Anxiety, panic disorder, fear of flying, social phobia, fear of heights, test anxiety, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder
What are anxiety disorders?
To define anxiety disorders, I first have to explain the foundation in which it comes from, and that is fear. Fear is an emotional feeling known to every human of all ages. We might not always be aware of this, but fear fulfills an essential definite purpose for us. Fear helps us stay cautious in certain situations. Fear helps save lives. We look left and right when crossing a street from the fear of an accident. We strap on the seatbelt when driving from the fear of getting hurt, and so on.
Some people experience fear at an exaggerated level, as well. These people no longer drive their car; they avoid certain situations and people, and in some instances, anxiety causes people not to be able to leave their homes anymore. Such cases are known as anxiety disorders, and they are among the most common mental disorders besides depression.
Anxiety disorders have different characteristics. The most important ones are the following:
- Panic disorder with or without agoraphobia
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Social anxiety disorder
- Specific phobias
When untreated, these disorders tend to gain strength progressively. It becomes then a “fear of anxiety” (fear of anticipation). And as a result, those affected by it exhibit the following side-effects:
- They withdraw more and more from their healthy lives.
- Fear is accompanying physical symptoms.
- An increasing loss in self-confidence and have the feeling that they are at the mercy of ordinary occurrences.
- Develop problems in their partnerships, families, and their professional life.
Often people fight anxiety with alcohol, gaming, excessive eating, shopping, or any of the other distractions, usually resulting in limited success. For a short time, those distractions succeed in suppressing the unpleasant feeling. However, with continued use, these distractions make the person dependent and create the basis for aggravating the problems. There are also long-term risks associated with the use of sedatives, such as benzodiazepines, which are suitable for short-term use only.
Fear does not cure itself but becomes stronger without the introduction of appropriate countermeasures over time.