Types of Anxiety
If you are experiencing anxiety, then you are not alone. Millions of people around the world each year struggle with the stress and worries that life brings their way.
Some people can cope with acute stress effectively by using specific skills and interventions that allow them to approach these challenging emotions.
Others deal with the impact of anxiousness throughout their entire lives because of how these feelings impact them.
With this information, you can speak with your doctor about any concerns and how it may be possible to treat the symptoms of your stress and worry.
Generalised Anxiety Disorder
Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a long-term condition that causes you to feel anxious about a wide range of situations and issues, rather than 1 specific event.
People with GAD feel anxious most days and often struggle to remember the last time they felt relaxed.
As soon as one anxious thought is resolved, another may appear about a different issue.
Symptoms of a generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)
Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) can cause both psychological (mental) and physical symptoms.
These vary from person to person, but can include:
- feeling restless or worried
- having trouble concentrating or sleeping
- dizziness or heart palpitations
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
You will have obsessions, compulsion or both if you have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD.)
An obsession is an unwelcome thought or image that you keep thinking about and is largely out of your control. These can be difficult to ignore. These thoughts can be disturbing, which can make you feel distressed and anxious.
Compulsion is something you think about or do repeatedly to relieve anxiety. This can be hidden or obvious. Such as saying a phrase in your head to calm yourself. Or checking that the front door is locked.
You might believe that something bad will happen if you do not do these things. You may realise that your thinking and behaviour is not logical but still find it very difficult to stop.
There are different types of OCD, which include:
- Contamination – A need to clean and wash because something or someone is contaminated
- Checking – The constant need to check yourself or your environment to prevent damage, fire, leaks or harm
- Intrusive thoughts – Thoughts which are repetitive, upsetting and often horrific
- Hoarding – Not feeling able to throw away useless or worn out items
Speak to your GP if you think you have OCD. They should discuss treatment options with you.
Panic Disorder
Panic disorder results in regular panic attacks with no particular trigger. They can happen suddenly and feel intense and frightening, it is also possible to dissociate during panic attacks. You may also worry about having another panic attack.
Certain situations can cause panic attacks, for example, if you don’t like small spaces but have to use a lift. This doesn’t mean that you have a panic disorder.
Panic disorder symptoms can include the following:
- An overwhelming sense of dread or fear
- Chest pain or a sensation that your heart is beating irregularly
- Feeling that you might be dying or having a heart attack
- Sweating and hot flushes, or chills and shivering
- A dry mouth, shortness of breath or choking sensation
- Nausea, dizziness and feeling faint
- Numbness, pins and needles or a tingling sensation in your fingers
- A need to go to the toilet
- A churning stomach
- Ringing in your ears
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
You might develop PTSD after a traumatic experience such as an assault, accident or natural disaster
Symptoms can include having traumatic memories or dreams, avoiding things that remind you of the event, not being able to sleep and feeling anxious. You may feel isolated and withdrawn
Many people have some symptoms of trauma after a traumatic event. But for most people, these go away with time and do not develop into PTSD. PTSD can be treated with therapy
Body Dysmorphic Disorder
You will have upsetting thoughts about the way you look if you have Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD.) The thoughts don’t go away and have a big effect on daily life. This is not the same as being vain about your appearance. You may believe that you are ugly and that everyone sees you as ugly, even if they reassure you that this isn’t true. Or you may believe that people are focused on an area of your body such as scar or birthmark. It can be very distressing and lead to depression.
You may spend a large amount of time:
- Staring at your face or body in the mirror
- Comparing your features with other people
- Covering yourself with lots of makeup
- Thinking about plastic surgery
If you struggle with one of these anxiety disorders or believe that you may experience symptoms, then you should speak with your doctor or a medical professional about your situation. There are active steps that you can take under their care that can reduce the intensity of your worrisome feelings.
Another option to consider is to use a product that can help to relieve acute feelings of anxiety right away. Anxt is designed to contain all the key ingredients which can help relax and relieve symptoms of stress and anxious thoughts.
You can combine Anxt products with other forms of stress relief, such as essential oils or lemon balm, to create a powerful result that can help alleviate triggers.
If you struggle with the symptoms of anxiety right now, then seek out help for the stress that you feel. Don’t let an anxiety disorder be the definition of who you are.