Anxiety | Anxiety Disorders | Self-Test for Anxiety Disorders

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What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is a complicated topic, and it's important to understand all the different types of anxiety disorders. Each person experiences anxiety differently, so it's important to take into account your individual experience when looking at symptoms or triggers. 

If you are experiencing anxiety or panic attacks, we encourage you to seek help from a mental health professional who can provide more specific advice about what might be happening to you. Keep in mind that when we talk about "anxiety" here, we are talking about both physical and mental distress.

What is an anxiety disorder?

An anxiety disorder is a group of mental disorders that cause extreme feelings of anxiety and worry. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States and around the world, with an estimated 30 million Americans affected by them at any given time.

Anxiety disorders can affect anyone at any age or stage in life, but they tend to begin during adolescence or young adulthood (late teens through early twenties). Symptoms include sudden increases in heart rate, shortness of breath, stomachache/vomiting/diarrhea/dizziness/shaking hands, etc., inability to concentrate on work or school tasks due to fear about what is going on around you (usually imagined events), recurring thoughts about dying from something like a car accident instead of cancer as an example.

Who gets anxiety disorders?

Anxiety disorders affect about 40 million Americans or 18% of the population. Anxiety disorders are more common in women than in men and more common among young adults than older adults. People with other mental health problems, such as depression and substance abuse, may also have anxiety disorders more often than those without these co-existing conditions.

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Causes of anxiety disorders

The causes of anxiety disorders are varied and complex. The following is a list of some common factors that may contribute to the development of an anxiety disorder:

Genes:

Some people inherit certain genes that predispose them to develop certain types of mental health conditions, such as depression or generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

Biological factors: 

Biological factors such as stress, trauma, and diet may play a role in causing anxiety disorders.

Environmental factors: 

Environmental factors such as overthinking about life events, traumatic events, or even just everyday activities can also cause problems with mental health issues like GAD or depression.

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Symptoms of an Anxiety Attack

The symptoms of an anxiety attack are often mistaken for a heart attack.

• Troubles breathing
• Nausea
• Sweating
• Dizziness
• Chest pain or discomfort that spreads to your arm or shoulder area (anxiety chest pain)
• Feeling like you’re going to die/faint/pass out.

Diagnosis Anxiety Disorders 

The symptoms of anxiety disorders vary, but they often include:

• Worrying about a lot of things that aren't very important.
• Feeling nervous or uncomfortable in social situations.
• Feeling irritable and easily annoyed.

If you've been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, your doctor will ask about your symptoms and how long they've been bothering you. The doctor may also check for other conditions that can cause similar symptoms—and sometimes it's helpful to get checked out by a therapist or counselor first so that the two of them can work together to figure out what's causing your problems.

Is there a Self-Test for Anxiety Disorders?

While there are many self-tests for anxiety disorders, the following are just a few:

Check your pulse

You can do this by placing two fingers on your wrist and counting how long it takes for them to be pressed against each other. If you're breathing fast or having trouble counting on your toes, chances are high that you've got some anxiety going on. A faster heartbeat is another sign of stress and panic attacks in particular—you may want to talk with someone about what's going on if this happens often enough!

Take note of how much caffeine (or other stimulants) you consume per day 

Too much will make insomnia worse than ever before; not enough could lead one into more frequent bouts of sleep deprivation due to its effects being masked by caffeine use alone (such as feeling alert while actually being tired).

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Getting Help for An Anxiety Disorder

If you're having trouble managing your anxiety, talk to your doctor. Your doctor can provide medication or talk you through some relaxation exercises that may help.

If talking about feelings isn't working for you and you'd prefer not to see a therapist, there are other options:

• Talk to someone at an online support group like Anxiety Support Online or Reddit's Anxiety Forum about ways of dealing with anxiety in general and then ask for recommendations on how best to handle yours specifically; these groups tend to be open-minded and helpful as well as supportive!
• Try meditation or yoga classes; they're proven ways of reducing stress levels while improving mental health overall--just remember that it takes practice!

There are many types of anxiety disorders. The more you know about anxiety, the better you will be able to help yourself.

There are many types of anxiety disorders. The more you know about anxiety, the better you will be able to help yourself.

Anxiety disorders are a group of mental disorders characterized by feelings of anxiety and fear. They can occur at any age, but they tend to begin in childhood or adolescence and often continue into adulthood. 

Anxiety disorders include.

• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), 
• Panic disorder with or without agoraphobia (PDW), 
• Social anxiety disorder (SAD), 
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), 
• Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 
• And phobias related to specific situations such as heights, spiders, and fear of flying.

Conclusion

If you have a family member who is suffering from an anxiety disorder, please be supportive. It’s important to remember that these disorders are not your fault and there is always help available. It may seem like a daunting task, but if you take things one step at a time, you can help yourself and your loved one, learn how to cope with their disorder, and enjoy life again. 

And remember: You are not alone!