20 Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder

Memorial Dicle Hospital Psychology Department Specialist Psychologist Özlem Soysal provided information about anxiety disorder. Anxiety is evaluated as a kind of defense mechanism that enables rapid decision-making regarding problems encountered in daily life and their resolution. However, when it increases excessively, it renders a person incapable of doing anything, and this can develop into anxiety disorder, which is among psychological illnesses. This psychological disorder, affecting 6% of the population and reducing quality of life, can be brought under control through appropriate treatments started in a timely manner, and the vast majority of patients can regain their health.

Excessive Worry Negatively Affects Daily Life

In individuals with anxiety disorder, continuous, excessive and inappropriate worry regarding the situation at hand develops. Excessive worry negatively affects the person's daily life and even prevents them from maintaining normal life activities. These individuals think that every event will result in the worst possible outcome and that everything will develop beyond their control. For them, a positive outcome or recovery is not possible. In anxiety disorder, excessive worry and anxiety generally relate to matters such as health, family, money or work. This uncontrollable state of worry lasts for at least six months, nearly every day and throughout the day. Generally, as anxiety sensitivity increases with age, it is seen most often in elderly individuals and also during adolescence.

Stressful Living Triggers Anxiety Disorder

Stress plays an important role in the development of anxiety disorder. It appears with periods of improvement and flare-ups. If it has begun between childhood and adolescence, it progresses slowly and insidiously. During this period, genetic predisposition, changes in brain neurochemistry, personal characteristics and stressful living are effective in the emergence of anxiety disorder.

These Individuals Are Described by Their Surroundings as Overly Anxious

Excessive, uncontrollable worry without a real reason or even with a reason that does not correspond to the situation is a key symptom of anxiety disorder. Often the person is aware that their worry is excessive, but cannot bring it under control and cannot calm down in any way. These individuals are described by their surroundings as overly anxious.

Symptoms of anxiety disorder should be taken seriously

1. Increased blood pressure and heart rate,
2. Muscle tension,
3. Trembling,
4. Dilated pupils,
5. Skin pallor or flushing,
6. Sweating,
7. Frequent urination,
8. Gagging, belching, vomiting,
9. Lump in throat,
10. Need for fresh air,
11. Sensation of dizziness,
12. Numbness and tingling,
13. Sleep disturbance,
14. Restlessness,
15. Excessive excitement,
16. Worry,
17. Difficulty concentrating thoughts,
18. Sensation of mind going blank,
19. Loss of control,
20. Fear of death.

Professional Support is Essential in Treatment

The first step in treating anxiety disorder is to consult a psychiatry specialist. At the initial visit, in addition to a comprehensive psychiatric and psychological evaluation, certain assessments are conducted to understand whether these symptoms originate from any physical illness. After evaluation, psychotherapy or medication treatments can be applied. The effectiveness of either of these methods or their combined application has been proven. The type of treatment that may be appropriate should be determined by specialists, and the person must absolutely not use medication on their own. Otherwise, larger psychological problems may arise. The vast majority of those receiving anxiety disorder treatment recover.