There are a number of Anxiety Disorders including Panic Disorder, PTSD and Social Anxiety. In this post, I am going to talk about three disorders; GAD, Social Anxiety and Health Anxiety.
GAD
Generalised Anxiety Disorder is a long-term condition that causes you to feel anxious about a wide range of situations. People with GAD often struggle to remember the last time they felt relaxed. GAD has a large number of symptoms, both physical and mental, which can take their toll on the sufferer.
Symptoms of GAD
Restlessness
Sense of dread
Difficulty concentrating
Dizziness
Fatigue
Heart palpitations
Shortness of breath
Nausea
Headaches
Pins and Needles
Insomnia
and many more...
Everyone gets anxious from time to time as it is a normal bodily response to a challenging situation. However, if your anxiety is distressing to you or is affecting your daily life, visit your GP.
How is GAD diagnosed?
GAD can be difficult to diagnose as it can sometimes be difficult to distinguish symptoms from other mental health conditions, such as depression.
Your GP may ask about any worries or fear you may have and your personal life. To ensure a correct diagnosis is made, tell your GP all the symptoms you experience, both physical and psychological, and how long you have had them.
GAD will most likely be diagnosed if the symptoms have been present for 6 months or more or if you find it difficult to manage your feelings of anxiety.
Your GP may carry out a physical examination or blood tests to rule out other conditions such as anaemia or an overactive thyroid gland which may also be causing the symptoms.
Social Anxiety
Social Anxiety is the persistent fear of social situations and being around people. It is one of the most common anxiety disorders.
Signs of Social Anxiety
Dread every day situations such as working and speaking on the telephone
Have low self-esteem
Fear being criticised
Avoid eye-to-eye contact
Misuse drugs/alcohol to control anxiety
May suffer panic attacks in social situations
How is Social Anxiety Diagnosed?
You must meet three criteria to be diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder:
Symptoms must not be the result of some other mental health condition
Feel anxious entirely or mostly in social situations
One of the main symptoms will be avoidance of social situations
Health Anxiety
Also known as hypochondriasis. Those affected by Health Anxiety have an obsessional preoccupation with the idea that they are currently (or will be) experiencing a physical illness. For example, if a sufferer experiences chest pain, they may assume they are having a heart attack.
Symptoms of Health Anxiety
The individual may regularly scan their body for signs of physical illness
Many of the same physical symptoms of GAD such as dry mouth and heart palpitations.
Celebrities with anxiety disorders
Johnny Depp
Emma Stone
Sir Isaac Newton
Adele
Abraham Lincoln
GAD
Generalised Anxiety Disorder is a long-term condition that causes you to feel anxious about a wide range of situations. People with GAD often struggle to remember the last time they felt relaxed. GAD has a large number of symptoms, both physical and mental, which can take their toll on the sufferer.
Symptoms of GAD
Restlessness
Sense of dread
Difficulty concentrating
Dizziness
Fatigue
Heart palpitations
Shortness of breath
Nausea
Headaches
Pins and Needles
Insomnia
and many more...
Everyone gets anxious from time to time as it is a normal bodily response to a challenging situation. However, if your anxiety is distressing to you or is affecting your daily life, visit your GP.
How is GAD diagnosed?
GAD can be difficult to diagnose as it can sometimes be difficult to distinguish symptoms from other mental health conditions, such as depression.
Your GP may ask about any worries or fear you may have and your personal life. To ensure a correct diagnosis is made, tell your GP all the symptoms you experience, both physical and psychological, and how long you have had them.
GAD will most likely be diagnosed if the symptoms have been present for 6 months or more or if you find it difficult to manage your feelings of anxiety.
Your GP may carry out a physical examination or blood tests to rule out other conditions such as anaemia or an overactive thyroid gland which may also be causing the symptoms.
Social Anxiety
Social Anxiety is the persistent fear of social situations and being around people. It is one of the most common anxiety disorders.
Signs of Social Anxiety
Dread every day situations such as working and speaking on the telephone
Have low self-esteem
Fear being criticised
Avoid eye-to-eye contact
Misuse drugs/alcohol to control anxiety
May suffer panic attacks in social situations
How is Social Anxiety Diagnosed?
You must meet three criteria to be diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder:
Symptoms must not be the result of some other mental health condition
Feel anxious entirely or mostly in social situations
One of the main symptoms will be avoidance of social situations
Health Anxiety
Also known as hypochondriasis. Those affected by Health Anxiety have an obsessional preoccupation with the idea that they are currently (or will be) experiencing a physical illness. For example, if a sufferer experiences chest pain, they may assume they are having a heart attack.
Symptoms of Health Anxiety
The individual may regularly scan their body for signs of physical illness
Many of the same physical symptoms of GAD such as dry mouth and heart palpitations.
Celebrities with anxiety disorders
Johnny Depp
Emma Stone
Sir Isaac Newton
Adele
Abraham Lincoln