Anxiety Disorders
Causes
Many factors are involved in the cause of anxiety disorders-genetics,
stressful life events, biological factors, physical illness, medications,
conditioning, drugs, alcohol, and childhood experiences-and these
factors may differ from individual to individual. Not everyone who has a
parent with an anxiety disorder will develop an anxiety problem. Nor will
a stressful situation cause everyone to feel the same way. It is probably
better to think about risk factors, rather than causes, for developing
anxiety disorders.
Diagnosing Anxiety Disorders
Many people with high levels of anxiety also experience depression. It
is important to have a thorough psychiatric examination to determine if
the problem is depression, an anxiety disorder, or both. Individuals with
anxiety disorders may also have problems with drugs or alcohol, and it is
important to recognize how substance use contributes to the overall
clinical picture.
Physical symptoms are common. Anxious individuals often complain of
headaches or muscle aches, nausea or nervous stomach, heart racing, or
breathing problems. Because anxiety is associated with several physical
problems, many individuals first go to their family doctor for treatment.
There are several different anxiety disorders. It is not sufficient to
be diagnosed with clinical anxiety or an anxiety disorder, because the
different anxiety disorders are treated differently.
The 7 most
frequently diagnosed anxiety disorders
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