Anxiety

There are different forms of anxiety which, if left untreated, can be debilitating. The diagnostic categories of anxiety disorders include: Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, Social Anxiety Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), all are forms and types of the experience of anxiety. According to Quick Facts: Mental Illness and Addictions in Canada, anxiety is the most common mental illness in Canada affecting 9% of men and 16% of women . Anxiety can appear very suddenly and make one feel as if they are going crazy and are unable to control themselves. Once the fear takes over the anxiety symptoms are exaggerated and feed on each other. Anxiety can be a constant companion as in Generalized Anxiety Disorder, or an episodic event as in Panic Disorder. No matter what one’s specific symptoms and experiences with anxiety are, anxiety is a serious, potentially life threatening disorder that requires medical attention and treatment.

If you think you are suffering from anxiety in any of its forms, contact your medical professional for further investigation and assessment. Remember, like all mental illnesses, anxiety is a treatable condition.

Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia is characterized by avoidance of open spaces and of being in public. People may suffer in their homes for years, afraid to venture out. Social relationships, careers, families and quality of life are all diminished by this disorder.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder
GAD is a pervasive and frightening experience of worry and fear that is out of proportion to the situation at hand. One’s worries may get so out of control that a feeling of general anxiety can lead to a full blown panic attack. People who experience GAD may go on to be diagnosed with Panic Disorder and/or depression if their symptoms persist. Some of the most common symptoms of anxiety are excessive worry or apprehensive expectation that is difficult to control. People with anxiety may feel restless, keyed up or edgy. They may be easily tired and have difficulty concentrating. Someone suffering from anxiety may experience muscle tension and sleep disturbances. With generalized anxiety the worry and fear is not specific; one is not worried about having a panic attack, or being contaminated or gaining weight as in Anorexia Nervosa but the worry is present and is causing significant stress. Usually people suffering from GAD have impaired relationships, problems in their jobs and problems with their friends and families.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
People with OCD are fraught with obsessive worries or anxieties and use ritualistic or repetitive behaviours to manage their feelings. The incidence of OCD among Canadians is approximately 1.8% . People suffering from OCD experience compulsions like constant hand washing or cleaning, avoiding objects that are deemed unclean or substandard, and checking and rechecking that doors are locked and that the stove is off. These behaviours are the result of fear and worry about a variety of issues. Common obsessions include fear of contamination, disturbing sexual or religious thoughts, and concerns and about illness or the body. The constant monitoring of one’s environment for “anything out of place” can wreak havoc on someone’s quality of life. Obsessing about anything robs us of the ability to be mindful and insightful in our lives; all of our mental energy is used thinking about one thing and perhaps engaging in lengthy, futile efforts to control that one thing. People with OCD are not free to enjoy some of the simplest things in life. Worry and anxiety about seemingly little or uncontrollable circumstances in life take a toll on the person with OCD.

Panic Disorder
Panic disorder is manifested by sudden and unpredictable attacks of extreme anxiety with physiological symptoms. People having an anxiety or panic attack can feel as though their body is in an emergency or crisis state; racing heart, hot and cold flashes, nausea and trembling are all physical symptoms of an anxiety or panic attack. Many people report that they thought they were having a heart attack when they were in the grips of panic. Other symptoms can include: dizziness, difficulty breathing or taking a deep breath, feelings of terror or perceptual distortions; one can feel very disconnected from one's body and mind during an anxiety of panic attack.  Often people with panic disorder have gone through medical tests for heart disease, high blood pressure and a range of other physical ailments before a correct diagnosis of panic disorder is made.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
This illness is usually diagnosed following a traumatic event in one’s life; even a trauma that happened many years ago can affect one’s mental health years later. People diagnosed with PTSD have had some very frightening or life-threatening occurrence in their life and something in their current situation triggers similar feelings to what occurred in the past trauma. Basically, with post traumatic stress disorder we are taken back to an event in the past as if it were happening now. Some examples of traumas that can induce PTSD are: witnessing or being a victim of assault or other violent crime; being involved in a natural disaster like a hurricane or earthquake; engaging in war activities; being involved in a major accident; childhood sexual abuse, rape, and/or physical attack in any form.  We often associate veterans coming home from war with PTSD and sometimes we forget the less obvious sources of trauma like family violence. Not everyone who experiences trauma winds up with a mental health diagnosis of PTSD; we all experience trauma in different ways.

Social Anxiety
Persistent, irrational fear of people and social situations is the manifestation of social anxiety disorder. People with this disorder believe they are being watched and judged by others and go to great lengths to avoid any situation where they think they may be under scrutiny. Like all other mental illnesses, having a diagnosis of social anxiety disorder will greatly affect one’s life. For most people, social activities and interactions with others are what make life worth living. For those with social anxiety disorder these seemingly necessary connections in life are almost impossible.