Anxiety Disorders: What Are They and How Might We Treat Them? Do You Suffer from Pteronophobia?

What are Anxiety Disorders? People who suffer from anxiety disorders generally have some level of fear or apprehension associated with their disorder These fears or apprehensions can be expressed through phobias or more severe reactions like panic attacks

Phobias: A phobia is a fear of something that is not inherently dangerous to our immediate health In other words, it is an irrational fear People with the fear of spiders, for example, are in very little danger of being attacked or killed by a spider

Specific Phobias: Some people are so deeply impacted by their phobias that they will avoid any situation that might put them into contact with their phobia A person who is afraid of sharks, for example might never go to the beach or an aquarium

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): People who suffer from G.A.D. will suffer from anxiety for no identifiable reason Generally, these attacks will not be caused by any specific stimulus The effects can be short or long term

Panic Attacks: In a panic attack, one’s heart races, they sweat, and can even pass out In some cases, there may be no reason to have an attack These symptoms can be very similar to having a heart attack In most cases, the panic attack will pass within a matter of minutes, but can be longer lasting in some cases

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD): People who suffer from OCD have intensely organized rituals that must be maintained in order for them to function normally Any deviation from these rituals can cause a person to suffer stress and anxiety

Treating Anxiety Disorders: In most cases, anxiety disorders can be treated A person who has a phobia, for example, can “face” their fear People with OCD can be taught to remove their obsessions through therapy in some cases In most cases, however, therapy is not enough and people who suffer from anxiety disorders need strong support groups to help them cope with their disorders. Drugs may also be useful