Anxiety
| Category |
Common Mental Health Problems |
The characteristic feature of anxiety disorder is excessive fear or worry.
Types of Anxiety Disorders
Panic Disorder
- Sudden onset of palpitations
- Sweating Trembling/Shaking
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea/ Abdominal Distress
- Chest Pain
- Choking sensations
- Dizziness
- Feelings of unreality
- Fear of dying
- Feelings of losing control
- Feelings of going mad.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Anxiety is generalized, persistent but not restricted to any particular environmental circumstances.
- Persistent nervousness
- Restlessness or feeling on the edge
- Trembling
- Muscular Tension
- Sweating
- Light Headedness
- Palpitations
- Dizziness
Agoraphobia
- Characterized by fear of open spaces, using public transportation, being in enclosed spaces, presence of crowds or being outside the home alone, and the difficulty of immediate easy escape to a safe place.
- Agoraphobic situations produce anxiety, are actively avoided and accompanied by intense fear and anxiety.
Social Phobias
- Characterized by fear of scrutiny by other people leading to avoidance of social situations.
- Examples: social interactions like having a conversation, meeting unfamiliar people, being observed/ eating, and performing in front of others. Social situations provoke fear/ anxiety. Blushing, hand tremors, and nausea are some of the common symptoms.
Specific Phobias
- Restricted to highly specific situations like closed space, urinating or defecating in public toilets, eating a certain food, dentistry, the sight of blood/injury, fear of exposure to specific diseases. The specific phobic situation always provokes immediate fear or anxiety. Fear causes significant impairment and distress.
