What is this Mess? — A Look at Some Common Anxiety Disorders

You cannot get out of your head.  No matter how hard you try it’s like you’re trapped in there.  Right inside your head.  And the thoughts — the thoughts there inside your head are worrisome.  In fact, every single thought you have conveys worry.  And there isn’t a single aspect of your life that you don’t find worthy of worry.  You worry about whether your job position’s going to fizzle out.  You worry about repaying your loans.  You worry that your relationship with your partner could go off the rails at any moment.  You worry that you don’t have a partner.  You worry about that spot on your leg.  You worry that your car could break down any second.  Even your worries worry.  And the worry affects you physically.  You can’t concentrate because you’re so worried.  You have headaches and tense muscles in your neck and shoulders because you’re worried.  You are so difficult to be around because you’re irritable.  And you’re irritable because you’re worried.  You can’t sleep because worry keeps you up at night.  It’s a miserable existence and you can’t continue to live like this.  Sound familiar?  This is common.  And it has a name.  This is a type of anxiety disorder, and it’s treatable.

So, if you’re new to me, I’m Dr. K Martin also known as Dr. K.  I’m both a child and adolescent psychiatrist and general psychiatrist based in the Southeast.  My goal with these brief posts is to provide you with quick and easy access to information about mental health.  Still, keep in mind that this information is not meant to serve as a substitute for your personal mental health care.  Please talk to your provider before implementing any suggestions that I mention in these talks.  The topic of the talk for today is Introduction to Anxiety Disorders.

Today, I am going to review three of the most common anxiety disorders, but first I want to give you a good solid definition of anxiety.  Anxiety is a feeling of dread or worry in the face of a threat that has not or may never happen.  Anxiety is commonly experienced, and it may be considered normal and healthy at times and can actually be helpful because it can facilitate learning and productivity, often fueling us to rise to the occasion and overcome.  However, anxiety can be considered a disorder when it is excessive for a given circumstance, age-inappropriate, causes significant distress, and interferes with a person’s functioning.

The first anxiety disorder we’ll look at is Generalized Anxiety Disorder.  About 5-9% of the population may experience this disorder sometime in their lives.  Symptoms include worry about ordinary life issues like finances, relationships, and health but these worries are almost constant and unremitting and really fill a person’s headspace.  The worry becomes so intense that those who struggle with this experience symptoms like poor concentration, irritability, feeling keyed up and restless, poor sleep, and muscle tension.

The second anxiety disorder I’ll talk about is Panic Disorder.  Panic Disorder can truly be debilitating and frightening for those who wrestle with it.  About 4% of the population may experience this disorder sometime in their lives.  Symptoms include panic attacks—which are these episodes of intense anxiety during which there can be difficulty breathing, racing heartbeat, chest pain, numbness, stomach distress, dizziness, or severe tremor.  People can feel like they are losing their minds, having a heart attack, and may struggle with an intense fear of dying during the episode.  They often feel completely out of control or as if things are no longer real. 

They can even feel like they are floating outside of their body or disconnected from themselves and reality.  These attacks are scary, y’all, and those who suffer with them can feel completely out of control.  In between panic attacks, those with panic disorder live in dread and worry about having other panic attacks.  

Ever have to stand up in front of a group to give a speech and suddenly feel like you might just die? Your mouth is dry and there is a stubborn rock lodged in the back of your throat.  Your knees are knocking, and you feel ever so slightly nauseated.  And your initial instinct is to tuck tail and run.  Okay, this is a relatively common feeling when it comes to public speaking, but it might qualify as an anxiety disorder if it is persistent, unrelenting, generally invariable, and prevents you from functioning at school or work or causes you to avoid social situations.  The name for this is social anxiety disorder, and it’s the fear of scrutiny by others or a fear of acting in a humiliating or embarrassing way.  About 12.1 percent of adults may meet criteria for this disorder at some point in their lives.  

Now, after hearing this list of symptoms, you may have found bits of yourself in there.  If with any of these disorders you said, “Hey, that sounds like what I’m wrestling with,” it would be wise to seek out the help of a mental health provider.  Each of these orders are treatable through the use of medications, therapy, lifestyle changes or combinations of each of these.  Don’t be afraid to seek help.  Seeking help could be one of the best decisions you could make for yourself, your family, and others you impact. 

Folks, let’s make it our business to understand mental illness and those who struggle against mental illness.  I’m Dr. K, and this has been Mental Health | Plain Speak.  And remember, “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”