Remember: Physical illness can sometimes resemble symptoms of severe anxiety, panic, and depression. Check with your doctor!

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Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Generally Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is persistent worry (a lot of worrying over and over again) about two or more things without very good reason. It is called generalized anxiety because it is categorized as a "generalized, and excessive feeling of anxiety." Sometimes these feelings of anxiety are not associated with any particular circumstance in one's life.

Sometimes it can be difficult for people with GAD to relax or fall asleep due to the worry and anxious feelings. Some of the symptoms a person can experience may be the following:

Accelerated heart rate, shortness of breath, dizziness, lightheadedness, depersonalization, muscle pains, jittery feelings, restlessness, trouble falling asleep, poor concentration, palpitations, depressing moods, irritability, the list goes on! *

There might not be any direct "known" cause for your worrying. Typical worries can include family members becoming ill, getting into a car accident, constant worry about your performance at work, school or as a father or mother. You might be worrying that your spouse is going to get into a car accident. And worry about it day in and day out, for no specific consciously known reason.

Sometimes, GAD is worse than other times. The worrying and anxiety fluctuates and there are times in which the symptoms completely seem to go away, yet then return to come back for another round.

Usually, the constant worrying is related to matters in your daily life. Persistent worrying about a relationship, a health issue, a work matter or something you heard on TV is just an example of some of the many things a person with GAD will think about excessively. The anxiety usually interferes with their daily activity and becomes a reason to avoid certain tasks and certain life issues. It is also responsible for many "sick days" at work or in school.

Diagnosis

According to the World Health Organization's (WHO) International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10th Edition,

A person suffering from General Anxiety Disorder must have been bothered by symptoms of anxiety on most days for a period of at least several weeks, but usually for a period of 6 months. The anxiety symptoms involve:

• Apprehension (e.g., worry about the future, feeling `on edge', difficulty concentrating)

• Motor tension (restlessness, headaches, trembling, inability to relax)

• Other symptoms of high arousal (e.g., sweating, accelerated heart rate, dry mouth, stomach upsets, dizziness, lightheadedness)

Epidemiology

2 to 8% of the population suffers from General Anxiety Disorder. This disorder is one of the big reasons why people may see a psychologist. Women tend to seek help twice as often as men. There is no specific age for the onset of GAD. Yet research has shown that it is quite common to show up between the ages of 20 and 40.

Panic Disorder

Panic Disorder (PD) causes people to feel terror suddenly and sometimes unexpected. Accompanying physical signs include dizziness, lightheadedness, rapid pulse, trembling, chest pains, shortness of breath, nausea, numbness, and a fear of going crazy or dying. Some people convince themselves that they are dying during an attack. The feelings can feel so intense and real to the person that a sense of "lack of control" is usually felt too.

Panic Disorder can start to become debilitating when the person suffering begins to avoid situations or stimuli in which an attack is assumed to occur. When panic attacks begin to keep the person from normal everyday activities, Agoraphobia can become the new diagnosis. Some people may not leave their home (See Agoraphobia).

Common fears found in panic disorder sufferers:

Fear of losing control:

Many times, when a person feels the terror of a panic attack, they will fear losing control and not being able to move, embarrass themselves, hurt someone or hurt themselves. Some people fear having a Tourette's Syndrome kind of experience in which they shout things and say things they do not want to say.

Fear of going crazy: The fear of losing control can lead people to think that they will go "crazy" or hallucinate and start experiencing a kind of Schizophrenia. There is no reason to worry though, anxiety, panic, worry and depersonalization / derealization feelings will not induce schizophrenia. There is a giant difference between neurosis and psychosis. You are not alone in feeling the fear of going crazy. Many people have a fear of it. Not to worry :) it is irrational.

Fear of dying:

Fear of a heart attack: Sometimes, a panic attack can cause a feeling of chest pain, heart palpitation, or dizziness. It in not uncommon for people to worry that their symptoms are that of a heart attack. If chest pain or other symptoms are long-lasting and/or recurrent - you should seek a medical investigation by a doctor to rule out heart disease. If all is well in that arena, it is unlikely that your symptoms are that of a heart problem.

Fear of hurting someone or hurting themselves:

This fear is associated with the fear of losing control. Sometimes a person will have the fear that somehow when they experience a panic attack, they will jump off a building, take a weapon of some sort and use it, etc. Sufferers should keep in mind that anxiety does not cause people to lose their ability to control their behavior and act against one's will.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

People with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) suffer from unwanted and intrusive thoughts that they can't seem to get out of their heads (obsessions) and feel compelled to repeatedly perform ritualistic behaviors and routines (compulsions) to try and ease their anxiety. Most people who have OCD are aware that their obsessions and compulsions are irrational, yet feel powerless to stop them. Some spend hours at a time performing complicated rituals involving hand-washing, counting or checking in order to ward off persistent, unwelcome thoughts, feelings or images. Others live in terror that they will accidentally do something wrong, such as harm someone, blurt out an improper statement or throw something out by mistake.

Common obsessions include:

*
Constant, irrational worry about dirt, germs or contamination;
*
Nagging feelings that something bad will happen if certain items aren't in an exact place, position or order;
*
Fear that one's negative or blasphemous thoughts or images will cause personal harm or harm to a loved one;
*
Preoccupation with losing or throwing away objects with little or no value; and
*
Rumination about accidentally or purposefully injuring another person.

Common compulsions include:

*
Cleaning - Repeatedly washing one's hands, bathing or cleaning household items, often for hours at a time;
*
Checking - Checking and re-checking, several to hundreds of times per day, that the doors are locked, stove is turned off, hairdryer is unplugged, etc.;
*
Repeating - Unable to stop repeating a name, phrase or tune;
*
Slowness - Excessive, painstakingly slow and methodical approach to daily activities; and
* Hoarding - Saving useless items such as old newspapers or magazines, bottle caps or rubber bands.

Obsessions and rituals can substantially interfere with a person's normal routine, schoolwork, job, family or social activities. Several hours each day may be spent focusing on obsessive thoughts and performing seemingly senseless rituals. Trying to concentrate on normal daily activities may be difficult. If left untreated, OCD can interfere with all aspects of one's life.

Children can suffer from OCD as well (see Children & Adolescents) as adults. Unlike adults, however, children with OCD do not realize that their obsessions and compulsions are excessive.

Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)

* About 3.7% of the U.S. population ages 18 to 54 - approximately 5.3 million Americans - has social phobia in any given year.
* Social phobia occurs in women twice as often as in men, although a higher proportion of men seeks help for this disorder.
* The disorder typically begins in childhood or early adolescence and rarely develops after age 25.

Llife is not so serious! Overcome anxiety the cool way. The glass is now half-full!

Social phobia, also called social anxiety, is a disorder characterized by overwhelming anxiety and excessive self-consciousness in everyday social situations. People with social phobia have a persistent, intense, and chronic fear of being watched and judged by others and of being embarrassed or humiliated by their own actions. Their fear may be so severe that it interferes with work or school - and other ordinary activities. While many people with social phobia recognize that their fear of being around people may be excessive or unreasonable, they are unable to overcome it. They often worry for days or weeks in advance of a dreaded situation.

Social phobia can be limited to only one type of situation - such as a fear of speaking in formal or informal situations, or eating or drinking in front of others - or, in its most severe form, may be so broad that a person experiences symptoms almost anytime they are around other people. Social phobia can be very debilitating - it may even keep people from going to work or school on some days. Many people with this illness have a hard time making and keeping friends.

Physical symptoms often accompany the intense anxiety of social phobia and include blushing, profuse sweating, trembling, and other symptoms of anxiety, including difficulty talking and nausea or other stomach discomfort. These visible symptoms heighten the fear of disapproval and the symptoms themselves can become an additional focus of fear. Fear of symptoms can create a vicious cycle: as people with social phobia worry about experiencing the symptoms, the greater their chances of developing the symptoms.. Social phobia often runs in families and may be accompanied by depression or alcohol dependence.

"Your anxiety disorder is a blessing in disguise!"

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