Anxiety

All these conditions have very different symptoms. However, they are all related in that they greatly interfere with “normal” life and cause significant distress and impairment to those who suffer from these conditions. Moreover, several of these disorders can appear simultaneously as well as with other psychiatric conditions, such as depression. This is called “co-morbidity” and is more the rule than the exception.

All these conditions can be triggered by a variety of situations, problems, experiences and conditions. The manner in which they change the way the brain works plays an important role in both the individual condition and its treatment.

For patients

It is difficult to describe “anxiety disorders”. They exhibit a variety of symptoms and can be triggered by very different situations, conditions, and experiences.

We call a condition a “Panic Disorder” if the major symptoms are sudden panic attacks, which come with fear of something or nervousness. Panic can also create physical symptoms, such as sweating, pain, headache, nausea, a pounding heart, or dry mouth. Usually these attacks are fairly short, but they themselves can create a new fear – that of having another panic attack.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) causes a non-specified anxiety that something could happen to you. Excessive, uncontrollable worry, anxiety, and tension are typical symptoms, along with physical symptoms such as a dry mouth, clammy hands, sweating, or dizziness.
 
Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) causes some people to fear or avoid social situations. The individual fears that he or she will act in a way (or show anxiety symptoms) that will be humiliating or embarrassing. As this may impair participation in social activities in general, SAD is very distressing and disabling.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) causes repetitive, obtrusive, unwanted thoughts, which result in unreasonable fears. These fears can be associated with things such as cleanliness, body secretions, neatness, religion, or health. Patients with OCD may also carry out special rituals in response to fears generated by their obsessions. These include persistent washing, cleaning, bathing, constant checking and rechecking (including checking of vital signs), rigid diet or, a vast collection of objects.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can cause a variety of psychological and physical symptoms and is connected with the experience of a trauma.

All of these conditions can be treated effectively.

For relatives

As stressing and unreasonable as the symptoms of anxiety disorders may be, patients suffer considerably. Therefore, anxiety disorders should be taken seriously and not brushed off as “irritating eccentricities”.

Many of the symptoms you can read about in the “Patient” section are difficult to understand if you yourself have not experienced them first-hand. But please keep in mind that the person suffering from anxiety disorders is as confused and irritated as you are – so talking about what you think and how you feel is a good way to get into talking about the problem. This is particularly true for Social Anxiety Disorder, where people no longer dare to have contact with anyone.