Most individuals may suffer from anxiety at some stage of their
life. Even children, from a young age can show signs of anxiety.
The most common one in childhood is separation anxiety.
Anxiety disorders can have a devastating effect on those who
suffer from them. Left untreated, anxiety disorders often affect
the ability to function normally in everyday life. Anxiety
disorder may also be a source of additional tension caused by
the strain the condition places on personal and professional
relationships. Physical manifestations in the form of illness
and mental manifestations in the form of depression are often
the consequences of the intense and irrational worry that
characterizes anxiety disorders While new methods of treatment
are being developed, the most current form of medical care
involves a combination of therapy to recognize and change the
mental thought processes that make anxiety disorders possible
along with medication designed to minimize the chemical
imbalances that may facilitate these thought processes. This
type of approach is called
cognitive behavioral therapy. It is derived from cognitive
therapy that was invented by Aaron Beck.
There are several categories of anxiety disorders, such as
posttraumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety
disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder, but the most
commonly diagnosed is general anxiety disorder.
Anxiety disorders can be difficult to diagnose as the
symptoms associated with them are often shared by a variety of
illnesses such as depression and chronic fatigue. In the past,
physicians would frequently misdiagnose anxiety disorder by
associating the symptoms with other illnesses while neglecting
their underlying cause. This often resulted in treatments that
were either ineffective or only served to inhibit the
recurrences of specific symptoms. The end result of an improper
diagnosis usually entailed an increase in other symptoms that
were left untreated.
With proper treatment, using cognitive behavioral therapy,
anxiety disorder can be controlled. People who also suffer from
depression could also try
interpersonal therapy. Cognitive therapy is also recommended
for
children suffering from anxiety.
Many who have suffered from this affliction now can have
healthy, productive lives as a result of getting the appropriate
treatment.
Contributed by:
www.CognitiveTherapyBasics.com
