Anxiety Disorder and how to treat it? - Doctor explains

In this video we will discuss anxiety disorder and how to treat it?
This video is part of a video series on mental health problems. So for more mental health related videos check out this playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlistlist=PLaG3Bo3L0gX6Q9c7x0nRJ9sN_8pR8BB6m

What is an Anxiety disorder?
Anxiety disorders are a cluster of mental disorders which are characterized by significant and sometimes uncontrollable feelings of anxiety and fear. This can have a huge impact on a person’s personal, social and occupational functioning. There are several types of anxiety disorders, like
- Generalized anxiety disorder. This is characterized by persistent and excessive worry and fear about everyday things.
- Panic disorder. This may lead to sudden panic attack, where a person experiences a sudden, intense fear that brings on a panic attack.
- Social anxiety disorder. This may cause obsessive worrying about social interactions with other people. There usually is a fear for being judged, embarrassed or ridiculed.
- Specific phobias. Which cause an intense fear of a specific object or situation, such as heights or flying.
- Agoraphobia. This is an intense fear of entering open or crowded places, of leaving one’s home or of being in places from which escape is difficult.
- Medication-induced anxiety disorder. As the name suggests there are certain medications or illegal drugs which can trigger a severe anxiety disorder.

Risk factors:
Trauma, severe stress, personality disorders, depression, other mental health disorders, having a close relative with anxiety disorder and excessive drug or alcohol usage.

Prevalence:
Anxiety disorders are one of the most common mental illnesses in the world. Affecting about 40 million adults in the United states alone. And according to recent research about 33,7% of all people is affected by an anxiety disorder at one point in their lives.

Prevention and treatment options:
Generally, the treatment may include lifestyle interventions, medication and psychological interventions.
Therefore let’s start with the basics. It may be obvious, but it is important to take good care for yourself. Not only from a physical point of view, but also from a mental one.
This means; change your cloths at least a few times a week, shower regularly, maintain a tidy home and workspace and keep a structured sleeping schedule. Try to wake up and go to sleep at fixed times, aim for 7-9 hours of sleep per night and try to avoid sleeping during the day. In addition it is often helpful to plan and fill your days. This gives purpose and helps with structuring them. When making your schedule make sure to do some activities outside your house. Sometimes a small walk can be enough. Next up follow a healthy diet. Eat enough vegetables and vitamins and drink about 1,5-2L of water a day. Lastly, try to stay in touch with your loved ones, your friends, family and colleagues. Maintaining social contacts could contribute positively to your mental health. You can do this physically by meeting up, but calling them or whatsapping will go a long way.

Next up psychological treatments may also be helpful. This can be followed individually, as family or in a group settings.
Your doctor might start with psycho-education, CGT, various stress management interventions, time management training, occupation therapy and light therapy.

Lastly, depending on your precise symptoms and other co-occurring disorders, your doctor might also prescribe: Mood stabilizers, antidepressants and/or anti-anxiety medication.

For more information on any of these, check out the playlist in the description. There you can find in depth videos on specific drugs.

- Disclaimer: this video and the comments are meant purely informational! This is not medical advice! If you are looking for medical advice always contact your own doctor. -

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Literature:
1: NIMH. (2018). Anxiety Disorders.
2: Mayo Clinic. (2018). Anxiety disorders.
3: Craske MG. Stein MB. (2016). Anxiety. Lancet. 388 (10063): 3048–3059.

* The images in this video are used for educational purposes only. Most of the images and video material in this video come from https://www.canva.com/.

Music:
1. Verified Picasso, Fish Room
2. Patrick Patrikos, Good Times
3. Patrick Patrikos, Grut
4: Patrick Patrikios. Rockville

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