Everyone experiences anxiety at some point in their life. Anxiety is a natural response that is useful in helping us to avoid dangerous situations and motivating us to solve everyday problems. Anxiety can vary in severity from mild uneasiness to a terrifying panic attack.
With the exception of traumatic events, it is difficult to pinpoint specific causes of anxiety. However, heredity, stress or illness can trigger the disorder.
Signs and symptoms of anxiety:
Physical effects
- Cardiovascular: chest pain, rapid heartbeat, hot flashes, chills
- Respiratory: hyperventilation, shortness of breath
- Neurological: dizziness, headache, sweating, tingling and numbness
- Gastrointestinal: choking, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- Musculoskeletal: muscle aches and pains (especially neck, shoulders and lower back), restlessness, tremors and shaking
Psychological effects
- Unrealistic and/or excessive fear and worry about past or future events
- Mind racing or going blank
- Decreased concentration and memory
- Difficulty making decisions
- Irritability, impatience, anger
- Confusion
- Restlessness or feeling on edge, nervousness
- Tiredness, sleep disturbances, vivid dreams
Behavioural effects
- Avoidance of situations
- Obsessive or compulsive behaviour
- Distress in social situations
- Phobic behaviour
Types of Anxiety Disorders
It is important to understand the different types of anxiety disorders:
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is the most common. It is overwhelming worry and fear about things that might go wrong even when there are no signs of trouble.
- Panic disorders (with or without agoraphobia) are brief moments of intense fear, and its physical reactions include shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, shakiness, sweating, fear of losing control and wanting to run away. A panic attack can feel like a heart attack even though they are not life threatening. However, it is important to be checked out at an emergency department immediately following one to ensure that it is not a medical problem.
- Agoraphobia frequently accompanies panic disorders. This is the fear of being in places or situations which would be difficult to escape from, or in which it would be difficult to find help, should a person suffer a panic attack.
- Social anxiety disorder (social phobia) – A person with social anxiety disorder is excessively fearful of social or performance situations. They feel extreme anxiety about the possibility of being judged by others or behaving in ways which might cause embarrassment. They may have fears about being unable to continue talking in public or choking on food when eating in front of others. This can lead to attacks which may involve heart palpitations, shortness of breath and profuse sweating. They will usually go to great lengths to avoid feared situations.
- Phobic disorders are irrational and extreme fears related to specific situations, people or things. A person with a phobia will avoid situations that cause anxiety such as crowds or public speaking.
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is unwanted, repetitive, intrusive thoughts and/or repetitive behaviours that cause serious distress, consume a lot of time or interfere with daily routines. People with OCD try to relieve their obsessions by performing compulsive rituals, over and over again, and often according to certain "rules". Typical compulsions are washing, checking and arranging things, and counting.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an intense and lasting reaction to serious, life threatening events that have occurred in the past such as violence, accidents or natural disasters. Situations involving lesser trauma such as a car crash may result in symptoms of PTSD.
- Acute stress disorder develops within one month of a traumatic event. As it is often caused by exposure to trauma, people with this disorder often go on to develop PTSD.
Anxiety_ Youth.pdf
Anxiety_ Adult.pdf