| Everyone at some point or another in their life has felt anxious. These feelings stem from whatever stressor is affecting us at any particular time ie exams, driving test, problems at home or work etc. We do need certain levels of stress within our lives to be able to function and it is the body's response to stress which can help us in any given situation (fight or flight response), however, some individuals may find that their response to any stressors become so heightened that their every day lives are affected by a constant state of anxiety. Anxiety is an unpleasant emotional experience which can vary in degree from general unease to an intense dread. There are various theories why some people are more affected by anxiety that others which include: Biological - Genetic predisposition and chemical imbalance in the brain. Behavioural - Learned behaviour and negative thought patterns. Psychodynamic - Childhood experiences. Humanistic - Blocked personal growth. Whatever the cause if left untreated this can become one of the most debilitating forms of mental illness. Linked in with anxiety states are panic attacks, phobias and obsessive compulsive disorder. |
| Generalised Anxiety Disorder The general symptom is the anxiety itself which is persistant and unfocused and usually involoves all the individual's life adjustments. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Stressors associated with PTSD are those which the average individual does not experience such as military combat, rape, child abuse. Obssessive Compulsive Disorder This occurs when the individual experiences and is preoccupied by unwanted thoughts and repetitive undesirable behaviour. Panic Disorder Panic disorder is defined as an unexpected panic attack which has not been provoked by the person being the centre of attention. Phobic Disorders A phobia is a persistant fear reaction to a specific object or situation. The fear is disproportionate to the likelihood of danger. Somatoform Disorders (Anxiety Inferred) These disorders include: Conversion Disorder Originally called hysterical neurosis this disorder almost always develops in a setting of extreme stress. It is usually dramatic and short lived although the individual may be severely handicapped. Individuals are normally indifferent to the loss of function. Hypochondriasis The individual has no real physical disability or illness but is preoccupied and excessively worried about ordinary bodily functions. The individual will 'read into' such bodily sensations the presence of a feared disease. The individual often goes from Doctor to Doctor as they often do not believe that there is nothing wrong with them. Body Dysmorphic Disorder People suffering this will believe that some part of their body is less than perfect. This concern will be very disproportionate and often the defect is imaginary. This leads to the individual being obsessed with surgery. |
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