|
MY SPECIALTIES
Introduction
Anger
Anxiety
Attention Deficits in Adults
Chronic Pain
Cosmetic Surgery
Depression
Eating Disorders
Infertility & Childlessness
Job Stress
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Relationships
Shyness
Contact Dr.
Nash
|
|
Anxiety
How do I know if I have a problem with anxiety?
Anxiety is a part of our everyday lives. Who is not nervous on the first
day of school or a new job, speaking in public, or walking down a dark
street alone at night? In such situations anxiety can be helpful because
it makes us more alert and prepares us to respond to a problem or threat.
On the other hand, anxiety can become overwhelming and interfere with
our lives. It can cut down on productivity, damage relationships, and
keep us from even trying to reach our goals or achieve our desires. When
anxiety reaches this level, it may be a symptom of an anxiety disorder.
What are the symptoms of anxiety?
Common emotional symptoms of anxiety include irritability, tension excessive
worry, fatigue, difficulty falling asleep, and difficulty concentrating.
Feeling sad or "down" may also accompany persistent anxiety.
Common physical symptoms of anxiety include rapid heartbeat, shakiness,
chest pain or tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, sweating or
choking sensations, nausea or upset stomach, trembling, dizziness, or
fear that you may be losing control. Other symptoms can include headaches,
muscle aches, and irrational fears. Many of these symptoms are similar
to those of other diseases. In fact, they may lead you to believe you
have a physical disease. It is only when a physical examination and medical
tests reveal no physical disease that your physician may suspect anxiety
to be the cause.
What are some of the different types of anxiety
disorders?
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) - involves recurring worries
or fears about many things that preoccupy your thinking and can upset
your well-being or disturb relationships.
- Panic Disorder - involves the sudden onset of intense fears
or unexplained feelings of terror and dread. Some people think they
are having a heart attack, while others feel as if they are suffocating.
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) - is characterized by intrusive,
unwanted thoughts or images (obsessions) usually followed by routines
or ritual (compulsions) such as checking or hand-washing, which serve
to bind the anxiety generated by the intrusive thoughts or images.
- Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - involves re-experiencing
a trauma, crime, or natural disaster through nightmares, flashbacks,
or other reminders months or even years after the event.
- Social Phobia, also Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) - involves
anxiety provoked by being in certain types of social or performance
situations, such as going to parties, speaking in public, or interacting
with authority figures. Click here for more information about Social
Phobia.
- Specific Phobia - involves anxiety provoked by being exposed
to feared objects or situations. Common specific phobias include fear
of heights, flying, dogs, spiders, enclosed spaces, snakes, and so forth.
How is an anxiety disorder treated?
Most specialists agree that a cognitive-behavior
therapy is best for the treatment of anxiety disorders. Treatment
may include the use of relaxation, guided imagery, and exposure with response
prevention (ERP). Medication can also be helpful in managing anxiety.
Where can I get more information on anxiety disorders?
The following websites can be helpful:
|
