
7 Types of Anxiety: Not all Anxiety is the Same
Anxiety is a totally normal response in daily life, it is a conditioned response that distinguishes us from inanimate objects. For example, when we feel hungry we have a feeling of anxiety, which preserves life. The same is the case when an animal threatens us. We tend to flee or defend ourselves, but when anxiety is shown disproportionately to the stimulus that caused it , or when it comes up for no apparent reason is when we are faced with a pathological situation. Typically, this is when we seek and need help.
Usually the first answer is to go to anxiolytics, methods to reduce anxiety. However, it is very important to find out the real triggers of anxiety so that we can feel and manage own our emotions again. That’s when we require the assistance of a professional. Anxiety of this kind deteriorates the quality of life; the world becomes a threat.
These manifestations can last a long time and/or present themselves intensely, leading to panic attacks and anxiety. Many times, this can lead to an in individual to visit the emergency room in a hospital, where, of course, they do not discover physical problems.
Symptoms that usually occur include, but are not limited to:
- Feeling nervous, agitated or strained
- Feeling imminent danger, panic or catastrophe
- Increased heart rate
- Accelerated breathing (hyperventilation)
- Sweating
- Tremors
- Feeling weak or tired
- Problems concentrating or thinking about anything other than the current concern
- Having trouble falling asleep
- Having gastrointestinal problems
- Having difficulty controlling concerns
- Having the need to avoid situations that create anxiety
The recommendation is to seek help for any of the following cases:
- You feel like you’re worrying too much and that this interferes with your work, your relationships and other aspects of your life
- Your fear, worry or anxiety causes you discomfort and you find it difficult to control them
- You feel depressed, have problems with alcohol or drug use, or have other mental health problems along with anxiety
- You think your anxiety might be linked to a physical health problem
- You have suicidal thoughts or behaviors (if so, seek emergency treatment immediately)
Anxiety-related disorders, according to DSM-V:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Generalized anxiety disorder is linked to depression and is one of the most common psychological problems among the general population. It is characterized by a chronic concern regarding everyday difficulties that causes symptoms such as muscle tension, irritability, tiredness, concentration problems and sleep disturbances, so that it interferes with normal life.
- Anguish disorder (panic attacks)
Distress disorder is diagnosed when the person has recurrent distress crises. These episodes, which are also called “panic attacks,” consist of symptoms of very intense anxiety such as shortness of breath, tremors, dizziness and fear of dying.
- Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia is a type of anxiety disorder in which a person is afraid of the possibility of suffering a crisis of distress in a situation from which it would be difficult to escape; this leads affected people to avoid many places and events.
- Specific Phobia
Specific phobias are intense and irrational fears of stimuli or situations; exposure to these causes’ feelings of anxiety and fear and promotes avoidance or flight. Although they are more common in children, specific phobias remain the most common psychological disorder among adults.
Among the most common types of phobia are fear of darkness, animals, blood, wounds and injections, planes or other means of transport, and aquaphobia or water phobia.
- Social anxiety disorder (social phobia)
Social phobia is called “social anxiety disorder” by DSM-V. It is a type of anxiety derived from interaction with other people, and more specifically from the fear of being ridiculed in a public situation or negative assessments by others. The extreme version of this problem is avoidance personality disorder.
- Separation anxiety
It is normal for young children to feel some anxiety when they separate from their parents, at least at certain ages; the diagnosis of separation anxiety disorder is applied when this fact becomes pathological, associated with symptoms like those of distress crises.
- Selective mutism
As with separation anxiety disorder, selective mutism occurs primarily in children. It consists of an absence of verbal language with some people, for example, teachers or classmates, despite having the ability to use it correctly, and it has to do with shyness and social anxiety.
Again, anxiety can impact our well-being and our daily life.
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