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Adaptive Anxiety
Adaptive Anxiety
Anxiety is a normal part of life. It is the mind and body's way to signal danger. If you see a mountain lion on a hike, anxiety tells you to stay away. It keeps you from becoming somebody's dinner. Anxiety is adaptive. It helps us survive.
Anxiety Disorder
Anxiety Disorder
Anxiety becomes problematic when it's excessive and when there's no real threat. The fire alarm is too loud, too sensitive, and won't turn off.
Panic disorder is a condition where previous panic attacks leave a person fearful of future attacks. Panic attacks are terrifying experiences. Your fight-or-flight system gets carried away. You feel like something catastrophic is happening even though you're not in any danger.
Social anxiety is a persistent fear of criticism, judgement, or embarrassment, leading to social avoidance. People with social anxiety can isolate themselves from others or turn to alcohol to manage their anxiety.
Generalized anxiety is the inability to stop asking yourself, "what if?" People with generalized anxiety find themselves worrying about problems big and small, regardless of how unlikely the problems are to occur.
For some people, anxiety is part of their personality. They are sensitive to anxiety, similar to how some people are sensitive to caffeine. A little goes a long way.
How common are anxiety disorders?
How common are anxiety disorders?
Anxiety disorders are very common. In the previous year, about 19 percent of women and 14 percent of men could be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. It is estimated that around 30 percent of adults will have an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives.
What causes anxiety disorders?
What causes anxiety disorders?
Anxiety disorders run in families. This is due in part to shared genetics. Some children are born with an anxious temperament. Family members can also inadvertently reinforce each others' anxiety, creating a vicious cycle.
Treatment for Anxiety Disorder
Treatment for Anxiety Disorder
Psychotherapies for anxiety disorders focus on avoidance. Avoidance protect against anxiety in the short-term, but worsens anxiety in the long-term. Research indicates psychodynamic therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) are effective. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is also effective. I have referred patients to ACT when their symptoms are persistent. Group therapy might be especially helpful for people with social anxiety. SSRIs and SNRIs are effective for anxiety disorders, although they might increase anxiety initially. Regular exercise improves anxiety.
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