What’s Under the Anxiety Disorder Umbrella?
Anxiety is the most common psychiatric symptom in the USA, with over a third of women reporting some anxiety disorder in their history. The term “anxiety” can actually mean many different things, and there is a whole family of disorders under the anxiety umbrella in the DSM-5, the diagnostic manual mental health professionals use to help determine what disorder a client is experiencing. So, what kinds of disorders are under this umbrella, and what’s involved in each one? Read on to find out more.
The disorders in the anxiety family are:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): The most common anxiety disorder, this describes someone who experiences persistent worry that interferes with their daily life. The anxiety is global, meaning that it isn’t focused on one situation (for example, social anxiety), and often revolves around everyday activities such as work and parenting.
Panic Disorder: PD is diagnosed when someone experiences recurrent panic attacks and often worries about when the next one will rear its head. Panic attacks can be terrifying, with feelings of loss of control, shortness of breath, trembling and sweating, chills and hot flashes, and more. Fear of having a panic attack in public or of the attacks themselves can worsen the disorder, making this condition a serious one. The good news is that PD responds well to behavioral therapy and EMDR.
Phobias are specific anxieties or fears, such as a fear of bridges, spiders, or driving that interferes with daily functioning. Just like panic disorder, phobias typically respond well to behaviorally-focused therapy such as exposure therapy.
Agoraphobia often develops from panic disorder, where the sufferer becomes afraid of losing control in public or not being able to escape public situations, leading to avoidance of the public and self-isolation. This disorder can eventually lead to being unable to leave the house, and should be treated seriously.
Separation Anxiety Disorder is intense anxiety about separation from an attachment figure. This disorder can present at any age, but to be diagnosed, the behavior must be age-inappropriate. People with SAD may constantly worry about losing their attachment figure, cling to them tightly, and even have nightmares about losing their loved one.
Several other disorders are related to anxiety, such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, which both involve rule-bound behavior dictated by avoidance of anxiety triggers. Anxiety is also a symptom of many other disorders, such as eating disorders and Borderline Personality Disorder. As you can see, anxiety is a prevalent problem in the mental health space. Anxiety is a normal human experience that serves a function - healthy fear of the unknown kept our ancestors safe from threats. However, anxiety can quickly get out of control in today’s world and manifest in many ways that hinder one’s everyday life. Anxiety is very treatable and AWC’s experienced therapists are here to help you overcome your worries and reach your goals. Give us a call today at (249) 413 - 5865 to get started.
References
American Psychiatric Association. Anxiety Disorders. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed. Text Revision. American Psychiatric Association; 2022: pp. 215-231.
