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Anxiety disordersThis factsheet is for people who experience an anxiety disorder or who want to know more about them. Everybody feels anxious from time-to-time - it's a normal response to stressful situations. In some cases it can improve performance. But for some people anxiety becomes severe or prolonged and interferes with everyday life. This is called an anxiety disorder. Treatment may involve different types of therapy, medicines or a combination of these.
What is anxiety?Anxiety is a feeling of unease. Everybody experiences it when faced with a stressful situation, for example before an exam or an interview, or during a worrying time such as illness. It's normal to feel anxious when facing something difficult or dangerous, and mild anxiety can be a positive and useful experience. However, for one in 10 people in the UK, anxiety interferes with normal life. Excessive anxiety is often associated with other mental health problems, such as depression. Anxiety is only considered to be a mental health problem when it is prolonged, severe and is interfering with everyday activities. Symptoms of anxietyWhen you're anxious, you may also experience a range of physical symptoms. These happen because of the bodies' so-called "fight or flight" response, which is caused by the release of the stress hormone adrenaline. The symptoms can include:
Psychological symptoms can include:
Causes of anxiety disordersAnxiety may be a symptom of other mental health problems, such as depression or alcohol dependence. It can also be caused by substances such as ecstasy or caffeine, or by withdrawal from long-term drugs like tranquillisers. Sometimes anxiety can be associated with a physical illness, such as thyroid disorder. For this reason it's advisable to see your GP in order to rule out a physical cause. Reaction disordersReaction disorders are caused by some sort of stressful life event. Some examples are listed below.
Types of anxiety disordersBelow are some examples of mental problems which cause anxiety. PhobiasA phobia is a fear that is out of proportion to the real danger posed by the thing that triggers it. They interfere with your ability to lead a normal life. Common specific phobias are fear of heights, spiders, mice, blood, injections or enclosed space (claustrophobia). Social phobia is also one of the more common, but complex, phobias. If you are affected by this, meeting people causes anxiety, and you're overly worried about what others think of you. One form of social phobia is severe anxiety about speaking or performing in public. It's common to feel nervous in these situations, but people with social phobia find these activities impossible. Agoraphobia, another common phobia, is a fear of various places and situations, such as crowds or public places, and is frequently associated with panic disorder (see below). For more information, please see the separate Bupa health factsheet, Phobias. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)This anxiety disorder consists of recurring obsessions and/or compulsions. Obsessions are recurring thoughts or images about specific things that trigger feelings of disgust. Common obsessions include fears around germs, dirt or violence. Compulsions are thoughts or actions that people feel they must do or repeat. A compulsion is usually a response to ease the anxiety of an obsession. For example, repeatedly washing your hands to deal with an obsession about dirt. For more information, please see the separate Bupa health factsheet, Obsessive compulsive disorder. Panic disorderPanic disorder is an anxiety disorder whereby sufferers live in "fear of fear". This causes panic attacks - a sudden sense of anxiety that occurs without warning and with no apparent trigger. The symptoms of the anxiety (see Symptoms of anxiety) can be very severe and may feel like a wave of panic. Panic attacks usually last five to 10 minutes but they can last longer. Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)Anxiety can be a long-term disorder where you feel worried most of the time about things that might go wrong. This is called GAD. How do doctors recognise anxiety?If you think your life is being affected by anxiety, visit your GP. He or she will want to identify any physical or psychiatric illness that may be causing the anxiety. Your GP will listen to a description of your symptoms and may carry out a physical examination. You may have a blood test if he or she suspects a thyroid disorder or some other physical illness. Some people are referred to a psychiatrist, a doctor who specialises in mental health, for further help. Treating anxiety disordersSelf-helpYou may be able to improve your symptoms by using relaxation techniques, exercise or by talking to other people in support groups. Your GP can advise you about groups in your area. CounsellingThis involves talking through your problem with a counsellor, who can help you focus on what it is you want to do and how you can achieve your goal. Research shows that counselling can help with some kinds of anxiety disorders, especially in the short-term. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)This is a form of psychotherapy carried out by a specially trained therapist. Cognitive therapy involves assessing the reasoning behind your thinking - it is based on the idea that abnormal thinking results in abnormal reactions. Behavioural therapy aims to change behaviour - usually you are gradually exposed to the situation that causes anxiety. CBT combines these two types of therapies. It is used to treat some anxiety disorders, including generalised anxiety disorder and panic disorder. MedicinesTranquilisers, such as benzodiazepine tablets, may help to relieve some short-term stress-related anxieties. However, they shouldn't be taken for long periods because of the risk of addiction. For this reason they aren't usually prescribed. Buspirone is another type of medicine that can help relieve anxiety. It has different side-effects to benzodiazepines and it isn't thought to be addictive. Antidepressants can treat certain anxiety disorders such as generalised anxiety disorder, social phobia, OCD, and anxiety associated with depression. Some doctors may prescribe you a type of drug known as a beta-blocker. These relieve many of the physical symptoms of anxiety such as palpitations and tremors and may be helpful for some people. They don't affect psychological symptoms, but some people find they can relax more if their physical symptoms are relieved. RelaxationRelaxation training is a feature of some types of psychotherapy. Various types of relaxation therapy are available - you might want to discuss this with your doctor. Some people may find yoga, Thai Chi or other exercises helpful. Complementary therapyAlthough there are a wide variety of complementary therapies available for the treatment of anxiety, none have been conclusively proven to work, and they may have side-effects. If you do choose to take a complementary medicine, you should always tell your pharmacist, as they may interact with other medicines you're taking. Further information
Sources
Published by Bupa's health information team, healthinfo@bupa.com, February 2007.
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