Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety is a nebulous form of energy - a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. This energy cannot be destroyed, but only decreased and eliminated through coping mechanisms including those that are healthy such as exercise, sleep, stress management techniques (e.g., breathing, progressive relaxation, meditation), and listening to music) and those that are problematic such as avoidance, substance use, and behavioral addictions (gambling, gaming, pornography).  Prolonged anxiety is difficult to tolerate and will often result in a panic attack and eventually an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders include Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety, Specific Phobia, Agoraphobia, and Separation Anxiety Disorder.

Panic attack: A brief episodes of extreme fear. It may be mistaken for a heart attack or stroke, but is actually psychological rather than physical. A panic attack can occur suddenly and usually peaks within 10 minutes. Most panic attacks end within 20 to 30 minutes. Some symptoms include: chills, nausea, sweating, chest pain, palpitations, shaking, tingling, dizziness, and feelings of impending doom.  

Generalized Anxiety Disorder:

Panic Disorder: is classified as an anxiety disorder, and like other forms of anxiety, it is commonly treated with a combination of therapy, medications, and healthy lifestyle changes. Anxiety patients are also encouraged to do breathing exercises, get regular exercise, and to avoid stimulants.    

Sometimes panic attacks are isolated incidents, but if a person has had at least two panic attacks and lives in fear of having another, they may have panic disorder. A panic attack can happen without an obvious cause, but people with panic disorder may develop phobias related to something they associate with panic attacks, including open spaces, and large crowds.