Hi all,
I am starting a support group for people suffering from OCD,
anxiety and phobias.. etc. The purpose of this group is to provide
emotional support and social network for sufferers.
Those who are interested can email to :
[email protected]
How Common Are Anxiety Disorders?
What Are the Different Kinds of Anxiety Disorders?
Panic Disorder - Repeated episodes of intense fear that strike
often and without warning. Physical symptoms include chest pain,
heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, abdominal
distress, feelings of unreality, and fear of dying.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - Repeated, unwanted thoughts or
compulsive behaviors that seem impossible to stop or control.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - Persistent symptoms that occur
after experiencing a traumatic event such as rape or other criminal
assault, war, child abuse, natural disasters or crashes.
Nightmares, flashbacks, numbing of emotions, depression and feeling
angry, irritable, distracted and being easily startled are
common.
Phobias - Two major types of phobias are specific phobia and social
phobia. People with specific phobia experience extreme, disabling,
and irrational fear of something that poses little or no actual
danger; the fear leads to avoidance of objects or situations and
can cause people to limit their lives unnecessarily.
People with social phobia have an overwhelming and disabling fear
of scrutiny, embarrassment, or humiliation in social situations,
which leads to avoidance of many potentially pleasurable and
meaningful activities.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder - Constant, exaggerated worrisome
thoughts and tension about everyday routine life events and
activities, lasting at least six months. Almost always anticipating
the worst even though there is little reason to expect it;
accompanied by physical symptoms, such as fatigue, trembling,
muscle tension, headache, or nausea.
What Are the Treatments for Anxiety Disorders?
Treatments are extremely effective and often combine medication or
specific types of psychotherapy.
More medications are available than ever before to effectively
treat anxiety disorders. These include antidepressants or
benzodiazepines. If one medication is not effective, others can be
tried. New medications are currently being tested or are under
development to treat anxiety symptoms.
The two most effective forms of psychotherapy used to treat anxiety
disorders are behavioral therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy.
Behavioral therapy tries to change actions through techniques such
as diaphragmatic breathing or through gradual exposure to what is
frightening. In addition to these techniques, cognitive-behavioral
therapy teaches patients to understand their thinking patterns so
they can react differently to the situations that cause them
anxiety.
Is it Possible for Anxiety Disorders to Coexist with Other Physical
or Mental Disorders?
It is common for an anxiety disorder to accompany another anxiety
disorder, or in some cases depression, eating disorders or
substance abuse. Anxiety disorders can also coexist with physical
disorders. In such instances, these disorders will also need to be
treated. Before undergoing any treatment, it is important to have a
thorough medical exam to rule out other possible causes.
Source: Institute of Mental Health, Singapore
