Types of Anxiety Disorder/ Depression

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Subject Teacher, Personal Development

 Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
 Characterized by excessive, exaggerated anxiety and worry about everyday life events with
no obvious reasons for worry.
 People with symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder tend to always expect disaster and
can't stop worrying about health, money, family, work, or school.
 GAD affects the way a person thinks, but the anxiety can lead to physical symptoms, as well.
 Symptoms:
-Excessive, ongoing worry and tension
-An unrealistic view of problems
-Restlessness or a feeling of being "edgy"
-Irritability
-Muscle tension
-Headaches
-Sweating
-Difficulty concentrating
-Nausea
-The need to go to the bathroom frequently
-Tiredness
 The exact cause of GAD is not fully known, but a number of factors -- including genetics, brain
chemistry, and environmental stresses -- appear to contribute to its development.
 Genetics
- Some research suggests that family history plays a part in increasing the likelihood
that a person will develop GAD. This means that the tendency to develop GAD may
be passed on in families.
 Brain chemistry
- GAD has been associated with abnormal functioning of certain nerve cell pathways
that connect particular brain regions involved in thinking and emotion.
 Environmental factors
- Trauma and stressful events, such as abuse, the death of a loved one, divorce,
changing jobs or schools, may contribute to GAD. GAD also may become worse
during periods of stress.

 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

 a common, chronic and long-lasting disorder in which a person has uncontrollable,
reoccurring thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions) that he or she feels the urge
to repeat over and over.
 Symptoms:
 Obsessions
- are repeated thoughts, urges, or mental images that cause anxiety. Common
symptoms include:
 Fear of germs or contamination
 Unwanted forbidden or taboo thoughts involving sex, religion, and harm
 Aggressive thoughts towards others or self
 Having things symmetrical or in a perfect order
 Compulsions
- are repetitive behaviors that a person with OCD feels the urge to do in response to
an obsessive thought. Common compulsions include:
 Excessive cleaning and/or hand washing
 Ordering and arranging things in a particular, precise way
 Repeatedly checking on things, such as repeatedly checking to see if the door
is locked or that the oven is off
 Compulsive counting
 Panic Disorder
 an anxiety disorder and is characterized by unexpected and repeated episodes of intense
fear accompanied by physical symptoms that may include chest pain, heart palpitations,
shortness of breath, sweating, dizziness, or abdominal distress –called panic attacks.
 Severe stress, such as the death of a loved one, divorce, or job loss can also trigger panic
attacks. Panic attacks can also be caused by medical conditions and other physical causes.
 Panic attacks typically include some of these signs or symptoms:
 Sense of impending doom or danger
 Fear of loss of control or death
 Rapid, pounding heart rate
 Sweating
 Trembling or shaking.
 Shortness of breath or tightness in your throat
 Chills
 Hot flashes
 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
 A mental health condition that's triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or
witnessing it.
 Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable
thoughts about the event.
 PTSD symptoms are generally grouped into four types: intrusive memories, avoidance,
negative changes in thinking and mood, and changes in physical and emotional reactions.
 Intrusive memories
 Recurrent, unwanted distressing memories of the traumatic event
 Reliving the traumatic event as if it were happening again (flashbacks)
 Upsetting dreams or nightmares about the traumatic event
 Severe emotional distress or physical reactions to something that reminds
you of the traumatic event
 Avoidance
 Trying to avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event
 Avoiding places, activities or people that remind you of the traumatic event
 Negative changes in thinking and mood
 Negative thoughts about yourself, other people or the world
 Hopelessness about the future
 Memory problems, including not remembering important aspects of the
traumatic event
 Difficulty maintaining close relationships
 Changes in physical and emotional reactions
 Being easily startled or frightened
 Always being on guard for danger
 Self-destructive behavior, such as drinking too much or driving too fast
 Trouble sleeping

 Social Phobia (or Social Anxiety Disorder)

 Social Phobia, or Social Anxiety Disorder, is an anxiety disorder characterized by
overwhelming anxiety and excessive self-consciousness in everyday social situations.
 Social phobia can be limited to only one type of situation - such as a fear of speaking in
formal or informal situations, or eating or drinking in front of others - or, in its most severe
form, may be so broad that a person experiences symptoms almost anytime they are around
other people.
  Phobias, Specific Phobia
 A specific phobia is excessive and persistent fear of a specific object, situation or activity that
is generally not harmful. Patients know their fear is excessive, but they can’t overcome it.
 These fears cause such distress that some people go to extreme lengths to avoid what they
fear.
 Examples are fear of flying or fear of spiders.
 Agoraphobia
 The fear of being in situations where escape may be difficult or embarrassing, or help might
not be available in the event of panic symptoms. The fear is out of proportion to the actual
situation and lasts generally six months or more and causes problems in functioning.
 A person with agoraphobia experiences this fear in two or more of the following situations:
 Using public transportation
 Being in open spaces
 Being in enclosed places
 Standing in line or being in a crowd
 Being outside the home alone
 Separation Anxiety Disorder
 A person with separation anxiety disorder is excessively fearful or anxious about separation
from those with whom he or she is attached.
 A person with separation anxiety disorder may be persistently worried about losing the
person closest to him or her, may be reluctant or refuse to go out or sleep away from home
or without that person, or may experience nightmares about separation.

Portfolio Output No. 13: Research on Anxiety Disorders/ Depression

1.) What are anxiety disorder/ depression?

 Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress and can be beneficial in some situations. It can alert us to
dangers and help us prepare and pay attention. Anxiety disorders differ from normal feelings of
nervousness or anxiousness, and involve excessive fear or anxiety. Anxiety disorders are the most
common of mental disorders and affect nearly 30 percent of adults at some point in their lives. . But
anxiety disorders are treatable and a number of effective treatments are available. Treatment helps
most people lead normal productive lives.

2.) Who gets anxiety disorders/ depression and how common are they?

 These disorders are the number one mental health problem in women, and the second-most
common mental health problem in men, just behind addiction. They also develop in children.
 Anxiety disorders are the most common of all mental health problems. Research into these
disorders has shown that up to 1 in 4 adults will have an anxiety disorder in their lifetime, and that up
to 1 in 10 people will have an anxiety disorder each year.

3.) Describe some of the symptoms of anxiety disorders/depression?

 Persistent sad, anxious or "empty" mood

 Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism is a negative or depressed mental attitude in which an
undesirable outcome is anticipated from a given situation.
 Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
 Decreased energy, fatigue, feeling "slowed down"
 Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
 Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
 Low appetite and weight loss or overeating and weight gain
 Thoughts of death or suicide, suicide attempts
 Restlessness, irritability
4.) List and briefly explain some of the main types of anxiety disorders/ depression.

A. Generalized Anxiety Disorder

 An anxiety disorder characterized by chronic anxiety, exaggerated worry and tension, even when
there is little or nothing to provoke it.

B. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

 An anxiety disorder and is characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and/or

repetitive behaviors (compulsions).

C. Panic Disorder

 an anxiety disorder and is characterized by unexpected and repeated episodes of intense fear
accompanied by physical symptoms that may include chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of
breath, dizziness, or abdominal distress.

D. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

 An anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to a terrifying event or ordeal in which grave
physical harm occurred or was threatened.

E. Social Phobia (or Social Anxiety Disorder)

 An anxiety disorder characterized by overwhelming anxiety and excessive self-consciousness in

everyday social situations.

5.) What type of treatment is available for people experiencing anxiety disorders/ depression?

 Medication
-Many antidepressants can work for anxiety disorders. They include escitalopram (Lexapro) and
fluoxetine (Prozac). Certain anticonvulsant medicines (typically taken for epilepsy) and low-dose
antipsychotic drugs can be added to help make other treatments work better. Anxiolytics are also
drugs that help lower anxiety. Examples are alprazolam (Xanax) and clonazepam (Klonopin). They’re
prescribed for social or generalized anxiety disorder as well as for panic attacks.
 Psychotherapy
-This is a type of counseling that addresses the emotional response to mental illness. A mental health
specialist helps you by talking about how to understand and deal with your anxiety disorder.

6.) What other kinds of support can help a person with anxiety disorders/ depression recover?

 Try relaxation techniques, meditation, and breathing exercises.

 Talk with family members and friends and explain how they can be helpful.
 Regular exercise can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.
 Spend time talking about their experiences.
 Indicate that you've noticed a change in their behavior / emotions / feelings.
 Let them know you're there to listen without being judgmental.