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ANXIETY 101

Psychotherapists and psychiatrists classify anxiety issues into seven major types, which treatment can come about without diagnosis. These are: 1. Specific Phobias A vast series of illogical fear of a situation or an object such as birds, snakes, heights, storms, dogs, spiders, or airplane. 2. Panic Disorder People who have experienced more than one panic attack are most likely to have this type of anxiety. This results to perturbed behaviors assuming further attacks and public embarrassment. Panic disorder is often accompanied by enhanced sensations such as heart palpitation and/or rapid heart rate experts refer to as "the onset of panic". One cannot be classified to having this type of anxiety if he or she has had only one panic attack, because it is possible to never have had experienced another one. 3. Agoraphobia This type of anxiety is often accompanied by panic disorder. A panic attack traced from a root of a situational fear. In worst cases, a person experiencing this anxiety has trouble sensing safety and security on places other than his own home. 4. GAD or Generalized Anxiety Disorder This is the most common of all anxiety types, classified by a constant feeling of worry and resulting to tiredness and loss of body energy, as well as the inability to have a good sleep. 5. PTSD or Post-Traumatic Discorder An anxiety disorder that is commonly caused by extreme trauma. It may arise from flashbacks, past traumatic incidents, poor sleeping habits, irritability, lack of concentration, certain unavoidable situations and occurrences, and detaching oneself from reality. 6. OCD or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Obsession and compulsions may either be present only by themselves or together. Obsessions are characterized as repetitive thoughts that continuously disturb the mind, like someone trying to kill a person who is a member of his of her family. Compulsions, on the other hand, are repetitive mental strategies or actions that are applied to try avoiding a feeling of anxiety, like repetitive bathing to get rid of dirt or germs. While obsessive thoughts create anxiety, compulsive acts temporarily reduce anxiety. 7. Social Phobia Anxiety that leads to avoidance of any situation that may put a person in to public criticism, scrutiny, embarrassment or humiliation. Examples of these are: attending parties, public open forums, class discussion, meeting new colleagues and so on. One of the world renowned form of therapy to treat such anxieties is cognitive-behavioral therapy. Consulting a physician and having an open, honest discussion with him is the first step before anxiety medication process begins. Constant evaluation and monitoring follows by then. For people dealing with anxiety, taking medications may be an extremely effective means of treating this disorder. Though it might not resolve all the probable fruits of anxiety, medications will help avoid full blown anxiety, which is the goal of any treatment. In some cases, individuals are also encouraged to join group psychotherapy treatments. Medication, only when taken in right amounts and in an appropriate manner, guided by the instructions of the physician, will effectively resolve anxiety. In any treatment or medication, one may experience some side effects like headaches, stomach upset, drowsiness, nausea and even sexual side effects. These side effects may be transitory, but some may be persistent and will often require a change in medication. Many patients worry about getting addicted to some anxiety medications. Reportedly, people have probable association with drug dependency rather than drug addiction to most commonly prescribed anxiety medications like alprazolam, diazepam, and clonazepam. In treating anxiety, it is important to be honest with your psychiatrist because one's life and health is at stake.

• Anxiety, Shyness May Be Long-Lasting Traits (HealthDay via Yahoo! News)
  
  FRIDAY, July 4 (HealthDay News) -- The brains of people who suffer from anxiety and severe shyness may respond more strongly to stress and show signs of being anxious even in situations considered safe by others, say researchers at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.
  


• The age of anxiety: from boom to gloom (Miami Herald)
  
  Most people are as happy as they make up their minds to be. In these rollercoaster times, social get-togethers have turned into therapy sessions that are equal parts career counseling and spiritual revival. Seems everybody I know is worried about his or her economic future, and that anxiety goes far beyond the expensive stops at the gas pump.
  


• Anxiety drives homeowners to Web for estimates, but results vary (Modesto Bee)
  
  LOS ANGELES -- Consider it among the unintended consequences of the national housing bust: homeowners radiating every shade of anxiety after repeatedly visiting online real estate sites that conjure up instant home value estimates.
  


• (AFX UK Focus) 2008-07-04 04:10 Tokyo shares end morning lower on anxiety over oil prices, credit crisis -UPDATE (Interactive Investor)
  
  TOKYO (Thomson Financial) - Japanese shares ended the morning session on Friday slightly lower as anxiety over soaring oil prices and fallout from the U.S. credit crisis continued to weigh on the market.
  


• Anxiety, Shyness May Be Long-Lasting Traits (Health Scout)
  
  Brain mechanism present early in life predisposes people to worry, study finds.