The first step to overcoming anxiety is to figure out what type of anxiety you have. Maybe you just have anxiety symptoms in response to some stressors you have recently experienced, like financial difficulties, problems with your boss, or relationship problems. In this case, the anxiety symptoms may be short-lived, and goes away when you […]
What are symptoms of anxiety disorder?
The basic symptoms of anxiety disorder include fear and worry. The fear category of anxiety symptoms includes panic attacks and phobias (fear of specific objects or situations; fear of embarrassment in public). The worry category of anxiety symptoms includes ruminating negative thoughts, anticipatory anxiety, and obsessions. Each of the major anxiety disorders has specific emphasis […]
Can you explain anxiety disorders and the association with serotonin?
Anxiety disorders can be deconstructed into their symptoms, which is fear and worry. Extreme fears and anxiety can take the form of panic attacks or phobias; worry can take the form of ruminating negative thoughts (what if I can’t cope with the danger?), anticipatory anxiety (I might have another panic attack), or obsessions (I am […]
What Is The Difference Between Anxiety And Depression?
Anxiety is the fear of some unknown or future threat, whereas depression is feeling blue and having low moods. Anxiety is worry about the future, whereas depression is regret about the past. Anxiety makes you worry, whereas depression makes you sad. Anxiety makes your fret over things, whereas depression makes you not care. Anxiety is […]
How Is ‘Normal’ Anxiety Different From An Anxiety Disorder?
There is a significant difference between ‘normal’ anxiety and an anxiety disorder. ‘Normal’ anxiety is short-lived…the apprehension, worry, or nervousness that goes along with ‘normal’ anxiety usually occurs after experiencing some stressor, like relationship problems, job pressure, financial problems, etc. However, ‘normal’ anxiety usually goes away when the stressor is lifted, and your functioning stays […]
11 Tell Tale Signs That It’s The Time To See A Psychiatrist
Have you ever thought about seeing a psychiatrist? It is difficult for the general public to know what situations need a psychiatrist. To review, psychiatrists are physicians who treat mental illness (or mental disorders), utilizing medication treatment, psychotherapy, and psychosocial interventions. Mental health, on the other hand, is addressed by psychologists and social workers. People […]
How & When Does Anxiety Become A Disorder
So this is a two-part question. First we will answer the question, when does anxiety become a disorder? Anxiety disorders are diagnosed by psychiatrists utilizing the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, with DSM-5 as the latest version (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013). Anxiety disorders are clinical diagnoses, meaning they are diagnosed based on […]
11 Ways To Know If You Suffer From Anxiety
So how do you know if you suffer from anxiety? Sometimes it is difficult to know if you have anxiety, as it is confusing to know what is normal and what is not normal. Below are 11 ways to know if you suffer from anxiety: Worry all the time Worrying frequently about a situation or […]
14 Things To Look For To See If Your Child Has Anxiety
Children can suffer from anxiety. However, most children are not able to articulate what is troubling them or what they are worried/fearful about. The following are 14 things to look for to see if your child has anxiety (4th ed., text rev.; DSM-IV-TR; American Psychiatric Association, 2000): Disruptive or agitated behaviour Children may respond to […]
14 Hidden Symptoms of Anxiety That You May Have
As a psychiatrist, I have treated patients who have experienced unexplained symptoms. These patients have been to numerous doctors and specialists who performed numerous laboratory and imaging studies, all of which were normal, in addition to normal physical findings. Eventually, many of these patients were referred to psychiatry, as the normal laboratory and physical findings […]