Anxiety is the body’s response to dangerous or problematic situations, and is perfectly normal. Abnormal anxiety is distinct from this normal behaviour in that it is irrational (not triggered by potential danger), long lasting and recurrent.

There are several different types of anxiety disorder:-

Generalised anxiety disorder

This type of anxiety affects women more often than men and generally lasts for six months or so. Sufferers feel anxious for long periods without cause, and are unable to explain what is actually causing the anxiety. Those diagnosed with this condition can spend long periods worrying, which leads to symptoms including heart palpitations, dizzy spells, headaches and a disturbed sleep pattern.

Specific phobias

A patient suffering from a specific phobia knows exactly what is causing the problem; he or she displays terrible and irrational fear of a certain object or situation. Vertigo (fear of heights), claustrophobia (fear of enclosed spaces), fear of blood and fear of a particular type of animal are all common examples.

When confronted with the fear provoking object or situation, the sufferer will display symptoms of extreme fear, including shortness of breath, nausea, heart palpitations and uncontrollable shaking.

Panic disorder

Recurring and unexpected panic attacks are the chief symptom of this disorder. Attacks usually start for no reason, a fact of which the sufferer is well aware - because of this they usually avoid public situations and generally do not like to be left alone. During an attack the person experiences extreme shaking, chest pains and dizziness and is afraid of a loss of control. Some attacks are so severe that the sufferer does indeed lose control and can injure themselves.

Social phobia

Social phobia, or social anxiety, causes similar symptoms to panic disorder, and generally occurs in social situations, both familiar and unfamiliar. People who suffer from this do not like to be the centre of attention, even amongst friends. Dizziness, shaking, shortness of breath and heart palpitations are the most common symptoms.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Those who suffer from this disorder display symptoms of anxiety when confronted with a particular object or idea, and often carry out repetitive behaviour in an attempt to avoid or divert the anxiety. Many sufferers are obsessed with cleanliness and order, and may for example organise the contents of the food cupboard alphabetically. Compulsive cleaning or washing is very common.

Post-traumatic stress disorder

This occurs after the sufferer has been exposed to a particularly traumatic event. The person often continues to experience the event in the mind’s eye, suffering flashbacks which cause symptoms of extreme anxiety. Contact with stimuli - anything that he or she associates with the original trauma - can trigger very vivid memories of the original experience leading to uncontrollable panic and loss of control. Lesser symptoms include behaviour to avoid stimuli, and also insomnia. Attacks can happen right after the event but also years later.

It is critical that the type of anxiety disorder is correctly diagnosed before treatment of the patient begins. Treatments involve managing the symptoms and suggesting coping mechanisms for dealing with the recognised triggers for that particular anxiety.

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