Beyond Generalized: Understanding Other Specific Anxiety Disorders
When a person's issues with anxiety fall under a specific umbrella of symptoms, they may be diagnosed with another type of anxiety disorder.
Generalized anxiety disorder is common – it forms when a person experiences a shared sense of anxiety that doesn't stem from a single cause.
“However, some anxiety disorders stem from specific incidents and causes, making them easier to pinpoint as a particular type of anxiety.”
What is Panic Disorder?
Panic Disorder is specifically classified as an intense sensation of fear or dread that rises in the body. This particular form of anxiety causes visceral, physical reactions in the body, leading to panic attacks.
When a person is struggling with a panic attack, they may have…
● A racing heartbeat
● Chest pain or chest tightness
● Difficulty breathing
● Blurred vision
● Sweating
● Shaking or trembling
● Nausea or abdominal pain
● Feelings as if the world isn't real (like they're inside a movie, dream, or make-believe story)
● Feelings that they're having an "out of body" experience when faced with stress
Panic attacks can be triggered by a specific stimulus or appear at random. For example, a person with a particular fear of crowds may experience a panic attack if a big group of people suddenly surround them.
Some people may experience panic attacks for no apparent reason – they begin with some of the signs listed above, even if the person isn't immediately facing a fear or danger.
What is Social Anxiety Disorder?
Social anxiety disorder is a specific type of anxiety that occurs when the affected person is thrust into social situations. Everyone with social anxiety disorder fears being judged, evaluated, or mocked by others.
This is usually accompanied by extreme feelings of discomfort when they must interact with other people.
“People with a social anxiety disorder may have close and comfortable relationships with folks in their inner circles, such as family members or best friends, but struggle to interact with others.”
Social anxiety disorder can present itself in a few ways, such as…
● Requesting that someone else speak for them, such as when ordering food in a restaurant
● Avoiding situations where they know they're going to have to speak
● Avoiding specific social situations, such as giving presentations or speaking in front of strangers
● An intense fear of saying the wrong thing or sounding stupid to other people
Some shyness isn't the same as having a social anxiety disorder. Feeling shy may offer minor discomfort, but social anxiety disorder impedes an individual's ability to function at school, work, or any social setting.
What is a Phobia?
Phobias are intense fears centered around specific objects or situations. For example, social anxiety disorder used to be called "social phobia," but the name has since changed to social anxiety.
Phobias are a result of anxiety fixated on a particular fear.
There are a wide variety of phobias people can develop, including…
● The doctor or dentist
● Bugs and spiders
● Heights
● Needles or having blood work done
● …and many more!
A person with phobia experiences such anxiety and fear over their specific object or situation that they will either go significantly out of their way to avoid it or face it and experience extreme emotional distress during the confrontation.
To be considered a phobia, a person's intense fear must persist for at least a few months.
What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder is close relative to generalized anxiety disorder but has a few unique features. People with OCD suffer from anxious feelings that also drive them to experience different symptoms, such as…
● Excessive cleaning and handwashing
● Arranging items in a specific way
● Compulsive counting
● Repeatedly checking on something multiple times to reassure themselves (making sure the door is locked, the stove is turned off, the heater is unplugged, etc.)
“People with OCD experience a general sense of anxiety, but to soothe those anxious feelings, they may enact some of the following behaviors listed above.”
These behaviors do not solve the problem or end the anxiety, but they provide temporary relief from the anxious feelings.
However, the anxiety and compulsive behaviors will return without treatment or intervention.
What is Separation Anxiety Disorder?
Separation anxiety disorder (SAD) is a specific type of anxiety typically recognized in young children. When left untreated, SAD can morph into a different anxiety disorder as the child ages.
“SAD is characterized by intense fears of losing loved ones and being away from them, even for short periods.”
Children with SAD may experience…
● Irrational fears that someone they love, such as a parent, will die due to an illness or accident, even if there's no evidence to support this being a possibility
● Persistent distress when the child knows they'll have to spend time away from home (such as sleeping over at a friend's house)
● Frequent physical complaints of stomach aches, headaches, etc. when the child knows they'll have to be away from their loved ones
Doctors believe SAD develops in children due to two main contributing factors: Early experiences of being separated from parents and possible genetic connections.
What is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a type of anxiety that forms after a person witnesses or experiences a particularly terrifying life event. Many people associate PTSD with soldiers returning from war.
While this is possible for soldiers who saw and experienced gruesome images during wartime, the disorder isn't limited to this specific group of people.
A person can develop PTSD after experiencing various traumatizing events, such as…
● a tough breakup
● A verbally and physically abusive relationship
● A sexual assault, rape, or other physical attacks
● An adverse childhood experience
● A significant illness or injury
● A tragedy, such as an attack or natural disaster
People with PTSD may exhibit various symptoms, such as avoidance of anything that might remind them of the trauma they experienced, recurring memories of the event, tension and being on edge, and sleeping problems.
References:
