Every person feels anxious at one time or another. One can feel anxious when faced with an issue at work, before coming to an important decision or before taking some test. Anxiety disorder entails more than temporary fear or worry. Anxiety disorder incorporates a group of mental illness and the distress that they bring which can keep you from normally carrying on with your life.
Introduction
Persons who have anxiety disorder possess worry and fear that are constant and overwhelming and at times, can be disabling. Through proper treatment, the condition can be well managed and one thus, one regains their fulfilling life. It is important to know the causes, manifestation and treatment of the disorder. DSM has also become of great significance for the clinicians that deal with mental illness.
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Causes and Manifestation of the Disorder
There are lots of causes of anxiety disorder. It can be occasioned by alcohol abuse that most times increases with prolonged abstinence. Dependence on Benzodiazepine, alcohol and caffeine can worsen can result in panic attacks or anxiety. Anxiety disorder can also result from life stresses, for instance, chronic physical illness or financial worries. It can also be a result of a medical condition (Songtachalert et al ., 2018). The disorder can be a side effect of an underlying endocrine disease that prompts the nervous system to be hyperactive. The disorder can possibly run in families and can be linked to faulty brain circuits that control fear amongst other emotions.
According to Lader (2015), anxiety disorders are manifested through restless feelings, or wound-up. Persons with the disorder can be seen to be easily fatigued and possess difficulty in concentration. Other notable symptoms are being irritable, muscle tension, difficulty in controlling feelings of worry and having sleep problems. Other notable signs of anxiety disorder include; sensations of shortness of breath, choking and smothering. A section of individuals has feelings of being out of control, heart palpitations, accelerated heart rate or a pounding heartbeat (Wood et al., 2011).
Treatment of Anxiety Disorder
Generally, anxiety disorders are treated with medication, psychotherapy, or both. Psychotherapy is a talk therapy that is tailored to an individual’s specific anxieties and his or her needs. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is instrumental in teaching people the separate ways of behaving, thinking, and reacting to anxiety producing and fearful situations and objects. CBT also assists individuals to learn practical social skills that are needed for treating social anxiety disorder (Wood et al., 2011).
Medication does not offer a cure for anxiety disorders but can assist in relieving the symptoms. The most common classes of medications that are utilized in combating anxiety disorders are antidepressants and beta-blockers and the anti-anxiety drugs for instance benzodiazepines
Importance of the DSM when Diagnosing a Patient with Anxiety Disorder
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) remains a crucial handbook for psychiatrists worldwide. It is utilized by health professionals in the United States and around the world as a pivotal guide to the diagnosis of mental disorders (Lader, 2015).
Through DSM, an anxiety disorder specialist finds some of the most relevant information regarding anxiety disorder. It contains description, symptoms and other systems of criteria that are useful in diagnosing anxiety disorders. The handbook offers a common language for the clinicians to effectively communicate concerning their patients (Songtachalert et al ., 2018). Thereafter, it can then establish a consistent and reliable diagnosis that can be utilized in studying mental disorders and specific anxiety disorder. In addition, it also offers a common language for researchers to investigate the criteria for potential future revisions and also, aid in the advancement of medications and possible interventions (Wood et al., 2011).
Conclusion
Anxiety disorder is a mental condition that can be managed. It is caused by stress among other causative agents for instance genes. The condition can be treated by medication or through psychiatrists. DSM handbook remains essential for the clinicians of patients with mental disorders.
References
Lader, M. (2015). Generalized anxiety disorder. In Encyclopedia of psychopharmacology (pp. 699-702). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.
Songtachalert, T., Roomruangwong, C., Carvalho, A. F., Bourin, M., & Maes, M. (2018). Anxiety Disorders: Sex Differences in Serotonin and Tryptophan Metabolism.
Wood, S. E., Wood, E. R. G., Boyd, D. R., Bracey-Lorenzo, K., & Lambright, L. L. (2011). Mastering the world of psychology . Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
