Understanding Anxiety Disorder Symptoms

Understanding Anxiety Disorder Symptoms

Anxiety disorder symptoms include intense feelings of fear, worry and panic that may be irrational or excessive, interfering with daily life. These emotions are often sparked by things others don’t find alarming in your surroundings.

Understanding anxiety disorders will enable you to better cope with them and their treatment. Speaking with a health care provider, psychologist or other mental health professional can help identify your symptoms and create an individualized treatment plan that works for you.

When seeking medical help for anxiety symptoms, your doctor will perform a physical exam and interview to diagnose whether there is an underlying medical condition or mental illness at play. Depending on what type of anxiety it is, lab tests or other tests may be ordered in order to rule out other medical causes for your discomfort.

Anxiety can be caused by stressful events, relationship difficulties or a history of trauma. For instance, childhood sexual abuse may increase your likelihood of developing an anxiety disorder later on in life.

Another sign of anxiety can be an avoidance of situations that cause it. You might avoid going to a small place or being afraid to use public transport for example.

Your doctor will suggest a treatment plan that involves counseling (psychotherapy) or medication. Antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs and SNRIs) are often the first medications prescribed for people suffering from anxiety disorders. Other drugs, like bupropion, should not be taken frequently since they may cause side effects or interact with other medicines.