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Anxiety and Related Disorders: Information for Patients and Families

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Anxiety and Related Disorders: Information for Patients and Families Anxiety and Related Disorders INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS AND FAMILIES INSIDE: What are the symptoms of anxiety disorders? ......2 What causes anxiety disorders? .......................2 How are anxiety disorders diagnosed? .....3 How are anxiety disorders treated? ..........4 If you’re worried about your child or teen...........6 Family or friend? What you can do ............7 Self-management action plan .....................8 What are anxiety disorders? Anxiety is a normal part of life. But anxiety disorders are different from everyday worries. They are chronic medical disorders that cause severe ANXIETY DISORDERS and irrational worry, tension, fear, or dread. Without treatment, they can ARE REAL grow to overwhelm every aspect of daily life. They are medical conditions that affect Anxiety and related disorders include these common types: more than 40 million • Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) Americans, according to the Anxiety and • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) Depression Association • Panic disorder of America. • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Anxiety disorders can also cause severe • Social anxiety disorder (SAD, also called social phobia) symptoms. For some While each disorder has distinct features, they are bound together by a people, these symptoms common fact: all are highly treatable. If you are one of the many people make normal life nearly impossible. suffering from an anxiety disorder, take heart. You can be optimistic about finding relief. With treatment, you can overcome your anxiety But, with good care, most people with disorder — and live a healthier, fuller life. anxiety disorders can overcome them. What are the symptoms of anxiety disorders? Anxiety and related disorders have different patterns of symptoms. GENERALIZED ANXIETY OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE PANIC DISORDER DISORDER (GAD) DISORDER (OCD) The core symptom of panic People with GAD feel a People with OCD suffer from disorder is a panic attack. A steady tension that they one or both of the following panic attack is a sudden sense can’t control. They may symptoms: of overwhelming fear. It can worry constantly, even when occur seemingly without • Persistent, unwelcome there is no obvious reason. reason and bring on extreme thoughts (obsessions) Tension and worry can cause emotions and physical signs, these symptoms: • Urgent need to repeat such as: certain ritual behaviors • Restlessness or feeling • Pounding heart, chest pain, (compulsions) “on edge” shortness of breath, sweating, People with OCD realize that trembling, dizziness • Fatigue and trouble their thoughts and impulses concentrating • Feeling unreal or aren’t normal. They try to disconnected • Headaches and muscle ignore them. They may try to • tension hide them from other people. Fear of having a heart attack or “going crazy” • Trembling, sweating, and But despite their efforts, people with OCD remain in For some people, a hot flashes the grip of their obsessions panic attack is a one-time • Feeling dizzy or out and compulsions. Eventually, event. But panic disorder of breath the thoughts and actions usually means having 2 or • Trouble falling asleep or that stem from OCD can more attacks — and constantly sleeping through the night overwhelm daily life. fearing another. “I worry about everything “I know these routines — “They come out of the blue — and nothing — and I can the double-checking, the these intense surges of fear. never really relax. I have a counting — aren’t normal. My heart pounds and I start lot of trouble sleeping, too. But I can’t stop them. And shaking. I dread it happening Sometimes I can barely drag now they’re taking over my again, and I avoid places myself to work.” whole life.” where I had one before.” What causes anxiety disorders? Scientists believe that many factors may combine to cause anxiety disorders. Here are a few of the most likely: • Brain chemistry. Brain chemistry is almost • Family history (genetics). Studies show that certainly a factor in anxiety disorders. How anxiety disorders run in families. This is probably do we know? Symptoms are often relieved by due mostly to genetics. Identical twins are more medications that alter levels of chemicals in likely to share an anxiety disorder than twins who the brain. are not identical. Anxiety disorders can begin in childhood. If you are a parent, watch your children • Life experiences. Exposure to abuse, violence, for symptoms so they can be treated early. or poverty may increase the likelihood of getting these illnesses. • Learned behaviors and thinking patterns. People with low self-esteem and poor coping skills may be prone to anxiety disorders. 2 ANXIETY AND OTHER RELATED DISORDERS POST-TRAUMATIC SOCIAL ANXIETY STRESS DISORDER DISORDER (SAD, (PTSD) ALSO CALLED SOCIAL PTSD can happen to someone PHOBIA) who has experienced or People with SAD feel witnessed a trauma like war, overwhelming anxiety in rape, abuse, or violent crime. everyday social situations. Other experiences can also They have an intense fear of lead to PTSD, such as serious being judged by others or accidents, natural disasters, being embarrassed by their or the sudden death of a own actions. loved one. For some people, anxiety People with PTSD have is linked to one type of repeated and frightening situation, such as public thoughts and memories of speaking. For others, the the trauma. They may be fear is far broader and causes depressed. They may feel symptoms almost any time OTHER CONDITIONS emotionally numb, especially they’re around others. Many THAT MAY CO-EXIST toward people they were people with this illness have WITH ANXIETY once close to. They may a hard time making and DISORDERS feel irritable and be more keeping friends. aggressive than they used to People with anxiety be. In severe cases, people disorders often have with PTSD may have trouble “Talking with anyone other mental health working or socializing. except my family was nerve- problems as well. A wracking. Speaking in class person with an anxiety “They said that time would was out of the question. And disorder may also have: if I can’t hold a conversation, heal me. Not in my case. I try • Depression not to think or talk about it, how can I have friends? ” • Another anxiety disorder but the memory floods over me nearly every day.” • Substance abuse If you have one of these problems, you’ll need to treat it as well. How are anxiety disorders diagnosed? Doctors use several different tools to learn about conditions and make a diagnosis: • Questionnaires. Your doctor may use questionnaires (forms) to check for anxiety and other mental health problems. The questionnaires ask about your symptoms, stress, coping style, and support system. • Medical history. Your doctor asks about your past and present illnesses and your family history. • Physical exam. An exam helps your doctor know if your symptoms come from something other than an anxiety disorder. • Guidelines for diagnosis. Your doctor compares your information to standard medical definitions for mental health disorders. ANXIETY AND OTHER ANXIETY AND OTHER 3 RELATED DISORDERS RELATED DISORDERS How are anxiety COUNSELING disorders treated? Also called psychotherapy or “talk therapy,” counseling can help you understand your You have several options for treatment. Your problems and develop ways to work doctor or other healthcare provider will work through them. with you to create a treatment plan that fits What to expect… your needs. It may include a coordinated team if you choose this type of treatment approach with counseling, medication, care • There are different types of counseling, each management, or a combination of the three. with a special focus. For example, counseling Although these treatments may not cure your may focus on changing your thinking patterns. It can also teach new ways to help anxiety disorder, they can help relieve your you cope. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) symptoms. And as your symptoms ease, your combines these strategies to help you unlearn health improves. It can take some time and old patterns and adopt healthier thoughts several visits to find the right treatments, but it’s and reactions. worth the effort to feel better. • Counseling is geared to the person’s situation and development. For example, There are also some basic steps you can take to counseling for children may include play manage your condition and feel better. These therapy or involve the family. Counseling for an elderly person may include screening for include regular exercise, a healthy diet, getting conditions that come on with age, or involve enough sleep, and others — see page 8. family and caregivers. • A key to successful counseling is finding a counselor you feel comfortable with. Counseling is a partnership that requires trust. • Keep in mind that although counseling can be short-term, it often takes time to work. What to do… to self-manage this part of treatment • Talk with your doctor about the kind of therapy you may want to pursue. Shop around until you find a counselor you “click” with. • To learn more about CBT, check out these books: – The Cognitive Behavioral Workbook for Anxiety: A Step-by-Step Program, by William Knaus, EdD THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE – The Anxiety and Worry Workbook: The Anxiety symptoms can lead a person to think Cognitive Behavioral Solution, by David of ending it all. These thoughts are dangerous Clark, PhD, and Aaron Beck, MD and can put you and your family at risk. If • Be consistent with counseling. Stay focused you have thoughts like these while you are on the goals you set with your counselor. being treated for an anxiety disorder, be sure • Follow your doctor’s directions. Complete to contact your doctor right away. Effective any assignments you’re given. Ask for help treatment can help you see the value of life from family and friends when you need it. clearly again. Behavior change is hard, but it’s worth it. 4 ANXIETY AND OTHER RELATED DISORDERS MEDICATION CARE MANAGEMENT Several different types of medications are Care management uses a team approach to used to treat these disorders.
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