Anxiety disorders are an irrational sense of fear as you survey the environment for a perceived threat. Anxiety can be chronic, continuous, and can become progressively debilitating. You can be afflicted by panic attacks or experience obsessive thoughts, flashbacks, nightmares, or numerous frightening physical symptoms. Some people with anxiety disorders eventually become housebound. You might also feel like you are having a heart attack, or experience irritable bowels. Additionally, you may present with neurological symptoms such as light-headedness, dizziness, neck tension and chronic headaches.
Amongst others, the most common anxiety disorders are generalised anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder. People with anxiety are constantly in a flight or fight response state which impacts negatively on their physical health.
Generalised anxiety
Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) is generally associated with excessive and exaggerated anxiety, as well as worry about everyday life events with no apparent reason for worrying. Those suffering from generalised anxiety tend to always expect disaster and are unable to stop worrying about money, health, work, family, or school. Eventually, the anxiety becomes so dominant in their minds that it interferes with their daily functioning. The persistent worry is unrelenting, unrealistic and unsustainable. They may feel irritable, have muscle tensions, feeling edgy, unable to sleep and find it difficult to concentrate.
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental illness that is caused by a terrifying and traumatic event that was either witnessed or experienced. Most people go through traumatic events which results in flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety and uncontrollable thoughts about the event.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental condition that is caused by recurrent, intrusive thoughts that result in a heightened sense of anxiety that is only relieved by acting out the compulsion. Those suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder have compulsive habits like thinking negative thoughts or biting their nails. Some people have to obsessively lock their doors while others fear contamination and wash their hands recurrently.
If you have the mentioned symptoms, Dr Govender will examine you and check your medical history. Dr Govender will then check for signs of underlying medical conditions that may need treatment. Laboratory tests can exclude underlying medical conditions causing anxiety.
What are the possible treatment options?
Anxiety disorders are treated with pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioural therapy. During your consultation with Dr Govender, she will speak to you about the symptoms that you are experiencing. With enough information gathered from you, she will then make a diagnosis and plan the best treatment for you.
