Anxiety is a reaction that you feel when you are stressed. it alerts us to prepare and pay attention and proves beneficial in some instances. However, anxiety disorder is different in that it involves excessive fear and nervousness. It is a type of mental health condition that makes it difficult for a person to get through the day.

Anxiety disorder is a common mental disorder that affects about 30% of the population at some point in their lives. Effective treatment for anxiety attacks is available.

What are Anxiety Disorders?

Anxiety is nothing but a feeling of apprehension about what is yet to come. Anxiety is normally experienced by most individuals in stressful situations such as when you are taking a test or during public speaking. However, anxiety becomes an indicator of some underlying disease only when these feelings become excessive, interfere with your daily living, and are all-consuming.

Individuals suffering from anxiety disorders usually try to avoid situations that could worsen their symptoms. Because of this performance at school, at the job, and even personal relationships can be affected negatively. The anxiety in such individuals is usually out of proportion to the situation concerned and it hinders their ability to function in a normal manner.

There are different types of anxiety disorders including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, and specific phobias such as agoraphobia among them.

Types of Anxiety Disorders

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

This type of anxiety disorder involves excessive worry which hinders normal daily activity. There may be accompanying physical symptoms, such as restlessness, fatigue, difficulty in concentrating, and experiencing muscle tension. The individual experiences common worries focussed on everyday living such as family health, job responsibilities, or other simple and minor matters such as cleaning the car or keeping up appointments.

Panic Disorder

Panic disorder is characterized by recurrent panic attacks, which form an overwhelming combination of psychological as well as physical distress. During a panic attack, several of these symptoms can occur singly or in combination. Some of the common symptoms are sweating, chest pain, fear of losing control, shortness of breath, trembling/shaking, nausea, abdominal pain, etc., among others.

Panic attacks may be expected as a response to an object or event or maybe unexpected without any particular reason. Panic attack symptoms are usually severe and many individuals who experience a panic attack think they are experiencing a heart attack. Panic attacks may accompany other mental disorders like PTSD or depression.

Phobias

A phobia is a persistent and excessive fear of a situation, specific object, or activity that is not usually harmful. Most patients suffering from phobias know that their fear is unwarranted, but they cannot overcome the same. These fears cause much distress and people suffering from phobias may go to any extent to avoid whatever they fear. Common examples are fear of spiders, public speaking, or the fear of flying.

Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia is the fear of being caught in situations where escape will likely be embarrassing or difficult. Sometimes, individuals suffering from agoraphobia imagine that help may not be available if they develop panic symptoms. Such irrational fears may last for six months or more. A person suffering from this anxiety disorder can experience fear when using public transportation, say, in a crowded bus, or when they find themselves in closed or large open spaces.

An individual suffering from agoraphobia tries to avoid such situations from occurring or endures such a situation with excessive fear/anxiety. In extreme cases, they may refuse to get out of the house. A person is diagnosed with agoraphobia only if the individual is intensely fearful and if the fear interferes with normal daily activities.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Otherwise known as social phobia, a person afflicted with social anxiety disorder suffers a significant amount of discomfort and anxiety when they feel humiliated, embarrassed, or rejected during their social interactions. People suffering from social anxiety disorder go to any lengths to avoid such situations or endure the same with excessive discomfort. Common examples include an unnatural fear of meeting new people, public speaking, or eating/drinking in public. Such fear can last up to six months and intrude into their daily lives.

Separation Anxiety Disorder

Those with separation anxiety disorder are anxious or excessively fearful about separation from their loved ones or near and dear. This feeling is one beyond what is appropriate for the individual’s age and is so intense that it can interfere with their daily activities. Individuals suffering from the disorder may experience separation nightmares and may refuse to leave home or go out without the person they are attached to. Such symptoms may often develop during childhood and may last well into adulthood for some.

Treatment for Anxiety Disorders

Effective treatment for anxiety attacks exists. Unfortunately, many individuals suffering from anxiety disorders do not seek help.

Most anxiety disorders respond well to two types of treatment: psychotherapy (cognitive behavioural therapy, meditation) and medications. Learning about the disorder, practising mindfulness, use of correct breathing techniques, building self-esteem and learning to be assertive, can help to manage these disorders.

Why Choose Us – Softmind India

If you have come to SoftMind searching for “anxiety disorder treatment near me” on the Internet, you are on the right page.

Once an anxiety disorder is diagnosed, at Softmind, expert mental health professionals will work with you to fix the right treatment method. Our treatment methods have been developed by experts to address the treatment needs of individuals who suffer from different types of anxiety disorders.

We have more than 18 psychologists and psychiatrists on board, and we deliver the best programs together with the highest standards of care. Our team also consists of trained, qualified, and competent mental health professionals including cognitive behaviour therapists, clinical hypnotherapists, and clinical and counselling psychologists.

The highlights of our treatment programs:

• Expert Personalized treatment
• Evidence-based and non-invasive
• Modern treatment methods
• We handle complicated cases
• Care coordination
• Treatment centres are available throughout Kerala (3 hospitals – Kochi and Calicut and 3 clinics – Thrissur, Alappuzha, and Trivandrum)

If you or your loved one is suffering from any type of anxiety disorder, visit our website at softmindindia.com or call us at +91 9061 818 732. We are here to help.