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Introduction |
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The Various Types of Anxiety Disorders |
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Causes of Anxiety Disorders |
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How Social Workers Can Help |
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Treatments |
Introduction
Who has not experienced a gnawing, persistent feeling of unease, of not having finished something, or a vague sense that something is about to go terribly wrong?
At some time or another in our lives, we’ll all experience anxiety. The anxiety may be grounded in reality. For example, a person may feel anxious giving a speech before a large audience. In this case, the anxiety can be beneficial, spurring the person to perform at your peak level.
However, anxiety can also take the shape of a persistent and excessive worry about an issue or situation, that the person finds difficult to control.
Seeking professional help should be considered when anxiety:
- Becomes overwhelming and persistent
- Occurs with no warning
- Interferes with daily living
- Lasts for six months or beyond
Fortunately, most anxiety disorders are highly treatable with psychotherapy, drugs, or a combination of both. Unfortunately, many people with anxiety disorders don’t seek treatment because they do not believe they have a legitimate illness, or they fear the reaction of family and friends.
The Various Types of Anxiety Disorders
While all anxiety disorders are characterized by excessive or unrealistic worry or nervousness that does not go away on its own, experts have grouped the disorders into specific categories with specific symptoms. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR®) lists the following anxiety disorders:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) – The target of the excessive worry may be a job, money, or a relationship, and the anxiety lasts six months or more. Symptoms may include sleep disturbance, fatigue, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and muscle tension. Sufferers tend to be high-strung, or always feeling as though they are “on edge.”
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) – People with this condition are plagued by recurring, persistent thoughts (obsessions), impulses, or images that cause anxiety or distress, and are not simply excessive worries about real life concerns. To stave off the feelings or to keep the anxiety at bay, a sufferer may perform a ritual or routine (the compulsion) such as constant hand washing, repeating certain words or phrases or hoarding or meticulously organizing certain items or collections. The obsessions or compulsions typically cause distress, and the person at some point does recognize that the obsessions or compulsions are not reasonable.
- Panic Disorders – People suffering from panic disorder may feel they are about to have a heart attack or are suddenly “going crazy” for no apparent reason. Other symptoms of panic disorders include heart palpitations, sweating, chest pains and discomfort, choking or inability to breathe, a fear of dying, nausea, abdominal distress, dizziness, or a feeling of losing control.
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder’s three primary symptoms are (1) reliving the event through flashbacks and nightmares; (2) avoidance behavior, in which you stay away from stimuli associated with the trauma; and (3) symptoms of increased stimulation, in which you have difficulty sleeping, are irritable or edgy, are unable to concentrate properly, or are hyper-vigilant. Anyone who has survived a traumatic event, such as the sudden death of a loved one, a violent car accident, a personal assault, or a natural disaster such as a hurricane or the deadly tsunami that struck southeast Asia late in 2004, may be at risk of experiencing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
- Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia) – A person suffering from this disorder may experience extreme anxiety at the thought of being judged by others, combined with excessive anxiety in social situations. This intense anxiety may cause the person to avoid gatherings or socializing of any sort. Physical symptoms can include blushing, profuse sweating, heart palpitations, and feeling faint.
- Specific Phobias – Some people are inappropriately frightened by a very specific object or situation, such as a dog, a snake, heights, or closed surroundings. What differentiates a sufferer from someone with a more realistic fear is the level of appropriateness to the trigger.
Causes of Anxiety Disorders
There is no easy answer for this very basic question. Experts believe anxiety disorders are caused by a combination of factors such as life events, one’s specific brain chemistry, personality, and genetic predisposition.
Anxiety disorders are not out of the ordinary. In fact, they are the most common mental or emotional illness in the country, with roughly 20 million people affected annually (approximately one in nine). Women are twice as likely to be afflicted with generalized anxiety disorder as men.
If you feel at all inhibited about discussing your situation with your doctor or other health care professional, trust that many people have been through this experience, and your health care professional is familiar with how to get you the help you need. As uncomfortable as it might feel to admit to feeling a sense of irrational anxiety, it’s not uncommon.
How Social Workers Can Help
If you recognize yourself or someone dear to you in any of these scenarios, you may want to consider seeking out the services of a social worker. Social workers are highly trained to recognize these disorders and are equally skilled in pointing you in the right direction for treatment. They may refer you to a professional who specializes in treating your specific type of anxiety disorder, or they may treat it themselves. A social worker might give you a list of doctors who are intimately familiar with anxiety disorders and who can prescribe medication, or psychotherapists who can offer ‘talk therapy.”
Treatments
The treatment will depend upon which type of anxiety you are experiencing and how severe it is. The goal is for you to lead a productive and fulfilling life without feeling a need to unnecessarily avoid situations. This is an entirely feasible goal, considering that up to 90 percent of all sufferers respond effectively to treatment.
The average length of treatment with behavioral therapy is generally 12 weeks. Bear in mind that success rates depend upon the individual situation. Other problems such as depression or substance abuse can make the diagnosis and treatment more complex. With the proper care, however, recovery is possible.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is often used, as is psychotherapy and stress management techniques. Drugs used to treat anxiety include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclic antidepressants, beta-blockers, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Often, a combination of therapies works best.
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