Anxiety Disorders: Know the Difference

Anxiety disorders are often treated using specific methods and techniques designed to target symptoms and develop coping mechanisms for things that heighten the anxiety response. Knowing which method to use in the treatment largely depends on the kind of disorder a person has. This article provides insights into the most common forms of anxiety disorders.

Differentiating Anxiety Types:

Anxiety is a common occurrence when a person faces potentially problematic or dangerous situations. It is also felt when a person perceives an external threat. However, chronic and irrational anxiety can lead to a form of anxiety disorder. There are different types of anxiety disorders depending on their causes or other factors that might heighten the anxiety response.

Common Forms of Anxiety Disorders

Generalized anxiety disorder

A person who has this type of anxiety disorder usually experiences prolonged bouts of anxiety that are often without a real basis or rationale. More accurately, people with generalized anxiety disorders generally cannot articulate the reason behind their anxiety. This type of anxiety usually lasts for six months or longer and often affects women more than men. Due to the persistence of the anxiety, people affected with generalized anxiety disorder are in a constant state of fret and worry that one is NOT able to control. This could result in physical and emotional problems such as heart palpitations, insomnia, headaches, dizzy spells, depression, and social isolation to name a few.

Specific phobia

Unlike someone with generalized anxiety disorder, a person who has a specific phobia experiences extreme and often irrational fear of a certain situation or object. When exposed to the object or situation they fear, people with specific phobias exhibit signs of intense fear like shaking, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, and nausea. Common specific phobias include fear of heights, enclosed spaces, blood, and animals. The fear a person with phobia feels can be so extreme that he or she may disregard safety just to escape the situation. Although the person realizes that these fears are irrational, just the thought of the specific phobia envokes an anxiety response.

Panic disorder

Also known as Agoraphobia, panic disorders are characterized by recurring panic attacks that are often unexpected. Symptoms are usually shaking, chest pains, dizziness, fear of losing control, and the reluctance of being alone. People with panic disorder are aware that their panic is usually unfounded and illogical. This is why they avoid public situations and being alone. A panic attack can be so severe that people may lose control and hurt themselves.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Alternatively called social phobia, a person with a social anxiety disorder may exhibit similar symptoms to those of panic disorder, especially in social situations. Shaking, dizziness, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations may ensue when a person with social phobia finds his or herself at the center of attention or in the company of many people, regardless of whether they are strangers or not. This fear is generally related to the thought of acting in such a way to bring embarrassment to one’s self.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

People with obsessive-compulsive disorder experience anxiety caused by persistent uncontrolled thoughts (obsession) or actions (compulsions). They tend to avoid experiencing anxiety by resorting to compulsive behaviors that may help alleviate anxiety. For example, a person who is obsessed with cleanliness may experience anxiety at the mere sight of a stain on the floor or a vase placed slightly off-center. To prevent anxiety, the person with an obsessive-compulsive disorder will clean and organize everything over and over or without good reason.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder may occur after a person experienced a severely traumatic event. He or she may relive the experience in his or her mind which causes stress and anxiety. If a person with PTSD comes into contact with stimuli (any object, person, or situation) that he or she associates with the traumatic event, he or she may literally re-experience the event by crying uncontrollably, panicking, or losing control. Subtler symptoms include insomnia and avoidant behavior. PTSD may manifest itself immediately after the traumatic event or even years after. Keep in mind that not all persons with PTSD have experienced traumatic events and most people suffering traumatic experiences do not suffer long term effects of PTSD.

Let’s Wrap Up

During these very challenging times, determining the type of anxiety disorder a person has is crucial to seeking treatment and recovery. Techniques and methods that are used to help a person cope with certain type of anxiety disorder usually target both the management of symptoms and effective coping mechanisms. Only after a thorough diagnosis can treatment and recovery for anxiety disorders really commence.

Thanks for hanging in there with me until the end. I hope you have learned something to help you or someone you care about differentiate anxiety disorders. In and earlier article we talked about different practical strategies to manage anxiety, if you missed it, you can find it here. Please keep in mind that the articles are for information purposes and do not in any way replace the advice of your physician or mental health practitioner.

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