Anxiety Disorders Case

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patients’ lives because it is so “random” and indiscriminate, so there is no way of telling when it will effect them.

-General anxiety disorder is most frequently encountered by primary care physicians, to whom sufferers may go to seek help for the physical symptoms of the disorder (Carey).

C. Causes of anxiety disorders

+ brain chemistry

- “Because symptoms of anxiety disorders are often relieved by medications that alter levels of chemicals in the brain, scientists believe that brain chemistry appears to play a role in the onset of anxiety disorders” (UMMC).

-Two neurotransmitters associated with anxiousness and other feelings related to anxiety disorders are dopamine and serotonin (Barnes). When the brain has a shortage of dopamine and serotonin levels, a person can be left with feelings of depression or anxiety.

+heredity

-Through an extensive “genome-wide scan”, research has also revealed several possible OCD-related “chromosomal neighborhoods” (OCD: Down to the Biology).

-This means that Genetic abnormalities may be linked to the cause of OCD.

-“There is clear evidence that anxiety disorders run in families. Studies show that if one identical twin has an anxiety disorder, the second twin is more likely to have an anxiety disorder than non-identical (fraternal) twins. These findings suggest that a genetic factor, possibly activated in combination with life experiences, predisposes some people to these disorders” (UMMC).

- Apparently, studies concerning genetics and their relation to anxiety disorders have been quite popular in recent research.

- “In terms of genetics, there has been a big push to find what genes are involved. But, it is so complicated that the answers won’t be determined for many years to come” (Wuyek).

+Personality

- According to Dr. Joseph Beinvenu of the John’s Hopkin’s University medical center, personality types, specifically neuroticism and introversion, are possibly linked to anxiety disorders. (Anxiety and Personality: Stranger No More)

-Researchers believe that personality may play a role in the development of an anxiety disorder, noting that people who have low self-esteem and poor coping skills may be more prone (UMMC).

+ Life experiences

- As previously stated PTSD is triggered from traumatic events that people may fall victim to. The abnormality of such events becomes so overwhelming for one to deal with that the person develops anxiety.

-Also, Researchers believe that the relationship between anxiety disorders and long-term exposure to abuse, violence, or poverty is an important area for further study, as life experiences may affect an individual’s susceptibility to these disorders (UMMC).

3. How anxiety disorders hinder life

A. emotional effects

+ depression

-Although anxiety disorders do not cause depression, research illustrates that the two are linked to one another, and commonly occur together.

-The link between stress and depression has long been observed, where unceasing exposure to stressful life events has been associated with the development of depressive symptoms in certain people, under certain circumstances. Stressors or stressful situations usually lead to depression. However, the onset of depression has been shown to depend on an interaction between stress and individual vulnerability (Rose).

-Since anxiety disorders are accompanied by stress, it is safe to say that depression can be associated with anxiety disorders, although anxiety disorders do not cause depression.

- Just as an imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain has been suspected to be a cause of anxiety disorders, an imbalance of neurotransmitters are suspected as the cause of depression. Depression can occur when neurons do not receive enough of the serotonin or norepinephrine neurotransmitter. Therefore, the same chemical imbalance within the brain could cause anxiety and depression.

B. physical effects

-Physical and psychosomatic symptoms common after a trauma — including heart palpitations and hypertension — help explain why New York physicians reported a rise in patients since Sept. 11 complaining of symptoms like heart trouble or head pain (Glazer).

-Physical effects of anxiety disorders may include chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, feelings of unreality or fear of dying, sleep deprivation, etc.

-These physical effects can be daunting, and can worsen the intensity of one’s anxiety.

4. Treatments

+ “We don’t want to get rid of anxiety, just maintain and manage it. Certain anxiety can be useful” (Wuyek).

A. Therapy

-“Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an empirically supported treatment that focuses on patterns of thinking that are maladaptive and the beliefs that underlie such thinking” (NAMI)

- “A form of CBT, exposure therapy is a process for reducing fear and anxiety responses. In therapy, a person is gradually exposed to a feared situation or object, learning to become less sensitive over time” (ADAA).

- Cognitive behavioral therapy typically focuses on what the patient is thinking, and rearing their thoughts into a healthier, productive manner.

B. Medication

-There are many forms of medication available to those who suffer from anxiety disorders. Most of these medications focus on balancing the levels of neurotransmitters in the patient’s brain.

- Some types of medications used for those who suffer from anxiety disorders include Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI), Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRI), Benzodiazepines, and Tricyclic Antidepressants (ADAA).

-Benzodiazepines are typically used to help ease the physical symptoms associated with anxiety disorders whereas the others focus more on balancing neurotransmitter level in the brain.

- SSRIs and SNRIs block reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine in the brain to treat anxiety disorders (ADAA). Reuptake is when neurotransmitters are reabsorbed by certain neurons in the brain. Sometimes when reuptake occurs, the brain does not receive the proper amount of neurotransmitters, thus promoting anxiety. These medications attempt to stop