IDENTIFYING ANXIETY DISORDERS

ANXIETY DISORDERS

Every normal human being usually has (or has had) something that sends chills down their spine, whether real or imaginary. There are however some people who are excessively fearful of specific things/ situations and avoid them at all costs. Such individuals usually suffer from what anxiety disorders whereby anxiety is simply defined as the apprehensive anticipation of future danger or misfortune accompanied by a feeling of worry, distress, and/ or physical symptoms of tension.

According to mental health professionals, there are eight broad categories of anxiety disorders based upon the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as enlisted below:

1. Separation Anxiety Disorder
2. Selective Mutism
3. Specific Phobias
4. Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)
5. Panic Disorder
6. Agoraphobia
7. Generalized Anxiety Disorder
8. Substance/ Medication- Induced Anxiety Disorder

Signs and Symptoms of the Anxiety Disorders.

Separation Anxiety Disorder is primarily characterized by:

1. Excessive fear concerning separation from those to whom the individual is attached evidenced by at least three  of the following:

• Excessive worry about losing major attachment figures ( for example parents or other primary care givers)
• Excessive worry about getting lost, being kidnapped, having an accident, becoming ill, etc., that would lead to separation from those to whom they are attached.
• Persistent refusal to go out, away from home, to school, to work, or elsewhere because of fear of separation
• Excessive fear of being alone at home or in other settings without those to whom they are attached
• Persistent refusal to sleep away from home or go to sleep without being near major attachment figures
• Repeated nightmares involving the theme of separation
• Repeated complaints of physical symptoms such as headaches, stomachaches, nausea, vomiting, etc, when separation from major attachment figures occurs or is anticipated

2. The fear/ anxiety/ avoidance is persistent lasting at least four weeks in children and adolescents and at least six months in adults

Selective Mutism is primarily characterized by:

1. Consistent failure to speak in specific social situations in which one is expected to speak for example in school
2. Ultimate interference with educational or occupational achievement or with social communication
3. The mutism lasts at least one month (not limited to the first month of school)
4. The mutism is not because of any communication disorder

Specific Phobias are characterized by:

1. Marked fear or anxiety about a specific object or situation such as flying, heights, spiders, receiving an injection, seeing blood, bugs,  etc.
2. The feared object or situation almost always provokes immediate fear or anxiety
3. The fear is usually out of proportion to the actual danger posed by the object or situation
4. The fear is persistent for at least six months
5. The fear causes despair in an individual’s social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning

Social Anxiety Disorder is generally characterized by:

1. Fear about one or more social situations in which the individual is exposed to possible scrutiny by others for instance in situations in which one is required to give a speech
2. Fear of acting in a way that will be negatively evaluated
3. Social situations almost always provoke fear or anxiety whereby in the case of children, they may start crying, throw tantrums, freeze or fail to speak
4. Avoidance of social situations
5. The fear/ avoidance usually lasts for at least six months and may impair ones social or occupational functioning

Panic Disorder is characterized by:

1. Recurrent unexpected panic attacks  which are abrupt surges of intense fear or discomfort that reach peak- level within minutes and during which at least four of the following symptoms occur:

• Accelerated heart beat
• Sweating
• Trembling/ shaking
• Shortness of breath
• Feelings of chocking
• Chest pain/ discomfort
• Nausea/ Abdominal distress
• Dizziness
• Chills or heat sensations
• Numbness or tingling sensations
• Fear of going crazy
• Fear of dying

Agoraphobia is generally characterized by:

1. Fear/ anxiety about two or more of the following situations:
2. Using public transport such as buses, trains, ship, etc.
3. Being in open spaces such as parking lots, marketplaces, bridges, etc
4. Being in enclosed spaces such as shops, theatres and cinemas
5. Standing in line or being in a crowd
6. Being outside of the home alone
7. Fear/ avoidance of the above situations because of the thought that an escape may not be possible
8. Requiring the presence of a companion when in such situations
9. The fear or anxiety is persistent for at least six months

General Anxiety Disorder is characterized by:

1. Excessive fear that is non- specific and which is persistent for at least six months
2. The individual finds it difficult to control the worry
3. The worry/ anxiety is associated with at least three of the following in adults and one in children, and it lasts for at least six months:

• Restlessness
• Being easily fatigued
• Difficulty concentrating
• Irritability
• Muscle tension
• Sleep Disturbance