What is Anxiety Disorders and What are the 5 Categories?

I wanted to write this article to help folks understand a little more about anxiety disorders. Hopefully this article can help explain what exactly is anxiety disorders so that you can take steps to find the cure...

However, you must understand that this article cannot be used as a substitute for professional medical advice. I strongly suggest that you see your doctor for the proper diagnosis. Only then you should look at your options... whether to take prescription medication or therapy to alleviate your symptoms. At the end of this article... I will give you a 3rd alternative... a self-help way to permanently cure your panic or anxiety symptoms forever!

So then... what exactly are anxiety disorders? Well, normally, anxiety is one way our body reacts to stress. We tend to worry and try to "solve" something... try harder to do well at an incoming exam... or deal with a tense situation at work.

However, when we start to worry too much... it can be an overriding obsession that can virtually cripple our lives.

Did you know there are 5 categories of anxiety disorders? It's true... They are:

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder or GAD
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD
• Panic Disorder
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTDS
• And finally, Social Phobia

As I mentioned above... all five of these anxiety disorders are treatable...

Now let's break it down a little more and define each disorder some more:

The Generalized Anxiety Disorder or GAD is one that is represented by excessive and chronic worrying or anxiety. You tend to agonize over the littlest things... even when unprovoked.

Unfortunately, all that excessive worrying and anxiety can manifest themselves with physical symptoms... such as fatigue, headaches, tension, trouble swallowing, shaking, sweating and hot flashes.

The Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD is represented by unwanted thoughts and repetitive behaviors. For instance, you could be washing your hands so many times a day... or counting, checking or cleaning as a means to stop the obsessive thoughts. Even though these rituals may provide some temporary relief... not performing them may make your anxiety symptoms much worse...

When I think about this Obsessive Compulsive Disorders... I think about the TV show called, "Monk." Even though the show portrays this disorder as humorous and non-threatening... for many sufferers of this condition... it is pure hell. Not much fun at all.

The next disorder is what this website is all about... Panic Disorders. It is a form of anxiety disorders that is represented by episodes that pop in out of the blue and you experience moments of absolute fear... which are accompanied by physcial symptoms such as chest pains, trouble breathing, dizziness and other related symptoms. And then thing about these symtoms... it does seem real!

But as Barry Joe McDonagh the author of Panic Away says... you are never in danger when you are suffering from panic attacks. You find out more about that at his website: Panic Away.

The Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD is more associated with Vietnam and other conflicts by veterans of combat. But it can develop by anyone after exposure to any terrifying event or ordeal in which death or injury was implied or happened. PTSD can happen to anyone who was a victim of violent attacks... disasters... accidents and military combat as I mentioned earlier.

And the symptoms of PTSD is persistent and frightening thoughts and memories of the terrible ordeal. These folks can feel emotionally numb... experience sleeping problems... or easily startled.

And what about Social Phobia? Well, it is an anxiety disorder that is represented by excessive worrying and anxiety within social situations. Such as fear of speaking... or eating and drinking in front of other people. And sometimes social phobia can be so severe that sufferers experiences symptoms anytime they are around other people.

Social phobias is represented by the intense fear of being watched and judged by others... the fear of being embarrassed or humiliated by others by their own actions. This form of anxiety disorder can cripple the person so badly to affect their academic studies or livelihood at the office.

They may suffer from these symptoms... excessive sweating, blushing, shaking, nausea and even trouble talking...

Sometimes anxiety disorders can be combined with depression... and make your life more difficult. Depression is a pretty common disorder that can affect about 3-5% of the population... but combined with anxiety disorders... it can make life very difficult.

Again I repeat that you should definitely see your doctor to get the proper diagnosis... but I also want to tell you that you have options outside of the usual expensive therapy treatments or prescription medications...

You see, therapy and medication just alleviates your symptoms so you can continue your life. But stop either one of these treatment methods... and more likely your anxiety disorder symtoms will return.

A former sufferer of Panic Attacks found a way of self-help that completely eliminates your anxiety and panic attacks. His name is Barry Joe McDonagh and the book is "Panic Away". Joe points to 27,000 plus former sufferers worldwide, who have cured themselves... Click here to find out more about Panic Away and be sure to read the testimonials of folks who got their normal life back.