Nowadays, it is common to hear the term anxiety but, what are anxiety disorders? In this article, we are going to explain exactly what they are and the difference between an anxiety attack and a panic attack.
What are Anxiety Disorders?
Anxiety disorders are one of the most common conditions in the general population. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 260 million people worldwide suffer from anxiety disorders, and these numbers appear to be increasing. During
humanitarian emergencies and conflicts, 1 in 5 people are affected by depression and anxiety disorders. Recent WHO reports warn of an exponential increase in anxiety symptoms during the health emergency that the world is currently experiencing due to the – pandemic.
Significant Data on Anxiety Disorders
In 2015, the proportion of the world’s population with anxiety disorders was 3.6%, with women more likely than men (4.6% versus 2.6% globally).
While prevalence rates do not vary significantly across age groups, a lower prevalence can be observed in older age groups.
The age range of adolescence is where symptoms associated with anxiety disorders usually begin to become evident.
During this stage of life, symptoms of more than one emotional disorder may occur and rapid and unexpected mood swings and emotional outbursts may occur. These adolescents may also develop physical symptoms such as stomachaches, headaches, or nausea.
Globally, anxiety is the ninth leading cause of illness and disability among adolescents aged 15 to 19, and the sixth for those aged 10 to 14.
Anxiety disorders are estimated to affect 1 in 8 children and 1 in 12 adolescents. Unfortunately, these disorders are often overlooked or misunderstood. Misinformation and myths about anxiety in children and adolescents often result in them not getting the help they need and, as a result, the illness progresses.
What is anxiety?
Anxiety is an emotional reaction that constitutes an adaptive response of the organism to signals that it perceives as dangerous, and allows the person to take the necessary measures to confront a threat.
When faced with certain circumstances or events in our lives, we can feel anxiety, for example, when facing a job interview, when taking an exam, when moving, in times of economic problems, among other situations in which a certain degree of anxiety is considered necessary to cope with them.
However, when a certain intensity is exceeded, anxiety ceases to be adaptive and becomes pathological.
What does this mean? The emotional response is disproportionate to the situation and prolonged over time, causing significant discomfort, with physical, psychological, and behavioral symptoms. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), general symptoms of anxiety disorders may include:
● Tachycardia
● Hyperventilation
● Tremor
● Sweating
● Feelings of weakness
● Restlessness or feeling of being trapped
● Constant fatigue
● Difficulty concentrating or feeling like your mind is going blank
● Irritability
● Muscle tension
● Sleep problems (difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, or restless, unsatisfying sleep)
Anxiety attacks vs. panic attacks
There are several specific classifications within the group of anxiety disorders. In this article, we will focus on panic disorder, better known as “ panic attacks ” and anxiety attacks.
Although it is not always easy to distinguish the symptoms of each of them, anxiety and panic attacks are two distinct phenomena. Anxiety, unlike panic attacks, is not momentary, but the duration of its attacks is persistent and prolonged over time.
The DSM-V states that a panic attack is the sudden appearance of intense fear or intense discomfort that can occur from a state of calm or a state of anxiety. A panic attack peaks within minutes, and at least four of the following symptoms occur during this time:
● Palpitations
● Sweating
● Trembling or shaking
● Feeling of difficulty breathing or suffocation
● Feeling of drowning
● Chest pain or discomfort
● Nausea or abdominal discomfort
● Feeling of dizziness, unsteadiness, lightheadedness, or fainting
● Chills or a sensation of heat
● Paresthesia (sensation of numbness or tingling)
● Derealization (feeling of unreality) or depersonalization (separation from oneself)
● Fear of losing control or “going crazy”
● Fear of dying
Panic attacks can occur in the context of any anxiety disorder as well as other mental disorders. Examples: depressive disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and substance abuse disorders. As well as in some medical conditions such as: cardiac, respiratory, vestibular, and gastrointestinal.
Causes of anxiety disorders
There is no single cause that can explain the appearance of anxiety disorders. However, scientific research on the subject warns that they can originate from the interaction of several factors:
● Biological factors: Associated with brain chemistry.
● Life experiences: Exposure to violence or having suffered abuse at some stage in life can increase the predisposition to develop some type of anxiety disorder.
● Family history: It has been shown that anxiety disorders, as well as other mental disorders, can be present in several generations of the same family. The cause of this is probably associated with genetic factors. Anxiety disorders can begin at early stages of life, for this reason, special attention should be paid to the behaviors or symptoms that may appear in children and adolescents.
● Learned behaviors and thought patterns: People with low self-esteem and poor coping skills may be prone to anxiety disorders. Likewise, those individuals with a tendency toward inhibition and shyness may have a greater tendency to develop this type of disorder.
● Triggering factors: Stress acts as a trigger for anxiety attacks. Situations that generate a lot of stress, such as problems at work, in the family, or social relationships, favor the appearance of anxiety symptoms.
However, it is important to remember that no risk factor is determinant in itself in the appearance of these disorders.
What to do if a friend or family member has persistent symptoms of anxiety?
If you notice persistent and continuous symptoms of anxiety that prevent the person from carrying out daily activities, causing great psychological, emotional, and physical discomfort, encourage and accompany your friend or family member to seek professional help to find the appropriate treatment.
● Seek to understand the disorder by educating yourself or talking to the person’s treatment professional about what you can do to help your loved one.
● Listen and be patient. Don’t try to force your loved one to feel better. Remember that anxiety disorders are an illness and treatment takes time.
● Don’t ignore comments about suicide or signs that anxiety is getting worse. Help your loved one by seeking professional advice.
● Remember to take care of your own emotional and physical health. At times, you may feel like your loved one’s illness is consuming you; it may help to seek counseling, join a support group, or talk about your feelings with friends or a professional.
How to act if someone is having a panic attack?
If we find that someone is suffering from a panic attack, we can help the person cope with the situation in the most pleasant way possible.
● We should try to remain calm, convey reassurance to the person, and let them know that they are not alone, but without acting in an invasive way. It is not advisable to hug the person or make sudden movements, as this can make their condition worse.
● Avoid using phrases that minimize what the person is feeling, such as “nothing is wrong” or “calm down,” as pressuring them to calm down can be counterproductive.
● If possible, you can move the person to a quiet place without an audience present, which functions as a safe place for them, and try to direct the person’s attention to something around them to distract them from their symptoms and the fear they feel.
● Have them concentrate on their breathing, suggesting that they follow the rhythm of your breathing. During a panic attack, the person usually breathes deeper and faster than normal, which causes hyperventilation and increases the feeling of panic.
● Bear in mind that the symptoms of a panic attack are similar to those of other illnesses, such as heart disease. For this reason, if this is the first time it has happened to you, it is essential to go to a medical service to rule out other health problems.
● In the case of patients undergoing psychiatric treatment, these symptoms may appear when they have not taken the appropriate medication. It is important to ask the affected person if they have experienced this before, if they take any medication, and if they have any type of remedy that they should take in these cases.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Anxiety Disorders
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of anxiety disorders will only be given exclusively by health professionals, who through an interview with the person will identify the symptoms and situations in which they are affected to determine a diagnosis, as well as an appropriate treatment plan.
Treatment
Treatments for anxiety disorders are usually a combination of psychological and pharmacological treatment, taking into account the specificities of each individual and what they need.
The most recommended psychological treatment for most anxiety disorders is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). This type of treatment favors the progressive reduction of anxiety, helping the patient learn to cope with situations that generate anxiety or panic, without resorting to avoidance mechanisms. It requires active involvement on the part of the patient for several weeks to months.
Conclusion
As mentioned above, various factors influence the appearance and evolution of anxiety disorders. The social environment, and especially the family environment, are important aspects when carrying out the treatment, especially when the condition affects a child or adolescent.
Working together with the family will allow them to learn about the disorder and identify anxiety symptoms; as well as provide support and containment to the affected person. At the same time, it can be useful to modify the relationship styles of the family environment with the patient, which sometimes favor the maintenance of the disorder, for example: overprotection, participation in avoidance behaviors, excessive criticism, or demands.
The person’s relatives must understand the disorder as well as its symptoms, to contribute and positively accompany the patient during the treatment of the disorder.