An essential element in the diagnosis of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is the presence of unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) which induce significant anxiety symptoms. The anxiety then prompts you to engage in repetitive, ritualistic behaviors (compulsions) which serve to reduce your anxiety over the short term. So the diagnosis of OCD requires the presence of both […]
Diagnosing Anxiety Disorders
Hello, I’m Dr. Carlo Carandang, and I’m a psychiatrist. Today, I will talk about diagnosing anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders are diagnosed by doctors, which include family physicians, psychiatrists, and PhD-level psychologists. Here is a flow chart that doctors should be using when they are evaluating you for anxiety disorder: As an example, let’s say you […]
The Global Epidemic of Anxiety and Depression in Young People
A recent study has highlighted the global epidemic of anxiety and depression in young people. In children aged 5 to 17 years old, the prevalence of anxiety globally is 3.2%, and depression worldwide is 6.2%. In young adults aged 18 to 25, the prevalence of anxiety worldwide is up to 10.4%, and depression globally is […]
Why Do Anxiety Disorder And Depression Occur?
As a psychiatrist, many people come to me with their questions about anxiety and depression. A question I get frequently is how anxiety and depressive disorders occur. A friend of mine came up to me with his questions about his son, as he was recently diagnosed with social anxiety and depression. His question was how […]
Can Social Phobia Lead To Schizophrenia?
Even though one may be confused that he/she has one or the other condition, since some of the symptoms for both can be similar and confusing, the answer to this question is simple. No, social phobia cannot lead to schizophrenia. Many patients with schizophrenia often show symptoms of social phobia, but never the other way […]
Is Anxiety Disorder A Mental Illness?
Yes, anxiety disorder is a mental illness. Mental illness is also known as mental disorder or psychiatric disorder. Mental illness is a brain disorder, and are diagnosed and treated by psychiatrists. Since there are no current biological markers to confirm if someone has a mental illness, these disorders are diagnosed by history and clinical presentation. […]
How Useful is the DSM-5?
As a psychiatrist beginning medical training in 1992, I “grew up” with the DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV). When I was a medical student rotating on my psychiatry clerkship on the inpatient unit, I was intrigued by the patients and their various mental illnesses. As a psychiatrist-in-training, I found the DSM-IV to […]
What are the symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder?
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is an anxiety disorder, with characteristic symptoms: Excessive worries and nervousness In GAD, there is excessive general worries and nervousness about everyday events or situations. With the worries and anxiety, you have apprehension about the future, and may expect things to not go smoothly. Y ou may have worries about […]
What Are The Physical Symptoms Of Anxiety?
Anxiety is comprised of fear symptoms (panic, phobia), worry symptoms (ruminating thoughts, anticipatory anxiety, obsessions), and physical symptoms. The physical symptoms of anxiety result from the fight-or-flight response, where the sympathetic nervous system is activated, and adrenaline and cortisol are released in response to a perceived feared stimulus. The following are physical symptoms of anxiety: […]
I have anxiety from staying up too late at night
Hi. It’s Jenny at AnxietyBoss.com. Our question today is from Donny in Orlando, Florida. I have anxiety from staying up too late at night. No matter what, I freak out and always try to go to bed at a certain hour. How can I get rid of this feeling and thought? Sometimes during weekends, I […]