Anxiety disorder

Anxiety disorders encompass a wide range of conditions characterized by anxiety as the primary symptom. Unlike a typical reaction to stress, anxiety disorders are psychoemotional disorders with distinct biological mechanisms. Key symptoms include psychic tension, fear for one's life or the lives of loved ones, and a persistent feeling that something bad is about to happen. These feelings may be triggered by external factors or arise unexpectedly without any apparent cause.

In some individuals, anxiety manifests as physical ailments such as rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, dizziness, and difficulty breathing. Unfortunately, those suffering from anxiety disorders often consult various specialists before eventually seeking help from a psychiatrist or psychotherapist. Anxiety disorders are considered only after ruling out somatic pathologies.

In terms of prevalence, anxiety disorders rank first among psychiatric disorders. Research has shown that people with anxiety disorders exhibit certain characteristics in the brain structures responsible for hazard recognition. These structures activate the autonomic nervous system, resulting in physical responses such as shivering, increased heart rate, and elevated blood pressure. Essentially, this mechanism is based on false information that the person is in danger.

While traumatic events or severe stress can act as a catalyst in some cases, long-term anxiety disorders typically arise in individuals with a predisposition to such conditions. Anxiety serves as a “red flag,” signaling a problem and drawing attention to it. In the brain, specific biological mechanisms screen the surrounding world to recognize potential dangers and launch a reaction when necessary.

When a person experiences severe stress, anxiety is a natural response. However, when the anxiety level is disproportionately higher than the real stimuli, an anxiety disorder may be present. In such cases, feelings of jitteriness and anxiety persist even after the situation has normalized. The patient may dwell on unpleasant scenarios, experience poor sleep, and exhibit physical manifestations of anxiety that do not align with the actual situation.

Anxiety is a normal human emotion, but its correspondence to external factors, duration, and impact on one's life determine whether it is pathological. If anxiety prevents you from engaging in activities crucial to your career or enjoying experiences like air travel, it may be time to seek support.

One of the most dangerous complications of untreated anxiety disorders is the development of severe depression, which can significantly impair the quality of life. If you constantly experience anxiety, the best course of action is to consult a psychiatrist, who can determine the appropriate treatment, whether it be psychotherapeutic help, drug therapy, or a combination of both. Clinical interviews and evaluation protocols guide the doctor in prescribing the most effective treatment for each individual case.