobias and anxiety can be inherited. Research has not uncovered a magic gene that controls anxiety or clear evidence that your parents are to blame for you condition.

That would be a convenient source of blame but it´s not the silver bullet. However, studies using twins show an increased likelihood that one twin will have panic disorders if the other does. These studies seem to support that at least some of the responsibility falls to your genetic design.

What many researchers and experts on this subject believe is inherited, is a personality type. If the personality type you inherit is predisposed to be anxious, volatile, excitable and reactive you are more likely to develop an anxiety disorder.

However, the manifestations of that reactive personality depend on the stresses you are exposed to in childhood, adolescence and beyond.

You may never had the opportunity to develop full blown panic disorder or agoraphobia because you were raised in a nurturing environment and were surrounded by supportive people. It´s the old nature and nurture argument.

Since nurture plays a role, here are some contributing factors that might predispose you to panic attacks or anxiety disorders. If your parents were overprotective this may lead to an excessive worry and concern for your own safety.

The fearful attitude of your parents about catching a cold, crossing the street, not climbing too high etc. etc. will cause and reinforce a reluctant, fearful view of the world is a dangerous place. If your parents were high achievers and expected the same from you it could have had a detrimental impact.

The high standards and the strive for perfection may have made you a perfectionist and too self-critical. These traits can lead to anxiety disorders because perfection is impossible to achieve and a lifetime of coming up short can certainly fuel a doubtful, anxious personality

Growing up in an insecure environment, either physically or emotionally can lead to anxiety conditions. Aside from the more obvious physical, sexual or emotional abuse, experiences such as divorce, death, or an alcoholic or addicted family member can lead to excessive clinginess and lack of confidence later on in life.

Regardless the reasons for anxiety problems, they can be dealt with and while it may not solve the underlying issue that caused or triggered your panic attacks or other anxiety, it can stop the panic attacks in their tracks and that´s the first step to regaining your life.