“Anxiety Disorders” is a term used to describe a group of psychological illnesses:

People who may have an anxiety disorder often experience common symptoms of fear and panic.
Anxiety has physical and emotional symptoms similar to those of fear. Fear is always based on or triggered by something. People affected by anxiety feel a fear, but find it difficult to name the reason why that they feel anxious.

• Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) - marked by unrealistic and excessive worry accompanied by constant and often unnecessary worry about anything or everything.
• Specific Phobias - intense fear of particular objects or situations.
• Social Phobia - intense fear of being seen negatively by other people.
• Panic Disorder – repeated panic attacks experiencing physical symptoms of panic fearing the attack itself will lead to loss of control.
• Agoraphobia - fear of being in a situation where escape may be impossible or a panic attack may occur.
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) - persistent and unwanted thoughts which constantly invade and disrupt a person’s life, may result in performing actions or processes over and over in an attempt to reduce the anxiety regarding the thoughts.
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - feelings of uncontrollable fear, flashbacks after a traumatic experience, resulting in a person feeling unable to function in their daily life.

Everyone has at one time or another experienced anxiety in the normal stress and strain of every day living, but the anxiety felt with an anxiety disorder is more extreme in its intensity than that which is commonly experienced.

People experiencing Anxiety Disorders are frequently misunderstood or dismissed as “the worry well”. They are thought to be suffering from nerves or being highly strung. Society has been slow to recognise the extent of the suffering of the disability associated with Anxiety Disorders.

ANXIETY

WHAT CAN START ANXIETY BECOMING A PROBLEM?

Environmental Factors for example:

• A Bereavement               
• Separation / Divorce               
• Moving House                   
• Loss of Employment               
• Changing Schools
• Starting University
• Financial Problems
• Illness
• Marital Problems
• Build Up of Stressors

Biological Factors:

• Imbalance of chemicals in the brain that regulate feelings and physical reactions, resulting in anxiety.

Genetic Factors:

• Research is in its early stages and is still unclear but indicates that anxiety disorders may be genetic. The anxiety disorder may be in a  different form for each family member. 

ANXIETY SYMPTOMS

• Heart Palpitations               
• Chest Pain                   
• Breathing Difficulties               
• Nausea                       
• Choking Sensations               
• Giddiness                   
• Tingling or Burning               
• Sleep Disturbance               
• Lack of Appetite               
• Feeling Very Worried               
• Gambling
• Alcohol Abuse
• Self Medicating
• Feeling Faint
• Sweating
• Hot or Cold Flushes
• Trembling
• Tunnel Vision / Blurred Vision
• Pins and Needles
• Diarrhoea
• Feelings of Unreality
• Swallowing Difficulty
• Easily Tired