Anxiety Disorders: Types and Treatments

• Why am I so anxious all the time?
• Is anxiety curable?
• How can I tell if my anxiety is getting worse?

To be clear, anxiety is a good thing. It serves as a natural alarm system designed to keep our bodies safe. It heightens our awareness in threatening situations, helping us respond effectively to potential dangers.

But most of us have a tendency to confuse feeling anxious with having an anxiety disorder. We issue blanket statements like, ‘I’m so stressed about my exams. I think I am having a panic attack,’ or ‘I’m terrified of walking alone on a lonely road at night. It must be some kind of phobia.’

Being anxious, nervous, or scared about difficult situations like an upcoming exam, a job interview, paying off a loan, etc. is totally normal. It doesn’t mean you have an anxiety disorder. Similarly, if you don’t want to go out to a party with many people, but instead prefer watching a movie at home or going out for a quiet dinner with your friends, that doesn’t mean you have social anxiety. It just means you have  your own preferences.

So when does anxiety become a problem?

Anxiety becomes a problem when it starts to interfere with your daily life, causing you a lot of distress and making it hard to go about your daily activities. If your worries or fears are overwhelming and stop you from living your life the way you want, if there are certain harmful or nagging thoughts you just can’t let go of, that’s when it might be considered a clinical anxiety disorder.

What are Anxiety Disorders?

Anxiety disorders are conditions where people feel unusually worried, scared or nervous much of the time, even when there’s no clear reason to feel that way. These feelings can be so strong that they affect a person’s day-to-day activities and make it hard for them to do regular stuff like going to work and spending time with family.

Key Statistics

• Anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders in the world, affecting 301 million worldwide.
• Anxiety disorders tend to affect women more than men.
• During the pandemic, prevalence of anxiety and depression among Indians increased by 35%.
• Anxiety disorders are one of the most common mental health disorders among Indian adolescents aged between 10-19 years.

Types of Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders come in all shapes and sizes, each with its own set of quirks and challenges. The major ones include:

• Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Characterised by excessive, uncontrollable worry about various aspects of daily life.
• Panic Disorder: Involves recurrent, unexpected panic attacks and fear of future attacks.
• Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia): Intense fear of social situations and being judged or scrutinised by others.
• Specific Phobias: Irrational fear of specific objects or situations, such as heights or spiders.
• Agoraphobia: Fear of situations where escape might be difficult, often leading to avoidance of open or crowded places.
• Separation Anxiety Disorder: Excessive fear of being separated from attachment figures, often seen in children but can affect adults too.

Why You Shouldn’t Self-Diagnose Anxiety

Many people try to self-diagnose themselves when it comes to anxiety.

It might seem like a good idea at the time, especially since there’s so much anxiety info available online. But the important thing to know is that anxiety shows up in different ways, and it can look like other mental health conditions as well.

Also, trying to diagnose yourself can make you feel more stressed and anxious. If you get things wrong or trust the wrong info, it will only make your worries worse.

Remember: When it comes to anxiety, you should never try to self-diagnose yourself, especially by reading up on the internet. It’s essential that you consult with a healthcare professional for a comprehensive evaluation and diagnosis based on your specific symptoms and circumstances.

Treatment Options

It is very common for a person to feel ashamed about their constant anxiety. While we agree that the feeling is valid, we are here to strongly remind you that you have nothing to be ashamed of.

Anxiety is more common than you can imagine, and seeking help is a brave step. The good news is, there are highly effective treatments for anxiety disorders. The bad news is that only 1 in 4 people end up receiving the treatment they need. That said, by raising awareness and ending social stigmas, that number can improve.

Treatment options for anxiety disorders include:

Psychotherapy

Therapy entails working with an expert who doesn’t just care about you, but is clinically trained to help you get better.  In therapy, you will process your thoughts, feelings, and actions related to anxiety. You’ll learn useful techniques to challenge your existing thought patterns and learn to cope with your triggers. 

It’s a safe place to share without worrying about being judged, and it can help you feel more confident about handling tough situations.

Medication

While therapy is an extremely effective, long-term solution to manage anxiety, at times short-term medication is also required to bring extreme anxiety under control and put a patient on the therapy track.

Antidepressants like SSRIs and benzodiazepines can help calm your mind and body. They can ease things like fast heartbeats or sweaty palms. But remember, medicine isn’t a quick fix, and it’s best when used alongside therapy for long-term relief.

Holistic Care

At BetterPlace, we have a strong focus on following a holistic care approach. We lean heavily on the right psychometric assessments to build a deep understanding of your history, your problem, overall personality, and your coping methods. Based on the findings, we build a multimodal care plan most suited to your individual needs.

Natural Remedies & Self Care

Natural remedies are not a substitute for professional care. We cannot emphasize this enough. 

However, incorporating lifestyle changes around diet, exercise, and meditation go a long way in managing symptoms of anxiety. There is a strong relationship between our mental and physical health and each one impacts the other. 

Relaxation techniques like yoga, mindfulness, and spending time in nature can help reduce and manage symptoms of anxiety. It’s all about finding what works best for you and incorporating it into your daily routine, alongside working with a professional.