Anxiety Disorders

There are many anxiety disorders with severity ranging from mild to severe. Causes may be biological, environmental, or both. Anxiety disorders tend to run in families and are frequently accompanied by depression and/or substance abuse. Many individuals have more than one anxiety disorder. Untreated anxiety may lead to secondary anxiety, which is fear of being afraid. This can cause severe restriction in an individual’s life and ability to function.

Anxiety disorders include:

Generalized anxiety disorder –free-floating anxiety that is not related to a specific fear. Symptoms include worry, muscle tension, insomnia, and heart palpitations.

Panic disorder – brief attacks of intense terror causing confusion, dizziness, difficulty breathing and fears of impending doom and/or death.

Phobias – irrational fear with avoidance of a situation or object such as small spaces, heights, snakes, and spiders. Social Phobia – fear of being in social situations. Fear of public speaking is a common social phobia.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder – Obsessions are intrusive, unwanted thoughts that the individual may realize are irrational while compulsions are behaviors the individual needs to keep repeating.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder – result of a traumatic experience, such as rape, war, or abuse. The individual experiences intrusive memories, fear of related situations, and avoidance of anything reminiscent of the original trauma.

When do symptoms appear? Symptoms can appear at any age. Symptoms sometimes appear following a traumatic experience. The sooner a diagnosis is made after symptoms appear, the shorter and more successful treatment is. Whenever anxiety disorders are diagnosed, they are usually treatable.

Myths and obstacles to treatment – Mistaken beliefs like “it’s all in your head,” “you’ll get over it,” or “just try harder” cause shame for the individual and make it harder to seek treatment. Sufferers are viewed as weak when they are actually quite courageous in continuing to function despite sometimes overwhelming fear.

Treatment - Research indicates a combination of medication and psychotherapy is most helpful. Psychotherapy includes helping individuals change their behavior and their thoughts. Clients learn to identify symptoms, how to deal with them, and how to engage in new thoughts and behaviors. Newer techniques using light, peripheral vision, eye movemen (EMDR),acupressure point tapping, and EMDR are being used successfully. Relaxation techniques, meditation, and yoga are helpful.

Medications can include such anxiolytics as Xanax or Valium. These medications are easily habit-forming and usually prescribed short-term. Antidepressants which also address anxiety are frequently used. These can be prescribed longer-term.

Treatment may last from several months to over a year, depending on the type of disorder, severity and such underlying issues as a history of repeated trauma. Treatment results in disappearance or reduction of the symptoms.

How can friends and family help? Encourage seeking help and offer support. Support includes offering to be with someone in a fearful situation or listening to the individual’s fears and remaining confident they can learn to work through these fears.

Sue Lafferty, Ph.D.

Sue is a Board Member for Housing Options, a community organization which provides housing for mentally ill residents. This article was written for their newsletter.