Anxiety Disorder

Do you sometimes have the feeling of being nervous for no reasons? And this worries have been bothering you so constantly that you cannot bear with it anymore?

Anxiety is a feeling of unease and nervousness, such as worries or fears about unknown situations. This feeling of anxiousness vary from person to person. To a certain extent, anxiety is normal and can even be helpful as it can motivate us to complete school work, perform better at sports and stay alert at all times.

However, if anxiety consistently annoys you and signs of negative impacts emerge – poor academic performance, social anxiety, and substance abuse – then thoughtful attention and appropriate treatment must be considered.

Common Triggers

Work stress or job change.
Change in living arrangements.
Pregnancy and giving birth.
Family and relationship problems.
Major emotional shock following a stressful or traumatic event.
Verbal, sexual, physical or emotional abuse or trauma.
Death or loss of a loved one.
Personality. (People with certain personality types are more prone to anxiety disorders than others are.)

*It is not yet known what causes panic attacks but certain factors may play an important role, including genetics, major stress or having a predisposition to stress

Signs & Symptoms

Excessive Worrying
Difficulties Sleeping & Restlessness
Fatigue: extreme tiredness
Concentration Issues
Irritability & Tension
Increased Heart-Rate & Palpitations
Sweating & Hot Flashes
Trembling & Shaking
Chest Pains & Shortness of Breath
Feelings of Terror or Impending Doom

Common Types of Anxiety Disorders in Teenagers

Social Phobia/Anxiety
fear of social events such as confronting a group of people or due to public presentation. People with social phobia tend to avoid social situations, resulting in them pulling out of events
Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
intense fears or worries about everyday situations, finding it hard to be settled
Specific Phobias
fears associated with particular situations and/or elements that reminds them of bad memories. The most common ones are height, water, fire, etc.
Agoraphobia
a form of Specific Phobias in which the thought of the fear makes the persons actively avoid the situations. E.g., avoid visiting similar places to the location where the person got traumatised
Separation Anxiety
the situation in which the teenagers do not want to leave/get separated from but have to stay away from their parents, family or a prominent caregiver for some reason
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
a mental health disorder that occurs when one gets caught in a loop of obsessions and compulsions.
☞ Obsession: unwanted intrusive thoughts, images, or urges that occur over and over beyond one's control (distress)
☞ Compulsion: behaviours an individual engages in to attempt to get rid of the obsessions and/or decrease his or her distress; repetitive behaviours or thoughts with the hope to make their obsessions go away
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
a particular set of reactions that can develop in people who have been through a traumatic event which threatened their life or safety, or that of others around them. E.g., a car accident
Panic Disorder
a mental illness where one may experience recurring or regular panic attacks, a sudden episode of intense fear that triggers severe physical reactions when there is no real danger or apparent cause

Panic Attack

Associated with overwhelming anxiety and fear
Sudden; peak within 10 mins and end within 20-30 mins
More severe, intense and disruptive
Can occur without a trigger

Anxiety

Associated with excessive worries or stressful situations
Worries and stresses are intensifies over a period of time
Less severe, intense and disruptive
Occur in response to a perceived stressor or threat

Anxiety Disorder = Nervousness?

While nervousness is a common symptom of anxiety disorders, they're not the same thing. Anxiety disorders are psychiatric disorders that develop from a number of complex factors, including genetics, brain chemistry, and life events. Anxiety disorders are long-lasting and uncontrollable without treatment.

Anxiety = Anxiety Disorder?

If nervousness cannot be count as anxiety disorder, what about anxiety? Despite having a similar name, anxiety and anxiety disorder are not the same: one comes as a natural response to stressors or unstable conditions, keeping us alert; the other is the constant mental disturbance even after the has subsided.

Anxiety

Worry about handing homework on time, writing academic essays, a romantic breakup, or other important life events
Embarrassment or self-consciousness in an uncomfortable or awkward social situation
A case of nervous or sweating before a big test, public presentation or other significant events
Realistic fear of a dangerous object, place, or situation
Anxiety, sadness or insomnia immediately after a traumatic event

Anxiety Disorder

Constant and unsubstantiated worry that causes significant distress and interferes with daily life
Avoiding social situations for fear of being judged embarrassed, or humiliated
Seemingly out-of-the-blue panic attacks and the preoccupation with the fear of re-tramatisation
Irrational fear or avoidance of an object, place or situation that poses little or no threat of danger
Recurring nightmares, flashbacks, or emotional numbing related to a traumatic event that occurred several months or years before

Have you found yourself pessimistically looking at negative aspects of life? Do you have problems with sleeping or controlling negative emotions?

If your anxiety is keeping you from carrying out daily routines or enjoying your life, it's time to seek treatment. Perhaps you've stopped hanging out with your friends as much, or maybe you have difficulty concentrating in school.

Whatever the case may be, you can regain control of your life through proper treatment!

When to seek for help?

Dealing with Anxiety Disorder

Treatment for mild to moderate anxiety includes:

Adopting a healthy lifestyle, including enough sleep, proper nutrition, and physical activities
Try to confront anxiety sources in different ways
Practise mindfulness: meditation and relaxation
Spend time with pets and animals
Executing time management strategies to cope up with the pressure of studies or exams
Join mental health support group

Treatment for severe anxiety (medication):

Cognitive‐behavioural therapy (CBT) focuses on exposing teenagers to situations that frighten them and helps them confront their fears. The therapy involves relaxation techniques such as muscle relaxation, deep breathing, and self‐talk.

Studies suggest that a combination of CBT and medication for 12 weeks can result in 80% positive response from teens with anxiety disorders. Research also indicates that CBT alone has resulted in 60% of positive response.
Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are antidepressants. Effective in short-term, however, evidence of positive long term effects is lacking.