At the root of anxiety is some type of fear. Fear rises when our safety
is threatened and while the purpose of fear is to warn us of real
danger, the few times danger is real, is offset by the thousands of
times that it isn't.
Each of the following types of anxiety disorder may range from very
mild to a serious medical condition where you should see a doctor right
away:
Generalized Anxiety
Disorder (GAD)(most common) - Starts with repetitive unmanaged
thoughts and emotions and becomes GAD when anxious thoughts or feelings
are chronic for 6 or more months. If you have GAD, you may be irritable
or edgy, tire easily, find it hard to focus, have muscle tension, or
have difficulty relaxing or sleeping.
Panic Disorder
- Identified by recurring panic attacks. The heart beats fast and there
may be tension or pain in the chest. The physical sensations of panic
attacks can be overwhelming and scary as you feel as if you are losing
control. Many with panic disorder are plagued with irrational fears.
Phobia Disorder
- A fear of panicking or losing control in certain situations so the
situations are avoided.
Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder (PTSD) - Occurs after a deep emotional shock or
traumatic event such as witnessing extreme violence, experiencing war,
or an emotional or physical injury that has left you feeling betrayed or
violated.
Anxiety can make people shun intimacy or conversely, become too
attached and seek a great deal of reassurance from their partners or
children. They then feel powerless or out of control which only
reinforces the anxiety. This feeling of lack of control and ongoing
anxiety control often leads to depression.
