![]() Social phobia is characterized by a persistent, unreasonable fear and avoidance of situations in which sufferers come into contact with other people and are thus exposed to possible evaluation in the broadest sense. The clinical psychological diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder requires the presence of a minimum number of specific symptoms over a period of at least six months. The main psychological symptoms in generalized anxiety disorder include feelings of anxiety as well as feelings of dizziness, uncertainty, and lightheadedness. In addition, there may be nausea and paraesthesia in the thoracic region. The anxiety and worry are accompanied by a variety of symptoms that include restlessness, easy fatigability, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, and sleep problems.Ĭommon physical (somatic or autonomic) symptoms include accelerated heartbeat (tachycardia), sweating, fine or coarse tremor, and dry mouth, which is not the result of medication. In the course of the worry chains, long and senseless brooding often occurs, which is also characteristic of (comorbid) depression. ![]() Sufferers have difficulty controlling the constant and disproportionate worries. In all cases, these worries and fears affect several areas of life, such as work, finances, circle of friends, and partnership or marriage. Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by persistent, unrealistic or exaggerated fear or worry. their description and classification according to the main symptoms, are presented in their main features. In the following, the corresponding anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders, i.e. ![]() Seizure-like anxiety, so-called panic attacks: Sudden and usually “out of the blue” extreme anxiety with severe somatic and psychological symptoms.Directed, so-called phobic anxiety: the fear is of specific objects or animals, as in the common spider phobia (arachnophobia), or it occurs in specific situations that are not dangerous by nature (e.g., social encounters).Undirected, so-called free-floating anxiety as occurs in generalized anxiety disorder: a persistent fear affecting many areas of life that is not limited to specific objects, situations, or encounters.The sympathetic nervous system activates vegetative processes such as an increase in blood pressure and heart rate as well as increased sweating.Īnxiety can manifest and show itself in different forms: Since there is no need for anxiety symptoms here, they are experienced by those affected as disturbing, inhibiting, very unpleasant and oppressive, which causes considerable suffering.ĭue to the stress or anxiety reaction, energies are activated in a flash, which are needed for a fight or flight reaction – useful in case of real danger but stressful in case of anxiety disorders. We speak of pathological fear when fear reactions – with their physical and psychological processes – occur without any real apparent risk and danger correspondence. In objectively dangerous situations, fear has a warning, protection and action function – we all know this from road traffic, for example. Characterization, forms and symptoms of anxiety disorders.Īnxiety, like sadness and joy, belongs to normal feelings or emotions and represents a necessary part of human experience.To break the fear cycle and the often given “fear of fear”. Above all, exposure to and confrontation with anxiety-provoking stimuli and/or situations also initially require a measure of overcoming and courage. Initially supportive talking therapy, therapy-guided exercises for stress reduction, relaxation and mindfulness-based meditation, as well as exposures within the framework of cognitive behavioral therapy are effective means for successfully and significantly reducing or even eliminating the anxiety problem. As a rule, such gradual confrontation requires professional psychological-therapeutic support – as a liberating help to self-help that (re)increases the quality of life. The fear reaction, which is based on evolutionary biology, is necessary or even necessary for survival in real dangerous situations – fear reactions in risk-free and danger-free situations, however, are very stressful for those affected and can become chronic.Ī common feature of the various anxiety disorders is the strong tendency to avoidance behavior, which can, however, be unlearned by gradually confronting potentially anxiety-provoking situations, objects and/or encounters again. The following article provides an introductory and hopefully easy-to-understand overview of the main symptoms, potential causes and, in particular, effective treatment and therapy options of the various anxiety disorders. ![]() Symptoms, etiology and therapy of anxiety disorders ![]()
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