Anxiety Disorders Symptoms Everyone experiences anxiety and fear at times - it's an inevitable part of being human However, when these feelings persist and cause problems in your everyday life, you could be suffering from an anxiety disorder A medical professional can assist you in finding an appropriate treatment that matches your needs This can include anti-anxiety medication, psychotherapy or natural remedies like exercise, healthy eating, and sleep 1 Worry and Fear Every person experiences feelings of anxiety and fear from time to time -- it's a natural part of our body's "fight-or-flight" response to danger However, if the fear or anxiety is intense, does not disappear, and it interferes with your daily routine it could be an indication of anxiety disorder Your doctor can diagnose anxiety disorders through a conversation with you, a physical examination as well as urine or blood tests, and inquires regarding your past health You may also be provided with questionnaires to complete that help your doctor evaluate whether you have a particular anxiety disorder The symptoms of anxiety disorders differ according to the type For example, people with generalized anxiety disorder GAD have persistent excessive and irrational worries about their daily routines even though they know there is no risk They also have difficulty getting comfortable or falling asleep Other signs include a rapid or fluttering heart heart beating and trembling They also experience sweating People who suffer from panic disorders have frequent episodes of fear or terror that are intense, which reach a peak within minutes They also have difficulty managing their emotions They usually try to avoid certain locations or activities to stop these attacks from occurring People who suffer from phobias are extremely scared of certain things, such as flying or snakes Other symptoms may include headaches, or difficulty breathing People suffering from PTSD are anxious when they witness or experience traumatizing events like a war, or car accident They may experience other symptoms, too, including flashbacks and nightmares about the traumatizing incident Other forms of anxiety disorders include ocd hoarding disorder, and social anxiety disorder that makes you feel anxious in social settings You may also experience anxiety due to a specific health issue, which is known as illness anxiety disorder Stress and chemical imbalances can also cause anxiety Sometimes, anxiety can be an adverse effect of certain medicines 2 Panic Attacks Everyone is worried or anxious at some point, people with anxiety disorders have recurring feelings of extreme fear and panic that are in contrast to their situation These feelings can trigger severe physical reactions like a racing pulse, breathlessness, and nausea You might also feel disengaged or numb While anyone can have an anxiety attack but you're more likely to develop this mental health issue in your the early years of childhood, adolescence, or adulthood There are many factors that can trigger it, including chronic or extreme stress that triggers chemical imbalances in the brain and nervous system Trauma, especially in childhood or adolescence can increase the chances of developing anxiety disorders Panic attacks can occur for no apparent reason or as a result of a specific situation that makes you afraid, such as being around an en masse They are distinct from normal anxiety symptoms since they exhibit more severe symptoms, and are often unexpected People with anxiety disorders may also experience a mixture of expected and unanticipated panic attacks The most common treatments for panic attacks and anxiety include talking therapies and medication Talking therapies can help you learn to manage your anxiety and overcome unfounded beliefs that cause anxiety They can teach you relaxation techniques, like mindfulness and deep breathing Some medications, such as SSRIs and SNRIs like duloxetine and venlafaxine can help reduce anxiety and panic If you have a recurrent panic attack, it's important to consult your doctor and get treatment right away Your doctor will determine whether you have any other health conditions that cause similar symptoms, and may suggest alternative treatments 3 Insomnia If people are stressed they may have trouble sleeping or staying asleep This is known as insomnia It can be a temporary issue or a longer-term one Sleep deprivation can make it difficult to function during the day and can cause serious health issues It is more common among women than men and is more prevalent among older adults It is also more prevalent in people with psychiatric disorders Many different things can cause insomnia Many different things can trigger it Sleep is affected by a variety of temporary illnesses such as colds or headaches or chronic illnesses like acid reflux, Parkinson's disease or arthritis and medicines Stressful life situations can also trigger it About half of those with chronic insomnia suffer from a mental illness, most commonly depression or anxiety The first thing the doctor will do is to look for physical causes of the issue They will examine your medical history and inquire about the symptoms making it harder to sleep They will also want to be aware of whether any medications you are taking are affecting it They could also conduct an examination of your sleep to check your breathing and heart rate during the night The most effective treatment of insomnia is a form of behavioral therapy It helps you change the negative thinking patterns that keep you awake It also teaches you ways to relax before you go to bed There are techniques for doing this, including biofeedback, progressive relaxation and meditation Your doctor can help find a therapist to teach you the techniques If you find that behavioral therapy does not work it is possible to explore a range of medications to aid in sleeping better These include benzodiazepines, which can be used to ease symptoms temporarily and also anti-anxiety and antidepressant medication 4 Eating Disorders The most common symptoms of eating disorders are obsessions with weight, body shape and food as well as eating habits like restrictive eating, binge eating purging through vomiting or laxative misuse and obsessive exercise Many people who have an eating disorder also have anxiety and suffer from a mental illness that is co-occurring like bipolar disorder or depression disorder Both conditions can lead to an unhealthy cycle where the eating disorder symptoms are made worse by a person's mood issues There is a strong connection between anxiety and the severity of eating disorders Higher levels of anxiety symptoms are linked to the disorder In fact, a person with anorexia nervosa is more likely to have the presence of anxiety-related symptoms at a high level and this is the case for people suffering from the disorder of binge eating known as bulimia nervosa In certain cases, anxiety can be the direct cause of an eating disorder In certain instances anxiety could be a supplementary indicator of an eating disorder In one study, researchers discovered that comorbid anxiety and depression symptoms were significantly linked to more severe eating disorder symptomatology in females who were young The team of researchers used a 4-item measure called the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 that assesses anxiety and depression symptoms They also measured the severity of a person's eating disorder and asked participants to rate their strategies for anxiety The authors of the study also analyzed three factors that could help explain the relationship between eating disorders and anxiety self-esteem, perfectionism and mood dysregulation These factors may have influenced the relationship between anxiety/depression and eating disorders however in different ways, depending on the subgroups They hope the findings will enable more precise and specific treatment for eating disorders 5 Anxiety-Related physical conditions A majority of people suffer from anxiety at some point in their lives, but it can become an illness if it becomes severe and interferes with daily activities Some people may also experience physical symptoms such as stomach pain or chest pain, depending on what type of anxiety they are experiencing The appropriate treatment can allow people to live happier and healthier lives Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is beneficial to many people A common type is cognitive behavioral therapy CBT CBT helps you recognize and overcome negative thoughts that can trigger anxiety and fear https//wwwiampsychiatrycom/anxiety-disorders teaches you how to confront your fears and take small steps to overcome them It is also possible to get medication Benzodiazepines such as diazepam and Valium can help reduce anxiety or panic attacks Antidepressants, like SSRIs or tricyclic antidepressants, are also available for prescription These medications can be used to treat anxiety disorders alone or together with other treatments Anxiety-producing medical conditions can be caused by medical conditions and may cause the same physical symptoms as those of an anxiety disorder Head trauma can cause depression and anxiety, for example Other conditions that can cause anxiety include chronic pain, fatigue disorders, some rheumatologic illnesses, like Lupus, and some nutritional deficiencies Certain factors make a person more likely to develop an anxiety disorder These are known as risk factors Certain risk factors are genetic, for example, an ancestral history of anxiety or disorders Other factors like childhood abuse, depression or other mental disorders, as well as an accumulation of stress for a long time can increase the risk of developing anxiety disorders If you suspect you have anxiety issues, it is important to get an examination for physical health