Anxiety Symptoms To Watch Out For!

Transcriptions From Video:

Anxiety disorders are a group of related conditions, and because of this reason, most sufferers will have different symptoms. Almost all anxiety disorder sufferers share the same common major symptoms which are severe fears and worries. These are oftentimes unwarranted.

Other than the primary symptoms of irrational and excessive fear and worry, common emotional symptoms of anxiety disorders include:

Anxiety disorders are very common amongst children and adolescents, and it is believed that 13% of them suffer from them. And even though they are very well documented, quite often they are misdiagnosed and if left untreated can lead to even further complications. Stressful events such as loss of parent or sibling, divorce or separation of the parents, abuse, family conflicts, moving to a new location or a new school can cause worries and in most cases these mild anxieties are quite normal. Once they start interfering with the child’s normal activities though, like the ability to learn and perform well in school, the ability to make new friends, and result in loss of normal sleep, then the child is suffering from anxiety disorder.

If a child is experiencing any of the symptoms below almost every day for at least six months, then it is likely that he or she is suffering from anxiety disorder. The most common physical symptoms are stomach ache, headache, muscle discomfort, hyper-activity, sleeping discomforts, diarrhea, feeling sick, chest tightness, etc.

Oftentimes, children do not outwardly show physical symptoms but if you suspect that your child is in a challenging situation, you should also monitor for non-physical symptoms. Some non-physical signs of anxiety disorders to watch out for are:

Worry – this, of course, is normal for any child and is usually experienced before a test, a school play that the child performs in, a field trip, or any other events that the child might see as important. However, children with anxiety disorders seem to worry excessively without any reason and they would worry excessively about school, friends, past or future events, or meeting new people.

Fear of separation is quite normal for infants and toddlers, but if this fear is experienced at a later stage, then this might be a sign of an anxiety disorder. An older child, who refuses to go anywhere without the parent, sleep alone, or go to school alone, might be suffering from anxiety.

Phobias – fear of particular situation that most people don’t find threatening. These phobias can be the extreme fear of dogs, closed spaces, heights, spiders, etc. Usually children with phobias will try everything in their power to avoid situations which scare them.

Panic attacks – just like adults, children can suffer from panic attacks too. In some cases they are associated with other anxiety disorder symptoms like phobias and stress, or they can be totally unexpected and unprovoked. These are often misdiagnosed and not treated on time, which in turn means that they might be experienced in the adulthood too. Panic attacks occur more often amongst teenagers than amongst younger children, and are usually associated with physical symptoms like nausea, palpitations, sweating, shaking, and numbness.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) – children can suffer from OCD just like the adults and in most cases that would translate into constantly washing their hands, repeating a certain “ritual,” or being obsessed with particular thoughts.

Selective mutism – this is a condition where the child stops speaking. It can be caused by other anxiety, as well as some biological factors. This is also quite often misunderstood since parents think that their child is simply refusing to speak while in fact he or she is unable to speak. This makes selective mutism one of the most overlooked anxiety disorders amongst children.

In most cases the anxiety disorders are diagnosed in children between the ages of six and eight, it is also believed that the temperament of the child is of importance as well: children and are shy and introverted are more likely to suffer from anxiety. Parents should always consult a doctor if they suspect that their child is showing symptoms of anxiety disorder since if they are not treated in time, this might lead to difficulties in the adult live of the child too.

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The fear of an anxiety attack by itself can trigger an attack. This is true as reported by many anxiety disorder patients and after resolving the “meta” fear, most reported an immediate cessation of anxiety attacks. Learn how to get rid of the fear of anxiety attacks, and your child will be able to cope much better. ]]> http://www.anxietyattack.org/symptoms-of-anxiety-disorder-in-children/feed/ 0 http://www.anxietyattack.org/physical-symptoms-of-anxiety/ http://www.anxietyattack.org/physical-symptoms-of-anxiety/#comments Thu, 06 Aug 2009 08:34:26 +0000 admin http://anxietyattack.org/?p=14

In many cases it might take years for your anxiety disorder to be diagnosed, this is why it is highly advisable to seek an immediate doctor’s assistance if you experience some of the symptoms listed in this article. Contrary to the popular belief, anxiety disorders and panic attacks are quite common and it is estimated that two out of five people experience mild anxiety attacks in their lives and this is why early diagnosis is vital for successful treatment.

What are the most common physical symptoms of anxiety?

Shortness of breath (dyspnea)

Duspnea can be a symptom indicating various conditions and illnesses like asthma, heart attack, chronic bronchitis, lung disease, etc. However, people with anxiety quite often experience difficulty breathing as well.

Difficulty when swallowing (dysphagia),

This symptom might also be associated with pain, again can be caused by several physical conditions like diffuse spasm, esophageal tumors and neurological disorders, including anxiety.

Chest pains

If you experience chest pains (quite sharp at times) combined with shortness of breath and disorientation, then there is a good chance that it is caused by anxiety. This kind of chest pains are experienced by large number of anxiety sufferers (up to 70-80%) and can be located in the left area of your chest, in the center, or the pain might even “move around.”

Palpitations

Also known as racing, or pounding heart, can be quite normal in many cases such as during exercising or when a person is in a stressful situation, and can be caused by the intake of too much caffeine or some medications, but in rare cases can indicate a serious illness as well. However, if cardiac diseases are ruled out by your doctor, then this might be an anxiety symptom.

Perspiration

This is normal during exercising, or in a hot summer day and sweating is actually necessary for the normal functioning of one’s body. However, it can be caused by various medical conditions, including anxiety.

Dizziness

If you feel dizzy, lightheaded, off-balance, or you might pass out in the next few moments, then this can also indicate anxiety. However, it might be caused by inner ear or other viral infection – make sure to consult a physician if these symptoms persist.

Hot or cold sensations (flashes)

This can also be caused by emotional distress (anxiety) and it is observed that most people with anxiety experience hot flashes rather than cold ones. During a hot flash usually the person feels its upper body getting warmer and this is often accompanied by profuse perspiration. In some cases a hot flash is followed immediately by a cold one.

Constant fear of dying

This condition is also experienced by many anxiety sufferers. Some people report “thinking about dying all the time” and even being scared going to bed due to that fear, for others the sensation is actually associated with the other anxiety symptoms like nausea, palpitations, sweating, even though these are symptoms that do not represent immediate danger.

Trembling or Shaking

Tthis is normally associated with high emotions like anger, rage, and extreme fatigue. If you experience trembling or shaking quite often, then you are better off consulting a doctor. Finding the cause will help you treat and control these symptoms.

Stomach aches (abdominal pain)

Many organs are in the abdomen, which makes adequate diagnosis of the stomach pain quite difficult since it can be caused by many different conditions, one of which is anxiety as well.

Nausea and vomiting

Nausea and vomiting can be caused by conditions raging from early pregnancy to seasickness, but in some cases are associated with anxiety and fear as well. In most cases these symptoms are experienced only occasionally and tend to disappear when the person learns how to better manage their stress levels and anxiety.

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The fear of an anxiety attack by itself can trigger an attack. This is true as reported by many anxiety disorder patients and after resolving the “meta” fear, most reported an immediate cessation of anxiety attacks. Learn how to get rid of the fear of anxiety attacks, and your child will be able to cope much better.

So, what are the symptoms of anxiety?

As we have already mentioned, different people can experience different symptoms, some are feeling anxious all the time, others get sudden and unexpected anxiety attacks; some have only mild worries and fears, while others can suffer from a pretty severe anxiety and the combination of all the different symptoms in the individual sufferers are endless.

The symptoms can be grouped into physical and emotional. The most common physical symptoms of anxiety disorders are: racing heart, perspiration, stomach pain, tremors, insomnia, frequent urination, dizziness, chest pains, burning skin sensation, nausea, muscle twitching, and more. The most common emotional symptoms of anxiety are fear of dying, feeling restless, irritability, feeling overwhelmed, tension, etc.

Millions of people suffer from anxiety attacks, most commonly known as panic attacks. Panic attacks are periods of intense fear, apprehension, anxiety, and even terror, and can be quite frightening and upsetting. If a person experiences only one or two such attacks in a space of a few years, this is considered to be normal and usually harmless. However, if the panic attacks are frequent and severe, then this is most likely a panic disorder.

What are the symptoms of anxiety (panic) attack?

1. Sudden and unexpected surge of panic.

2. Fear of losing control.

3. Racing heart (heart palpitations).

4. Chest pains.

5. Hyperventilation.

6. Hot or cold flashes.

7. Trembling or shaking.

8. Stomach pain.

9. Nausea.

10. Dizziness.

11. Tingling in the face.

Anxiety attacks last for a few minutes and the symptoms can be sometimes mistaken for heart attack symptoms. This is why it is important to seek immediate medical attention; the good news is that a person cannot be physically harmed by a panic attack, even though his fears tell him otherwise.

Panic attacks can also be the result of other emotional disorders and conditions like post traumatic stress disorder, social anxiety disorder, withdrawal from alcohol and drug abuse, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and others.

Once a panic attacks occurs this often leads to constant fear of having another panic attack in the future, and some people even avoid visiting the places where a panic attack has taken place in the past. What causes the panic attacks though? They can be caused by constant stress, alcohol and drugs abuse, family history, and abnormalities in the brain.

It is believed that around five percent of the adult population will experience a panic attack at least once in their lifetimes. If the condition is persistent though, then consulting a medical professional is the best course of action. In many cases, if no physical illness is found, the person will be referred to a psychologist or psychiatrist, and the most common therapies that are used to treat a panic disorder sufferer are cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), psychotherapy, medication, and alternative therapies like acupuncture, diets, and exercise. For immediate (although short-term) relief the doctors advise the sufferers to breathe into a paper bag.