Anxiety Disorders Diagnosis and Treatment

Anxiety disorders are a group of mental health conditions that result in constant feelings of fear and anxiety. Learn more here.

Author: J. Flowers Health Staff

The information presented on this page is an overview of the average evaluation of anxiety disorders and is offered here as a resource. At J. Flowers Health Institute, our evaluations and treatment plans are customized and tailored to each individual’s needs. We specialize in providing a comprehensive team approach to your care. Our evaluations may include psychological diagnostic testing, nutritional and fitness evaluations, and a psychosocial and trauma assessment to help diagnose your symptoms to provide the holistic care you deserve.

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Anxiety Disorders: a General Overview

Anxiety disorders stand out as one of the most widespread psychiatric conditions, surpassing many other mental health disorders in terms of prevalence.

Many individuals who grapple with anxiety disorders tend to experience symptoms associated with anxiety. However, despite their high occurrence, these disorders often go unnoticed or are underdiagnosed.

When someone develops an anxiety disorder, they often intentionally avoid circumstances that may worsen the symptoms. This may lead to feelings of isolation and desolateness, only exacerbating the symptoms and worsening the individual’s overall quality of life.

What Are Anxiety Disorders?

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), anxiety disorders are conditions that share symptoms of excessive fear and anxiety. The condition also describes individuals experiencing these conditions as having added behavioral disturbances.¹

Anxiety disorders are a group of mental health conditions that result in constant feelings of fear and anxiety. Individuals who feel such anxiety levels may find it difficult to work, learn, or attend social gatherings. This inhibits an individual’s prospects both socially and financially.

Recognizing these Disorders

Individuals with anxiety may often exhibit physical symptoms. Examples of such signs include profuse sweating and a hastened heartbeat.

In many cases, anxiety tends to dissipate when the triggering event improves. In these situations, individuals often acquire the skills to manage their anxieties effectively.

However, it’s important to recognize that managing anxiety symptoms can be more challenging for those diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, and in cases of heightened severity, professional support may be necessary.

What is the Most Common Anxiety Disorder?

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is the most prevalent type. Individuals with GAD often feel excessive fear and worry over different events or activities. The persistent worry from symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder affects a person’s daily activities. In most cases, it is also followed by physical symptoms like feeling on edge, restlessness, and difficulty concentrating.

Most individuals with GAD often worry about basic happenings like family responsibilities, professional obligations, health, and minor challenges.

Additional symptoms of the condition include overthinking plans and solutions to possible negative outcomes and struggling with uncertainty. There are often scenarios where individuals with GAD may feel anxious for no specific reason.

How Common Are Anxiety Disorders?

Anxiety disorders are common in the United States, with over 19.1% of adults with the condition. Based on the population of the U.S., that accounts for 40 million adults in the country.²

Approximately 7% of children between the ages of three to seventeen experience anxiety-related conditions every year. Most children develop symptoms before reaching their late teenage years or twenty-one.

Even though anxiety disorders are treatable, statistics show that only 36.9% of those experiencing the condition get treatment. GAD, being the most common type of disorder, affects approximately 6.8 million adults, or 3.1% of the entire United States population.

Regardless of the prevalence, only 43.2% of individuals receive treatment with generalized anxiety disorder medication.

Anxiety Disorder Causes, Risk Factors, and Complications

There are several causes and risk factors of anxiety disorders, including environment and genetics. Like other types of mental health conditions, the causes are unique from one person to another.

What Causes Anxiety Disorders?

Most of the causes of anxiety disorders in young adults or older individuals are due to a culmination of stressful life circumstances.

Here are some of the notable causes:

Pregnancy: Due to hormonal changes during pregnancy, it may affect the chemicals in the mother’s brain. Pregnant women with anxiety may experience poor sleep quality, inability to concentrate, and excessive worry.
Work stress or job change: Anxiety is a common problem in most work environments. However, a toxic work culture, unhealthy pressures, and extreme demands may worsen the symptoms.
Relationship and family problems: Different problems between partners can cause severe anxiety disorder in both partners or one. Financial challenges in a family or health conditions can also result in anxiety.

Anxiety Disorder Risk Factors

Here are some of the risk factors that may contribute to an individual developing anxiety:

Environmental: Some environmental factors that increase the risks of anxiety disorders include family composition and cultural upbringing. Studies show a relationship between childhood trauma (environmental factor) and increased risk of anxiety.
Biological: Some individuals are at high risk of developing anxiety disorders due to genetic predisposition. If a parent has tendencies to develop anxiety symptoms, the child is at a greater risk of the condition. Hence, some individuals are born with higher risks of anxiety disorders than others.
Developmental: Examples of developmental risk factors of anxiety disorders include childhood parental loss/separation, maternal and paternal attachment, and psychological disorders. Other conditions may also include severe trauma due to turbulent family occurrences.

Complications

Without professional intervention, untreated anxiety can manifest in a multitude of ways. Some of these mental and physical complications include:

Substance abuse
Insomnia
Isolation
Low quality of life
Depression
Problems with work or school
Chronic pains and headaches
Digestive problems
Suicidal thoughts

Anxiety Disorder Types

There are several types of anxiety disorders based on their cause and symptoms. Here are the types to note:

A Social Anxiety Disorder Phobia

Agoraphobia is when someone avoids places or situations that make them feel trapped. People with the condition may also avoid places that cause them to panic or feel helpless.

Some common instances include being in a queue, standing among the crowd, or sitting in public transportation. Individuals with the condition typically don’t feel safe in public areas with lots of people and often end up spending significant amounts of time at home.³

Unlike some other mental health conditions, many professionals recommend exposure therapy for this condition, wherein individuals are confronted with their fears during treatment.

Anxiety Disorder Due to a Medical Condition

Anxiety can arise as a direct consequence of physical health issues. Common medical conditions associated with anxiety include diabetes mellitus, parathyroid disease, pheochromocytoma, and thyroid disorders.

The development of anxiety disorders is also associated with a higher likelihood of experiencing cardiovascular disease, cardiac events, or frequent panic attacks. Certain medical conditions that can manifest with symptoms resembling anxiety include cardiac disorders such as arrhythmias, congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, and cardiac tamponade.

In a manner similar to how medical conditions can lead to the development of anxiety, individuals may also encounter specific medical issues as a result of anxiety itself.

For instance, anxiety has the potential to influence the body’s inflammatory response. It’s worth noting that some individuals may experience illness anxiety disorder even in the absence of any underlying medical condition.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

In generalized anxiety disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder cases, individuals may feel excessive levels of worry or tension for no apparent reason. People with this condition typically expect bad things and continue to worry about them. Some of these worries may include money, family, health, school, or work.

These conditions typically do not stem from a related medical condition, and the symptoms may last up to twenty-four weeks. Some common signs of the condition include sleeping problems, muscle tension, and an unrealistic view or approach to problems.

Like other anxiety disorders, risk factors of GAD include genetics, brain chemistry, and other potential environmental factors or stressors.

Panic Disorder

A person with panic disorder experiences regular anxiety, stress, and panic for no specific reason. Individuals with the condition typically avoid certain situations that may trigger another attack. Panic attacks are also symptoms of panic disorder. Signs include trembling, hot flashes, chills, and nausea.

Panic attacks typically last between five to twenty minutes. However, there are scenarios where they last up to an hour. Depending on the severity of the condition, attacks occur at different times. Hence, it is essential to seek professional help early.

Selective Mutism

Selective mutism defines a condition where a person cannot speak in specific social situations. Examples of such situations include talking with classmates or relatives. Most conditions of selective mutism start during childhood and may extend to adulthood without appropriate treatments.

In cases of selective mutism, the expectation from others for them to talk creates a trigger or freeze response that causes panic. With time, such individuals may learn to anticipate situations that force them to speak and avoid them. Note that people with selective mutism can often speak to certain people, such as close relatives or friends, without a freeze response.

Separation Anxiety Disorder

Separation anxiety disorder (SAD) is a condition that causes people to feel overly fearful about separation from close friends or family. For example, a child with SAD may worry about separating from their favorite family relatives or closest friends. Such individuals develop a fear of losing their loved ones due to accidents or any other bad occurrence.

SAD typically occurs due to biological or environmental factors. For example, some children develop the tendency to become anxious due to genetics. Biologically, it may also be due to norepinephrine and serotonin, two significant brain chemicals responsible for blood pressure and mood stabilization.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Social anxiety disorder, also known as social phobia, is a prevalent condition characterized by excessive anxiety concerning everyday social scenarios. Those grappling with social phobia often harbor apprehensions about potential humiliation, rejection, embarrassment, or being negatively judged in social interactions or gatherings, which consequently hinders their ability to engage in conversations with others.

The persistent debilitating effects of social phobia negatively impact an individual’s ability to work efficiently, learn, or develop close relationships with others. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, approximately fifteen million people have symptoms of social phobia. Doctors may recommend antidepressants for social anxiety disorder treatment.⁴

Specific Phobias

Specific phobias may include fear of specific objects or situations, including heights and nature. In cases of specific phobia, a person’s fear is beyond the normal reactions of other individuals. When a person is experiencing a specific phobia, it is typically due to situations that pose no real danger but provoke high anxiety levels.

Each phobia or fear of those specific situations has its unique terms. For instance, claustrophobia describes the fear of confined spaces, while acrophobia is the fear of heights. People experiencing specific phobias may have problems functioning normally due to those fears. Some individuals also develop physical symptoms like rapid heartbeat, breathing problems, or profuse sweating.

Substance-induced Anxiety Disorder

The use of certain medications or illicit substances can trigger symptoms of anxiety. In some cases, the condition also occurs due to withdrawal from those substances. Some of the common psychoactive substances that may cause the condition include caffeine, alcohol, cannabis, inhalants, cocaine, phencyclidine, amphetamine, and other hallucinogens and stimulants.

Some prescription medications that cause anxiety disorders include analgesics, anticholinergics, antipsychotics, antihistamines, anticholinergics, mood stabilizers, and antidepressants.

Anxiety Disorder Symptoms

Symptoms of anxiety disorders may range from mild to severe, depending on the cause. It is imperative to seek immediate medical attention when any signs are noticeable. Here are some symptoms to take note of:

Common Symptoms

Some of the symptoms common to all anxiety disorders include:⁵

Excessive fear: This symptom is one of the major challenges related to anxiety disorder. Individuals with an anxiety disorder may often find themselves fearful about everyday situations. In some cases, these individuals also have panic attacks.
Increased heart rate: Feeling heart palpitations is a common sign of the disorder. People often feel that their hearts are racing or fluttering.
Sweating: Anxiety causes stress, which leads to a rise in body temperature. For this reason, individuals’ sweat glands begin to produce sweat.
Rapid breathing: When anxious, the person experiences chest tightening, shortness of breath, and increased breathing rate.
Concentration problems: Due to hyperventilation, many individuals experiencing the disorder easily lose concentration. Note that hyperventilation signifies rapid breathing, causing less blood flow to the brain.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder Symptoms

Given that GAD is one of the most commonly diagnosed forms of anxiety, it’s crucial to be able to identify its symptoms. These symptoms can include:6

Insomnia: GAD can cause people to develop severe sleep problems and challenges in sleep patterns. Due to the body’s sense of fear and worry, it becomes difficult to sleep.
Muscle tension: One of the common general anxiety disorder symptoms is muscle tension. Muscle tension causes stiffness and pain in most body areas.
Fatigue and exhaustion: The hormonal rush from anxiety may cause the body to feel tired. Even after resting, the feeling of exhaustion typically remains.

Social Anxiety Symptoms

Here are some of the common social anxiety disorder symptoms:⁷

Fear of judgment: Children experiencing social anxiety tend to harbor a fear of being scrutinized or judged by their peers during social gatherings, and this anxiety often manifests in their school or daily routines. Similarly, adults may experience apprehension about being judged, particularly in work or other social contexts.
Worry about self-humiliation: Individuals with social anxiety regularly worry about embarrassing or humiliating themselves. For that reason, they often avoid any occasion that may require their presence or input.
Identification of flaws: Individuals with anxiety often have a distorted sense of self-worth. Many individuals with social anxiety analyze or point out their ‘flaws’ to themselves. Typically, they will convince themselves they are unworthy of certain activities, such as speaking at a gathering or event.

Anxiety Disorder Diagnosis

When seeking treatment, individuals can anticipate that a licensed mental health provider will begin the process with a physical examination to establish an accurate diagnosis. This examination serves the purpose of investigating whether the symptoms of the anxiety disorder are linked to an underlying medical condition or medication.

At J. Flowers Health Institute, individuals will meet with our knowledgeable and compassionate team and be recommended to our Comprehensive Diagnostic Evaluation Program.

Following this, the doctor may order a urine test and other tests to ascertain the illness. Other necessary steps for proper diagnosis include asking detailed questions about medical history and using questionnaires. For proper diagnosis, the medical professional will follow the DSM-5 standards to ensure that the criteria are being met.

Anxiety Disorder Treatment Options

Anxiety disorders are highly treatable. Here are the significant anxiety disorder treatments to note:

Medications: Doctors prescribe several types of medications to treat the disorder. Examples include antidepressants, buspirone, and benzodiazepines. Choosing the right anxiety disorder medication requires knowledge of the cause or underlying medical condition.
Psychotherapy: Another name for psychotherapy is talk therapy. It usually involves cognitive–behavioral therapy to teach the individual how to manage their worries and return to daily activities to improve overall well-being.
Coping and support: Some coping strategies that facilitate treatment include increasing physical activities, eating proper diets, and prioritizing sleep. Talking to a loved one or joining a support group also proves efficient in helping with anxiety symptoms.

Receive Concierge, Cutting-Edge Treatment at J. Flowers Health Institute

At J. Flowers Health Institute, we are committed to your long-term wellness and recovery. We know how debilitating anxiety can feel and we’re here to provide you with the resources to manage and overcome your symptoms of discomfort and regain your autonomy.

After determining the cause or contributing factor of the condition, our team of experts can determine the best course of action for you and your unique needs, circumstances, and goals.

Reach out today and begin healing.