Anxiety Disorder Definition
Having anxiety is a very natural thing. However, if you feel excessively anxious too often and without a good reason, you may have an anxiety disorder.
Of course anxiety and anxiety disorders are two different conditions. If you have an anxiety disorder, you will easily to worry about things, even when you are in a common situation.
At a level that is already classified as severe, anxiety disorder can also interfere with the daily activities of people who experience it.
Anxiety Disorder Types
There are several anxiety disorder types, namely:
Agoraphobia
You have agoraphobia if you have feelings of fear and usually avoid places or situations that cause you to feel panicked, trapped, unable to ask for help, and feel ashamed.
Anxiety disorders due to certain medical conditions
Apparently, anxiety disorders may occur due to certain medical conditions. That is, excessive feelings of anxiety and panic can arise because of problems in your physical condition.
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
The next type is referred to as generalized anxiety disorder, which is chronic anxiety characterized by excessive worry and tension. This type of anxiety disorder lasts continuously and tends to get out of control.
People with GAD can be very restless even if they are not in a stressful situation though, or fine.
Excessive worry and tension are sometimes also accompanied by physical symptoms, such as restlessness, difficulty concentrating, and even difficulty sleeping (insomnia).
Panic disorder
Unlike regular anxiety, panic disorder can arise suddenly and frequently for no apparent reason.
A person who experiences this condition generally also shows physical symptoms such as excessive sweating, irregular heartbeat, headaches, chest pain, and shortness of breath.
Many people often think of these symptoms as a heart attack. Panic disorder can be characterized by the appearance of panic attacks as above.
Panic attacks can be experienced anytime and anywhere. Some people may experience a panic attack in just a matter of minutes, while others may experience up to hours.
Selective mutism
This anxiety disorder is characterized by a child who cannot speak in certain conditions or situations. For example, children suddenly cannot talk when they are at school, even though when at home or elsewhere, children have no problems speaking.
If not treated immediately, this condition can affect his activities in school. In fact, as the child grows up, it could be that this problem will arise at work, or in other conditions when he has to communicate with others.
Separation anxiety disorder
This type is usually experienced by children during their growth and development. Usually, this condition is caused by separation that occurs between the child and parents or surrogate figures of parents around him.
Social anxiety disorder
Social anxiety disorder is an extreme fear that arises when you are around a lot of people.
Being nervous when meeting other people (especially strangers or people who are quite important) is only natural. However, when you always feel nervous, even scared, being in a new environment until you sweat and feel nauseous, you may experience social anxiety.
In contrast to embarrassment or nervousness that generally only lasts a short time, this condition actually lasts continuously for a long time. The source of social anxiety is the fear of being observed, or judged in front of others.
Social anxiety disorder is a type of complex phobia. This type of phobia has a damaging impact, even to the point of paralyzing the life of the sufferer.
Because, this disorder can affect a person’s confidence and self-esteem, disrupt relationships and performance at work or school.
Specific phobias
Specific phobias are also included in the type of anxiety disorder. This condition is an unreasonable and continuous fear of a particular object, activity, or situation that is usually harmless.
For example, Insect Phobia, clown phobia, spider phobia, phobia of heights, balloons, needles, blood, and so on. People with this condition know that their fears are excessive, but they can’t cope.