MEDICALLY, A DISORDER is defined as ‘an illness
that disrupts normal physical or mental functions’.
Anxiety disorders are ‘self-damaging thoughts,
feelings and behaviours with anxiety at their core’.
Currently there are five types of anxiety
disorder classified, these are:-
1.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
With a constant underlying anxiety, this problem involves
long-lasting exaggerated and unrealistic worry over such things as: health and
personal safety, the safety of family
members, money problems,
accidents happening etc. It is
often accompanied by physical anxiety symptoms
such as
trembling, being on-edge and body aches.
2.
Panic
Disorder
This involves attacks of panic that appear to come on for no
reason ('out of the blue'). The physical
symptoms of panic include a racing heartbeat (palpitations), chest pain,
sweating, trembling and shaking.
When such attacks happen, many people fear that
they are having a heart attack or stroke, dying or going mad.
Over time, general anxiety increases due to the
worry and fear over having another attack.
3.
Phobias
These can be specific such
as the fear of a certain thing ( eg.
dogs, spiders, snakes – known as simple phobias) or more
generalized, where the fear involves situations.
Generalized phobias include:-
x_ Agoraphobia: the fear of outdoors or places where
relief and/or escape from a panic attack would be difficult.
x_ Social phobia (social anxiety disorder) in which we fear
situations where we have to do things in front of others and there
is the possibility that they may judge or criticize or ridicule or reject us.
4.
Obsessive
Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
This is characterised by the repetitive
performing of rituals
or routines known as compulsions ( eg. hand washing) in order
to relieve anxiety caused
by obsessive thoughts ( obsessions).
One particularly common obsession is the fear of being
contaminated or contaminating others.
5.
Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Here, traumatic events that have been experienced are often
re-lived through flashbacks or nightmares. This can lead the avoidance of
similar situations or places, emotional numbing and the physical symptoms of
anxiety.
Although current beliefs about these problems
limit them
to the list above, Depression
really should be included.
Indeed the link between anxiety and depression problems is now so
well established that medications for depression (antidepressants) are often
prescribed for anxiety.
Eating Disorders should
also be added to the list for
anxiety drives problems ranging from comfort
eating and
constant dieting through to anorexia nervosa and
bulimia.
Anxiety disorders vary as infinitely as the people who get
them. Each problem is unique to the
individual. Expressions of social phobia vary from person to person just as
those of agoraphobia vary from panic disorder and GAD varies from OCD.
However, as unique to the individual these
problems are
and as different to each other they are, these problems develop
for similar reasons and strengthen in a similar way. They do so in a manner
that reflects the way our mind and body works.
When we look more closely at these disorders
(including depression and eating disorders) there are a number of psychological
symptoms common to them all.
Psychological Symptoms Common to Many Anxiety
Disorders
x_ Perfectionism
Involves things like always needing to be the strongest, most
beautiful or handsome, or the cleverest. To have
the best body, to do the best, to be the best etc.
x_ Constantly making comparisons
Always comparing ourselves with other people and coming up short.
x_ Self-consciousness
Constantly watching our self.
x_ Child-like behaviour
Seeking the love and approval of parents and
others.
x_ Fantasising
Common fantasies include: 'one day being rich and famous or being
great, loved by all'.
x_ Excessive Tidiness
This represents attempts to bring form and order to our world, to gain a sense of being in
control.
x_ Symmetry
Here, what is done by (happens to) one side of
the body must be done by (happen to) the
other side. This is also related to order and control.
x_ Ending sentences with questions
We do this to shift the attention away from us to the other person.
x_ Mild paranoia
Can involve constant feelings of 'being picked on' and feeling
that 'others are treated better'.
x_ Poor body image
Believing our body, or parts of it, are 'not
good enough'.
x_ Bad posture
Standing shoulders down, feet inwards and arms
in front of body, trying to be small, almost apologetic for being there.
x_ Others include:-
Persistent negative thoughts and images, constantly looking back for reasons and answers and
feelings of having no control over our mind or body.
Anxiety disorders reflect subconscious ways
humans have
evolved to protect themselves. Almost everyone displays behaviours
associated with these problems at some time in their lives. Behaviours such as
disturbing thoughts, checking, the need for order and cleanliness, anxiety,
panic and despair are inherently part of being human.
How many people (without anxiety problems)…
x_ Say
'Touch Wood' so as not to tempt fate?
x_ Repeatedly
check doors, windows, switches?
x_ Take a
drink before social functions?
x_ Avoid
public speaking at all costs?
In looking at these problems as illnesses and
disorders, the bigger picture is overlooked. And the real way to deal with them
is hidden.