Question

Anxiety has been called the “butterflies in the stomach feeling”. At what stage does anxiety become a disorder? Discuss its types.

Answer 1

Everyone has worries and fears. The term anxiety is usually defined as a diffuse, vague, very unpleasant feeling of fear and apprehension. The anxious individual also shows combinations of the following symptoms: rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, fainting, dizziness, sweating, sleeplessness, frequent urination and tremors.

Different types of anxiety disorders and their symptoms are as follows:

1. Generalised anxiety disorder: This disorder consists of prolonged, vague, unexplained and intense fears that are not attached to any particular object. The symptoms include worry and apprehensive feelings about the future and hypervigilance, which involves  constantly  scanning  the environment for dangers.
2. Panic disorder: This disorder consists of recurrent anxiety attacks in which the person experiences intense terror. The clinical symptoms include shortness of breath, dizziness, trembling, palpitations, choking, nausea, chest pain or discomfort, and fear of going crazy, losing control or dying.
3. Obsessive-compulsive disorder: People are unable to control their preoccupation with specific ideas or are unable to prevent themselves from repeatedly carrying out a particular act or series of acts that affect their ability to carry out normal activities.
   Obsessive behaviour is the inability to stop thinking about a particular idea or topic. The person involved often finds these thoughts to be unpleasant and shameful.
   Compulsive behaviour is the need to perform certain behaviours over and over again. Many compulsions deal with counting, ordering, checking, touching and washing.
4. Phobias: These are irrational fears related to specific objects, interactions with others, and unfamiliar situations.
5. Social anxiety disorder (social phobia): Social anxiety disorder Agoraphobia is the term used when people develop a fear of entering unfamiliar situations. Many people with agoraphobia are afraid of leaving their home. So their ability to carry out normal life activities is severely limited.
6. Separation anxiety disorder (SAD): Separation anxiety disorder is another type of anxiety disorder. Individuals with separation anxiety disorder are fearful and anxious about separation from attachment figures to an extent that is developmentally not appropriate. Children with SAD may have difficulty being in a room by themselves, going to school alone, are fearful of entering new situations, and cling to and shadow their parents’ every move. To avoid separation, children with SAD may fuss, scream, throw severe tantrums, or make suicidal gestures.