Anxiety Disorder: Everything You Need to Know

Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder

How do you know if you or someone you know is dealing with anxiety? Well, check for these signs and symptoms:

• Feeling worried
• Fear that  makes you feel out of control
• You constantly feel your relationship, with your loved ones is in trouble
• Feeling scared and paranoid in social situations
• Trouble sleeping
• Completing daily tasks like eating, cleaning, going to work seems difficult
• Restlessness
• Rapid heartbeat
• Poor focus or attention
• Agitation
• Difficulties with transitions of life
• Constant worry
• Avoiding social situations
• Excessive shyness
• Complaints of frequent headaches and/or stomach aches  
• Avoiding situations or places due to fear
• Encountering frequent panic attacks

Panic Attack vs Anxiety Attack: Major Differences

Are panic and anxiety attacks the same? No, they are not the same, they are two different disorders. Panic attacks and anxiety are commonly misunderstood because there is a similarity in the symptoms of anxiety and panic.

The combination of fear and stress affect our experience in daily life – making us uneasy, bitter and confused.  When we are worried about a future event, or anticipating a bad outcome, we tend to experience a general feeling of uneasiness and muscle tension, which results in anxiety. If an individual encounters it continuously then it is an anxiety psychiatric disorder.

If a person is unsure about what their symptoms indicate, it can be difficult to find the appropriate psychiatric treatment for anxiety disorder and panic attack treatment. Panic attacks can lead to suffering without any warnings. When the body’s nervous system senses awkward situations, or when it feels like it’s under danger or any attack, it tends to lose its control over the body. Panic attacks last for 20-30 minutes and peaks within 10 minutes of the initial symptoms.

Anxiety attack is an intense form of emotion.  It is very predictable because it is a natural response to certain situations.  Anxiety is more severe than a simple feeling, it happens in the back of your mind while you go about your day-to-day activity.  

Symptoms of Anxiety and Panic Attack

Physical Symptoms

Anxiety Panic Attack Rapid and high heartbeat pounding Sense of impending doom or danger Stomach discomfort Dizziness, lightheadedness or faintness Difficulty in deep breathing Hot flashes Sharp chest pains Abdominal cramps Nausea The feeling of unreality or detachment

Symptoms Based on the Situation

Scenario Panic Attack Anxiety Symptoms Intense Mild Duration Short – long Onset Sudden Gradual Disorder

Signs of General Anxiety Disorder

How often do you see a doctor for treating restlessness, fatigue or your lack of concentration in the office? Well, people try to reason it out with themselves in their own way, never knowing that they are just on the brink of a mental disorder and that it might take a heavy toll on their health, if not attended to immediately.

• Notice Symptoms

That is exactly why it’s so important to consult a doctor in case you experience the above-mentioned symptoms of anxiety disorder. At the most, you pop a vitamin pill that you are so often used to taking, not knowing if it is at all useful in addressing the core problem that has been bothering you and affecting your efficiency, along with your happiness and peace of mind.

• Recognize the Problem

Restlessness, fatigue, lack of concentration, getting easily irritated, muscle tension, uncontrollable worries, sleep problems, etc. are some of the early symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder, or GAD. It’s a commonly occurring mental disorder. Not recognizing GAD as a problem and treating it as a routine health issue, as well as resorting to self-medication can have dire health and financial consequences.

• Ignore Prevailing Taboos

Because of prevailing taboos about mental illness, very few people acknowledge the problem and come forward for psychiatric treatment for anxiety disorder. That actually makes matters worse and the treatment is difficult and a long drawn process. That’s what makes GAD so pervasive and a serious mental health issue, across the globe today. Recognise the symptoms and do not hesitate to seek professional help.

Treatment for Anxiety Disorder

Cadabams Hospitals is one of Bengaluru’s most reliable mental healthcare and rehabilitation institutions. Our team of experts with over 3 decades of experience provided personalised treatment and care options that are suitable for the individual suffering from anxiety or panic attacks.  The common symptoms of GAD can be treated through medication and therapies, or a combination of both, depending on the gravity of the problem.

• Holistic Treatment

Cadabams offers a comprehensive treatment plan to address the various symptoms of GAD through a combination of evidence-based treatment processes. We use state-of-the-art equipment and treatment options, such as biofeedback, rTMS and Psychotherapy that are effective in treating depression, which is a common symptom associated with untreated GAD.

• Individual Data

Most mental illnesses involve the mind, body, and the physical environment around them. The correlation between these factors has been studied, and the devices that are globally accepted help get historic data on an individual’s response to these combined factors. This data is then used to build predictive mechanisms that can forecast mood swings.

• Understanding the Patient

At Cadabams Hospitals, biofeedback therapy involves the assessment of bodily activities such as heart rate, blood pressure, temperature and other vital information to understand and know more about the patient’s psychological behaviour. It helps increase awareness about bodily processes through the use of sophisticated instruments and monitoring procedures to identify and correlate voluntary and involuntary physiological responses.

• The Root of the Problem

A patient undergoing biofeedback therapy will be able to better understand the dynamics of his behaviour during a stressful or mood-altering situation. On ascertaining the reasons for the specific behaviour, treatment is then strategically applied (i.e. focused deep breathing; affirmations; altering thoughts, beliefs, and memories) and the response measured using the same mechanism. Cadabams has biofeedback solutions to prevent relapse in illnesses such as bipolar affective disorder, addiction, GAD, etc.

• Feeling Happy

When a patient is stressed or hyperactive, they need relaxation. When an individual is suffering from depression, a feeling of well-being will have a positive impact on their mental health. rTMS or repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Wave System is a wonderful way of making you feel happy and mentally healthy.

The rTMS device sends magnetic waves to the brain. This is done to induce a sense of well-being by increasing blood circulation and oxygen supply to the brain. This enhances concentration, reduces stress, and brings about a sense of balance. It also helps with other mental illnesses and the symptoms of GAD. At Cadabams Hospitals, patients with stress, depression, anxiety, and some adult psychiatric problems have recovered well through this treatment.

• Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is an effective way of treating people with mental disorders including GAD. It helps patients understand their illness and find a proper remedy for it. It teaches them various strategies and equips them with tools to deal with stress and unhealthy thoughts and behaviours. Psychotherapy helps patients manage their symptoms better and function at their best in their everyday lives.

Sometimes psychotherapy alone can provide the best possible solution to a large number of mental illnesses, depending on the nature and severity of the illness. Normally, psychotherapy is combined with medications for an effective anxiety disorder curable. Therapists work in tandem with the patient’s family members to come up with an appropriate treatment plan.

• Need-Based Therapy

There are various types of psychotherapy, many of them scientifically tested more than others. Some people may have a treatment plan that includes only one type of psychotherapy. Others receive treatment that includes elements of several different types of psychotherapies. The kind of psychotherapy a person receives is decided by their mental healthcare needs.

• Furnish Facts Honestly

The relationship between a therapist and a client is an extremely important one and should not be taken lightly. The therapist is the one with whom a person needs to be honest, share their darkest secrets, fears, and dreams. On the other hand, a person’s therapist needs to be honest, educate the person on issues related to mental health, and the person’s current struggles.

• Therapies from Experts

At Cadabams Hospitals, therapists ensure that you always feel comfortable and at home. The main therapies being offered at the hospital include: cognitive, behavioural, family, and dynamic. Therapy and medication are often used together for the maximum benefit of patients. There are some disorders where medications are used continuously such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, etc.

• Long-Term Cure

Medication provides temporary relief to patients suffering from anxiety and depression. Therapy helps in giving long–term relief and ensures that people with mental illnesses such as GAD are able to lead a normal and healthy life, for a long time to come. Cadabams Hospitals have trained and experienced professional therapists and clinical psychologists on whom patients can bank for advice and formulation of the best possible treatment plan for a long-term cure.

Tips to Reduce Anxiety

Here are a few tips from top therapists and counsellors to help cope and reduce the symptoms of anxiety disorder. Try these when you’re feeling anxious or stressed:

• Exercise – Sweating is often one of the best signs of a healthy mind and body. As per health experts, exercise has been one of the proven techniques against anxiety, depression, and many other medical conditions.
• Minimize Digital Media Usage – Digital media is a boon and a productive tool witha lot of advantages. However, it is to be used in moderation as excessive usage can lead to mental health conditions such as internet addiction, smartphone addiction, social media addiction, and gaming addiction.
• Organise Tasks – Try to organise all your tasks because procrastination and anxiety go hand-in-hand. Due to the unfinished works, pending tasks or postponing events may lead to unwanted stress and anxiety. To cover these situations, organise all the tasks as per priority, maintain deadlines and prepare a to-do list.

Why Cadabams?

At Cadabams Hospitals, our multispecialty team prepares a customised plan to help the individual cope with the illness keeping in mind the bio-psycho-social model. They ease and help manage the symptoms using:

• Psychological Therapy – The clinical psychologists use psychotherapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Motivational Enhancement Therapy (MET), and many more.
• Medication – When the illness is severe and interferes with one’s daily life, they prescribe medication such as the antidepressants called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs).
• Neurofeedback – This form of Neurotherapy was born amid the current technological revolution. This therapy facilitates changes in the brain wave patterns and regional Cerebral Blood Flow (rCBF) activation without giving any form of electrical impulses to the client.

• Biofeedback – Biofeedback is designed to help you get in touch with your own feelings and emotions by allowing you to see them directly. This becomes more relevant as anxiety covers all age and gender groups and has a much greater rate of prevalence in society.
  
  Biofeedback helps in treating anxiety as many techniques are available to study muscle movements, skin temperature, sweating, the electrical activity of the brain, changes in heart rate, and breathing rate. Biofeedback devices are generally used exclusively in therapeutic settings.

With early identification and intervention, many people benefit from these treatments and are able to lead a normal and productive life post treatment. However, in some cases, treatment may need to be continued for a long time and there may be periods when the symptoms get worse. To prevent relapses and continue holistic treatment and care, reach out to us.

Get help, contact our psychiatric emergency anxiety help now +91-9741476476.