Description of the concept of anxiety disorders, the main reasons for the development of this pathological condition. Clinical symptoms of the disease and the main directions in the treatment of pathology. Anxiety disorder is the general name for a group of diseases that manifest itself as a persistent feeling of anxiety, anxiety, and tension. This psychopathic condition is a stable reaction to any life situations and unforeseen circumstances, regardless of their complexity. Anxiety disorder is characterized by incessant experiences that interfere with a normal lifestyle.
Causes of Anxiety Disorder
Usually, anxiety is a normal reaction to unfamiliar events, which allows you to act with caution and protect yourself in case of unforeseen circumstances. That is, it is a kind of protective mechanism that is necessary for every person, but only at the level of excitement. Usually, once a potential threat is removed, anxiety diminishes and eventually disappears altogether.
To date, the exact causes of the development of anxiety disorder have not been identified. It is generally accepted that there are certain factors that increase the possibility of contracting this pathology. It is known that anxiety disorder has nothing to do with normal deafness. Its etiology lies much deeper in the human psyche than ordinary behavioral reactions.
All types of anxiety disorders have a similar etiology. The main predisposing factors for their development:
- Stress … Any traumatic situation in history can have a significant impact on the formation of the human psyche. This is especially true of childhood traumas, which are superimposed on not quite mature mechanisms of response to stress. For example, adolescents are more acutely aware of any life changes, since they are unable to cope with the psychological stress that is imposed on them. Usually such situations are forgotten, but in some cases they leave a noticeable psychological mark. Psychotrauma such as violence or other severe shock can change a person forever. Over the years, such factors develop into neurotic or mental disorders, including anxiety.
- Genes … The predisposition to the formation of this disease can be inherited from the parents. In this case, the manifestation of genes in each generation is not at all necessary. DNA provides only a favorable background, which will manifest itself in the presence of a trigger factor. In this case, it is important to provide psychological assistance to those who need it in the first place. If a child, for example, has a high likelihood of developing an anxiety disorder due to a large number of relatives with similar symptoms, it is important to provide him with support at the most important critical age periods in order to exclude the possibility of gene manifestations.
- Organic damage … The likelihood of developing anxiety disorder against the background of structural changes in brain tissue is also being investigated. This should include both external factors - traumatic injuries, and internal - tumors, strokes, vascular pathology. The presence of structural changes at the cellular level disrupts the normal functioning of neural networks, which in turn can cause psychopathic symptoms. Naturally, this cannot be stated unequivocally, but the likelihood of developing an anxiety disorder after a traumatic brain injury increases significantly.
- Addiction … Anxiety and stress can often be caused by the withdrawal of drugs or psychoactive substances that a person has systematically taken before. Some drugs are able to be included in the metabolism, and when they are lacking in the body, various withdrawal symptoms are observed. The same applies to the intake of alcoholic beverages. When the decay products of ethanol are included in the natural metabolism, they can negatively affect the human psyche, causing various symptoms. That is why it is important to consider this point when diagnosing an anxiety disorder.
- Neurotransmitter imbalance … It is known that almost all emotions that a person can express exist due to the correct ratio of dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin in the body. This balance is responsible for different manifestations of the psyche, therefore substances are constantly in a correlation relationship. If the concentration of one hormone increases, the level of the other decreases accordingly. It is generally accepted that anxiety is generated by high blood levels of adrenaline and norepinephrine. Their momentary release causes a wave of fear. If such concentrations are consistently held at a high level, the person will feel constant anxiety.
The main signs of anxiety disorder in humans
Recognizing anxiety, in fact, is not at all difficult. Almost every person was faced with the chilling sensations of an impending threat or trouble. Usually they have their own duration, and after clarification of all the circumstances, the anxiety recedes. It is important to understand all the differences between a normal response and a pathological manifestation of this sensation.
Symptoms of anxiety disorder can be divided into several groups:
- Anxiety and tension … A person is constantly worried about some event, situation, or just like that. More often than not, his experiences do not correspond to the importance of these factors. That is, for a minute he cannot feel himself in complete peace. He is constantly loaded with worries about some trifles and problems. A person is actually in anticipation of unpleasant news and therefore does not feel comfortable under any circumstances. Patients themselves assess such anxiety as deliberately illogical, but they cannot eliminate it on their own, therefore they feel constant tension.
- Sleep disturbance … Most often, the symptoms do not disappear with the onset of night, and it is very difficult to relax in this case. The process of falling asleep is a significant difficulty and requires a lot of effort, and sometimes additional pharmacological agents. At the same time, sleep is not deep, with frequent interruptions. In the morning, the person feels tired. At the same time, the whole day there is a breakdown, fatigue, exhaustion. Poor quality sleep exhausts all the body's resources, impairing well-being and somatic health.
- Vegetative traits … Not only the human psyche reacts to changes in the concentration of some hormones. Very often, symptoms can be observed on the part of the autonomic system of the body. Anxiety often results in increased sweating, shortness of breath, or just shortness of breath. Dyspeptic symptoms may occur: nausea, vomiting, stomach or intestinal pain, flatulence, bloating, diarrhea, or constipation, depending on the predominance of the sympathetic or parasympathetic part of the autonomic nervous system. Very often, headaches of various localization develop, which are poorly relieved with the help of conventional analgesics. There is pain in the heart, a feeling of interruptions in its work.
To diagnose anxiety disorder, three criteria must be observed over several months. They are not eliminated by conventional means, are permanent and appear in all everyday situations on a daily basis. According to ICD-10, the following criteria can be distinguished:
- Constant fear … A person feels upcoming failures, because of this, he cannot concentrate, work, rest. Excitement overwhelms him so much that other important experiences, feelings or emotions are crowded out. Only constant anxiety becomes important.
- Voltage … These sensations cause constant fussiness, a person constantly thinks that it is necessary to do something with his anxiety. At the same time, he tries to find out the cause of his condition by studying various situations. It is very difficult for him to sit still. This is usually very difficult.
- Vegetative traits … A mandatory criterion is also the presence of symptoms from the autonomic nervous system. Most often it is sweating, dizziness, dry mouth, dyspeptic symptoms.
Features of the treatment of anxiety disorder
Treatment of anxiety disorder is a complex selection of the optimal remedies that will be effective in each case. The method of therapy should be chosen one that will show results with minimal side effects. For example, you should start by doing psychological exercises, following the advice of a specialist. If this method does not work, you should consult a psychotherapist. The last treatment option is the use of pharmacological agents that will purposefully restore the neurotransmitter balance.
Psychologist's advice
Before resorting to more serious treatments for anxiety disorder, you need to try to cope with your own experiences. This requires endurance, self-control and a desire to change your life for the better. If a person himself is not interested in getting rid of this condition and does not pay enough attention to it, most likely the effectiveness of these tips will be zero.
That is why you should take seriously the fulfillment of small conditions that will help in this difficult situation:
- A fresh look … Undoubtedly, a person suffering from an anxiety disorder has repeatedly tried to find out the reason for what he is afraid of. True, not everyone carefully analyzes their life for this. Sometimes anxiety appears as a defense mechanism for a completely inconspicuous situation. For example, a person is secretly afraid of a relationship, although he has been in it for a long time. Then, when plans appear to legitimize your marriage, anxiety arises. Naturally, it is very difficult to find out the true phobia in this case. To do this, it is necessary to sort out all the options for the development of events, including those favorable at first glance. Often people are afraid not only of bad changes, but also of good ones. Deep introspection will help you learn more about yourself and your hidden fears.
- Lifestyle … A very important aspect of improving well-being in anxiety disorder is health orientation. The diet should be adjusted by getting rid of caffeine and sugar first. These foods only increase your anxiety, so you should stop eating them. It is also important to avoid drinking alcoholic beverages, quit smoking. The same applies to narcotic drugs. These substances are powerful psychostimulants that can increase anxiety. In addition, it is recommended to definitely devote time to physical activity. By strengthening the body, a person thereby redistributes attention to another aspect of his life.
- Abstraction … It is highly recommended to acquire a hobby, an interesting activity. You can learn what you have long wanted, fulfill a small desire (travel, jump with a zip line, climbing mountains or even performing in front of an audience). For each, you should choose your own occupation, which will be a small victory for getting rid of anxiety disorder. In some cases, it may be courses in a desired profession, which at one time was never obtained, a diving lesson, or just a trip to the cinema. Sometimes a good rest with massages and spa treatments can help.
Psychotherapy
In some cases, psychotherapy for anxiety disorder is required. An experienced specialist will help determine the important points in the development of the disease, build a treatment regimen and go through all its stages together with the patient.
It is very important to choose the right psychotherapy option that is optimal for each specific case:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy … This type of treatment is a specially adapted technique that allows you to identify the wrong moments in the system of life values and beliefs. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps you to adapt to the correct reflection of the world around you. A person gradually socializes and gets used to a normal life. Together with the psychotherapist, special models of behavior and response are developed that allow you to make the right decisions and reason logically in cases where an anxiety disorder interferes.
- Hypnosuggestational therapy … Purposeful influence on human consciousness causes its narrowing and limitation of attention. The hypnosuggestational technician uses the moment of concentration to convey the correct attitudes that will help get rid of obsessive anxiety. To do this, it is important to define the correct message that will address the specific problem of anxiety disorder, and to formulate it.
- Group psychotherapy … Sometimes anxiety symptoms cause feelings of loneliness in their problem. A person, in addition to pathological stress, feels the impossibility of sharing with anyone. Feels his own inferiority and even loses faith in himself. This condition is often associated with depression, so supporting patients with these symptoms provides reliable support to help cope with the disease. At the head of the group there is also a psychotherapist who implements the general method of treatment, only at the same time several people with similar symptoms undergo a course together. This creates additional motivation and support.
Pharmacotherapy
In extreme cases, they turn to the use of medications for the treatment of anxiety disorder. It should be noted that combining different psychoactive drugs can be dangerous if not understood. That is why the doctor should be engaged in the appointment of the correct therapy regimen. Only a trained professional knows how to treat anxiety disorder correctly. This will help avoid many side effects and get the desired result faster.
Medications for the treatment of anxiety disorder:
- Tranquilizers … This group of drugs also has a second name - anti-anxiety drugs. They are used to suppress anxiety, tension, anxiety and fussiness. In addition, tranquilizers are able to correct mood and emotional background, which is necessary for anxiety disorder.
- Antidepressants … Drugs in this group are often used to prevent or treat depression. Antidepressants with a sedative effect are most commonly used. They dull anxiety a little and make you feel better. When prescribing antidepressants, it is important to gradually increase the dosage and decrease it slowly.
- Hypnotics … Sleep problems for people with anxiety disorder can negatively affect quality of life for a long time. That is why you should ensure proper rest by correcting sleep and wakefulness. They use mainly herbal preparations to minimize side effects.
How to treat anxiety disorder - watch the video:
Anxiety disorder is a fairly common pathology that occurs very often in the modern world. Stress and overexertion causes an increase in the number of patients, which requires a detailed study of this phenomenon and the use of new methods of treatment.
