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Anxiety

Anxiety is a multi-factorial psychiatric disease which according to some studies suggests to pre-dominate in females rather than males. Nonetheless, its symptoms affect all genders in an equal manner. In anxiety-related disorders, both psychological and physiological symptoms are present but usually, it is the physiological signs that become overpowering making it difficult to formulate a diagnosis. 

 

What are the signs and symptoms identifying Anxiety?

PSYCHOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS

  • Inability to concentrate on tasks at hand, leading to functional decline
  • Thoughts inducing fear, worry, nervousness, and stress
  • Catastrophizing events
  • Feeling scared
  • Increased anger

PHYSIOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS

  • Digestive System: Dry mouth, problem in swallowing food, abdominal discomfort, Gastric problem, Loose stools, etc.
  • Circulatory System: Difficulty in breathing, increased heartbeat, palpitations, chest pains, etc.
  • Muscular System: Tremors, Hot/Cold sweats, shivering, headaches, pains in different body parts, etc.
  • Central Nervous System: Dizziness, drowsiness, Changes in sleeping pattern, lightheadedness, etc.
  • Genitourinary System: Urgency to pee, inability to control the bladder, menstrual ailments in females, sexual complications in males, etc.

What are the types of Anxiety-related disorders?

Anxiety-related disorders are of many types, but the three basic categories are as followed;

  1. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Patients with Generalised Anxiety Disorder undergo the symptoms of anxiety without any reason, meaning, that the patient may unduly feel these symptoms. For the diagnosis of GAD to be established, the symptoms must last for at least 6 months, for most of the day without any purpose.
  2. Phobic Anxiety Disorders: In anxiety-related disorders with phobias, the symptoms may arise when facing a particular situation. For instance, a person is fearful of water and when he sees any water body, he gets extremely anxious so much so that he feels something catastrophic will happen to him.

Some sub types of Phobic Anxiety Disorders are:

  • Social Phobia
  • Agoraphobia
  • Specific Phobias

3. Panic Disorder: Panic disorder is a severe form of anxiety-related disorder where the intensity of physiological symptoms is extremely heightened because of which most of the patients land in emergency wards of hospitals. A panic attack is often short-lived, lasting for around 15-30 minutes, and may arise anytime without any reason. To be diagnosed with panic disorder, the patient must have had 3-4 episodes of panic attacks within one month period.

Some other important categories of Anxiety-related disorders are;

  1. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
  2. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Anxiety

What are the causes giving rise to Anxiety?

Feeling anxious sometimes does not decipher to have a disorder but when this feeling of anxiety becomes overpowering and hinders your daily life, it is time to seek aid.

Some of the causes that may give rise to these feelings are;

  1. Being genetically predisposed to anxiety.
  2. Facing stressful events early in life.
  3. Separation from parents prematurely.
  4. Encountering conflicts between parents or family members frequently.
  5. Victimized by Abuse of any type; physical, verbal, or sexual.
  6. Acquiring fears from childhood. 
  7. Coming across traumatic events. 

Treatment for Anxiety-related disorders at The Hermitage Rehab:

Anxiety-related disorders not only affect the patients psychologically or bodily but socially and occupationally as well leaving deep wounds in their place. 

The team at the Hermitage Rehabilitation Centre, Amritsar, Punjab under the proficient guidance of Dr. JPS Bhatia, has been dealing with patients with Anxiety-related disorders successfully and yielding maximum results. 

As the types of Anxiety-related disorders are different, so are the treatment services provided. The team offers comprehensive evaluation first for proper diagnosis, followed by psychotherapies like CBT, DBT, Exposure Therapy, and Relaxation techniques as well as in some specified cases pharmacological intervention for increasing the level of serotonin chemical in the brain, is used. 

The earlier the diagnosis is made for anxiety-related disorders, the better the chances for a full recovery.