BSc (Medunsa), MBCHB (Medunsa), FC Psych (SA) PR No. 1075837 MP No. 0683361
CONDITIONS
ANXIETY DISORDERS
What is anxiety disorder?
Though feeling anxious in stressful situations is a normal part of life, extreme forms of stress and worry can negatively affect your day-to-day activities. Anxiety disorder is characterised by this intense state of worry, nervousness, and fear and can seriously harm your emotional and physical wellbeing, as well as your relationship with yourself and those around you. If you constantly feel fearful and anxious, or often experience bouts of anxiety and panic attacks in certain situations, it is important to see a mental health professional who can help treat and manage the condition.
People with anxiety typically experience:
- A constant state of worry and fear
- Hyperventilating
- Excessive sweating and trembling
- Lack of concentration
- Irregular sleeping patterns
- Feeling fatigued
- Increased heart rate
- Regular sense of impending doom
- Agitation and irritability
- A tendency to avoid socialising
You might experience a panic attack characterised by one, or more of these symptoms when you have anxiety disorder. There are also several types of anxiety disorders that you can suffer from, including social anxiety, phobias and general anxiety disorder.
Social anxiety disorder can affect your ability to socialise by causing extreme fear, panic and feelings of self-consciousness in public situations. This form of anxiety can negatively impact your relationships with people around you. Phobias, on the hand, are characterised by the intense fear of certain situations or objects. When a phobia is triggered, you can experience a panic attack. If you have general anxiety disorder, everyday situations and events can cause extreme stress and panic.
Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a mental health illness that can trigger severe anxiety as well. This condition develops when you experience or witness a traumatic event. You might have nightmares and flashbacks that trigger panic attacks, and actively avoid situations that remind you of the event or situation that traumatised you.
What might be done or needed?
Many factors in your life can cause or contribute to anxiety and learning to manage the disorder is vital to your mental health. Seeing a psychiatrist like Dr Sebothoma can help you in this regard.
In order to treat your anxiety, Dr Sebothoma will discuss your medical history and symptoms with you. This will involve getting to know you and your circumstances to better understand the root cause of your anxiety. Your treatment may also involve medical tests and treatments too. With the help of Dr Sebothoma, you can learn to manage your anxiety and live a happier life.
