The Troubles of
the
Anxious
Everyone feels anxious at some point in their life.
However, anxiety disorders are incredible debilitating and interfere with the individual's well-being and daily functioning.
These disorders are the most common type of mental illness with many different types, such as Specfic Phobias, Social Anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder,
Panic Disorder, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
The Tale of
The Robin
with Aerophobia
The fear of flying (usually, in an airplane)
Specific Phobias are an intense and debilitating fear of a specific object (animals) or situation (heights, elevators, cars, etc). These objects/situations usually do not pose a very dangerous risk.
The symptoms include:
Avoidance
Heart Pounding
Difficulty Breathing
Nausea
Sweating
Trembling
Dizziness
Anticipatory Anxiety
Intense anxiety and fear before the situation or the possibility of seeing the object.
This fear may cause these individuals to avoid everyday situations that include some aspect of the phobia.
The Socially Anxious
Chameleon
none
Social Anxiety Disorder or Social Phobia is characterized by a intense fear of social situations. These individuals fear judgment, rejection, embarrassment, and/or offending others.
The symptoms include:
Avoidance of Social Situations
Heart Pounding and Sweating
Rigid Body Posture
Soft Voice and Little Eye Contact
Nausea
Trembling
Dizziness
Feeling Self-Conscious
They may hide from others by avoiding social situations or highly populated places.
Anxiety disorders are debilitating and can lead to harmful and unhealthy behaviors and/or missed opportunities.
These individuals can take medications and/or participate in psychotherapy with exposure or cognitive therapy. They can also join support groups to help relieve and manage their anxiety.