Anxiety

Author: Bertha Argueta

“How can a person deal with anxiety? You might try what one fellow did. He worried so much that he decided to hire someone to do his worrying for him. He found a man who agreed to be his hired worrier for a salary of $200,000 per year. After the man accepted the job, his first question to his boss was, ‘Where are you going to get $200,000 per year?’ To which the man responded, ‘That’s your worry’” – Max Lucado

ANXIETY DISORDERS 

Did you know that there are 5 different Anxiety Disorders? Here they are in a nutshell!

Specific Phobias

A Phobia is a fear of something specific, a fear that is “out of proportion”.

For example, I am AFRAID of spiders; however, I can somehow manage to kill it. Someone with arachnophobia (phobia of spiders) would probably be unable to move or even enter the room where the tiny bitsy little spider might be found. 

Panic Attacks

When a person experiences a Panic Attack, she is paralyzed by what is called “flight-or-fight response (where the brain is responding in the same way to a Real and to an Unreal Danger).

Other symptoms of a panic attack include shortness of breath, racing heartbeat, sweating, dizziness, nausea, diarrhea, ringing ears, choking, vertigo and the fear that you might be having a Heart Attack, even though most likely you are not. 

Side Note: Please always seek immediate help if you feel that you might be having a heart attack. 

Panic Attacks happen all of a sudden, the individual has no idea where the feeling came from, or what prompted her reaction, creating the Fear of another Panic Attack.

Agoraphobia

Have you ever felt so concerned about being embarrassed or felt that it would be difficult to Escape if you had Anxiety Symptoms in front of other people, or at the supermarket, or anywhere where there might be a crowd? 

Since this fear exists and is so real to the individual, the person feels it is best to avoid going out alone, being in marketplaces, or enclosed spaces such as shops, theater, or even standing in line or being in a crowd. Thus the individual stays confined to home where she feels safe. 

However, Agoraphobia causes a significant impairment in daily functioning. 

Social Anxiety Disorder

According to the DSM-5 these are the 3 Criteria for Social Anxiety

• Marked and disproportionate fear constantly triggered by exposure to potential Social Scrutiny
• Exposure to the trigger leads to intense anxiety about being evaluated negatively
• Trigger situations are avoided or else endures with Intense Anxiety

Many times individuals with Social Anxiety are very talented, but due to the extreme social fear, they might find themselves in occupations that are far below their talent. 

If Untreated, Social Anxiety Disorder may become chronic. 

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

One word: WORRY. This is what GAD centers on. The individual mostly and constantly worries about minor things and is unable to let go of the problem she is  constantly thinking about. These worries are long-lasting, excessive, and uncontrollable. 

Other symptoms in GAD include: 

• Difficulty Concentrating
• Restlessness
• Irritability
• Muscle Tension

“When you exchange worry, concern, anxiety, and questioning for Thanksgiving, you will begin to see things differently” ~ Bertha Argueta 

“Our anxiety does not come from thinking about the future, but from wanting to control it.” – Kahlil Gibran  

There is HOPE, anxiety can be controlled with the proper help!! 

On my next post: What Triggers Anxiety?

References

Clinton, T., & Hawkins R. (2009). The quick-reference guide to Biblical counseling. Baker Books.

Kring, A.M., Johnson, S. L., Davison, G., & Neale, J. (2016). Abnormal Psychology: The science and treatment of psychological disorders. John Wiley and Sons, Inc.