An anxiety disorder is a mental disorder that produces feelings of fear or apprehension, sometimes without due cause. Sufferers of this disorder tend to worry about the future and focus on things that can go wrong. Often this worry causes physical symptoms like sweating, shaking and increased heart rate. If you suffer from a disorder like this, you may need anxiety treatment Santa Monica CA.

Phobias are the largest category of these disorders. This includes cases in which excessive fear is triggered by particular situations or things. Many people have phobias about different things, such as spiders, enclosed spaces or heights. People who suffer from phobias normally believe that terrible things will happen if they encounter the thing they are afraid of. In most cases this fear is not proportional to the real danger of the object or situation.

Panic disorders are another type of common disorder. In these cases, the patient experiences attacks of strong feelings of terror. This may be accompanied by trembling, dizziness or difficulty breathing. In most cases, the panic attack is short, lasting ten minutes or less. However, in some cases, it can go on for several hours. What triggers these attacks is not always known.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a disorder arising from traumatic experience suffered by the victim. This normally develops when a person is in an extreme situation and is struggling to cope with emotional trauma. It is common to find PTSD in war vets, rape victims, and those who have suffered bad accidents. People with post-traumatic stress disorder often experience flashbacks, anger and depression.

Agoraphobia is when a patient experiences fear relating to certain places or situations. They may feel afraid of being somewhere where they cannot escape. They may also have an irrational fear over embarrassing situations. Agoraphobia is often closely linked with panic disorders. People will agoraphobia are always looking for an escape route which often leads to avoidance behaviors over time.

Social anxiety disorder, also known as SAD, is a social phobia. This is when a person has an intense fear of public scrutiny. They fear being embarrassment in public and suffering humiliation. For this reason, social interaction can be difficult for these people. In some cases, the phobia centers on certain situations, such as having to speak before people in public. In other cases, the person just has a fear of most social interactions in general.

If medications are used for the patient, they will typically only be used for the short-term, since there is a risk of dependence. Some of these drugs are a form of antidepressant to control systems and relieve tension in the patient. These medications also have various side effects, which may be more prominent in older patients. Typical side effects include nausea, headaches and sleep problems.

If you suffer from any of these anxiety disorders, it is important to see your doctor as soon as possible for treatment and advice. Do not wait until the disorder controls your life. Your doctor may suggest therapy or medication to control the symptoms and help you to modify your thinking.