'abnormal, pathological anxiety, fears, phobias and nervous conditions'

Wikipedia from Web (Contact Member) -

Anxiety disorder is a blanket term covering several different forms of abnormal, pathological anxiety, fears, phobias and nervous conditions that may come on suddenly or gradually over a period of several years, and may impair or prevent the pursuing of normal daily routines. Anxiety and fear are ubiquitous emotions. ~ The terms anxiety and fear have specific scientific meanings, but common usage has made them interchangeable. ~ For example, a phobia is a kind of anxiety that is also defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV) as a "persistent or irrational fear." Fear is defined as an emotional and physiological response to a recognized external threat (eg, a runaway car or an impending crash in an airplane). ~ Anxiety is an unpleasant emotional state, the sources of which are less readily identified. ~ It is frequently accompanied by physiological symptoms that may lead to fatigue or even exhaustion. ~ Because fear of recognized threats causes similar unpleasant mental and physical changes, patients use the terms fear and anxiety interchangeably. ~ Thus, there is little need to strive to differentiate anxiety from fear. ~ However, distinguishing among different anxiety disorders is important, since accurate diagnosis is more likely to result in effective treatment and a better prognosis. Anxiety disorder

Comment #1 Milly from The Midwest (Contact Member) -

I think we all have some sort of phobias. ~ I have a fear of spiders and large crowds in small places. ~ I think it is how we handle the situation which makes people think we are unbalanced.

Comment #2 joshua (63.176.159.72) -

im always checking my doors and windows to see if there locked.. i was wondering if paranoia was linked to anything your guys are talking about?

Comment #3 Genesis (63.176.159.17) -

To me anxiety disorder is when you are really nervous all the time, and you never really seem to relax and you are always over worry things and your mind is racing all the time, and its hard for you to handle and figure out certain situations, so to me anxiety and phobias are to total different disorders.

Comment #4 Trisha (63.176.159.105) -

everyone has a fear of something. Whether it be an animal or an insect, someone always fears something. Also, I think now a days we all also have some sort of anxiety, how can we not with the way the economy is and the way kids are now, with thinking they are adults at the age of 10. Times now are ALOT different than when I was growing up and I feel sorry for the kids out there now who are just young and have to continue growing up in this world.

Comment #5 Joshua (63.176.159.20) -

Well its sounds like my problem would just be more of anxiety rather than some sort of phobia.

Comment #6 Hazlett (63.176.159.198) -

Sometimes i have really bad anxiety, I have extremely bad panic attacks when I get scared or nervous. I wish there was a way to stop these attacks. I have heard that some pills help to stop them but there is so many people trying to get pills when they don't need them it's real hard to get them when you really need them.

Comment #7 Lisa from Oklahoma City (Contact Member) -

Try Yoga... and if conventional yoga seems to difficult to get started with then try Yoga Nidra... 30 or 40 minutes a day should put you in good shape in no time and you don't have to do anything at all!

Do a google search for "yoga nidra".

Comment #8 Dustin (63.176.159.136) -

Yoga Nidra brings an incredible calmness, quietness and clarity. Yoga Nidra is one of the deepest of all meditations, leading awareness through many levels of mental process to a state of supreme stillness and insight.

Comment #9 Jenna (63.176.159.237) -

Oh, here we go again. What is with this Yoga thing that every so often I come to encounter in various forums. Is it "an ultimate cure"? I think what one experiencing such problems is proper guidance and love from friends and parents, with a professional help. I've also seen the other replies here, your case is more likely a paranoia or OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) rather than a phobia.

Comment #10 Peter (63.176.159.138) -

Well the cases and situations you have given above is more likely just simple problems compare to the real thing. I believe these are all triggered with one's attitude and outlook in life. Thinking too much of things such as bills, crime, dangers, economy will surely drive you insane. why don't you try enjoy life as it is. If there is an economic crisis and credit crunch then what the heck, plan your expenses try getting rid of your debts. Then enjoy your life either as a single or with your family.

Comment #11 Ed (63.176.159.66) -

I do agree with what Peter has to say a lot. I also do think some people do have serious medical problems that they were born with or that they have grown into over the years, and that they do need help from either medication or from a counselor.

Comment #12 Lira (63.176.159.26) -

I think you are not paranoid joshua. Checking the doors and windows or any passageway in the house before sleeping is oh so normal. Everyone does it.

Comment #13 Cath Holic (63.176.159.64) -

Don't Do Yoga, only God. To find inner peace and true calmness you have to accept God in to your hearts and not these Yoga thing. Yoga is under the discipline of Hinduism which also is a New Age Belief and cancels out the angle that God neither exist. It is saddening that people are losing faith in God these days because of seeking only peace and tranquility. One maybe tranquil but his soul may forever be doomed for believing in such radical beliefs.

Comment #14 cwemoy (63.176.159.243) -

Apparently, issues of religion impact us in different ways. Of course Yoga does not work for everyone the same way it does to others. People, everyone has a way of belief that is unique with them. There is enough peace with being in connection with the inner being.

Bouts of anxiety and nervousness are normal..you have to be stressed when undertaking a certain task. Is sweating profusely when nervous a medical condition?

Comment #15 Janwillem (63.176.159.149) -

Very wide subject. I may add: fear is an evolutionary mechanism implanted in our brains over thousands, even millions, of years. All animals have this programming: to watch out for dangers and threats and take immediate measures to avoid or dissolve them. For humans the basic reactions are "Flight of Fight". We fight if we can, if the threat is smaller or weaker than ourselves, if not, we run or flee. This, of course, is for "real" threats. One of the problems present day humans have is: we are unable to fight OR flee in certain situations of stress and distress. Particularly in work situations where dangers abound both from superiors and peers. The "rat race" we are involved in daily leads to unnerving situations in which real or perceived threats appear every moment. Then, what to do: sock your boss (not recommended) or your secretary (no, no), run out the door and down to the parking lot! (worse). Go to the nearest bar! (wrong way). So we have to come to terms with the situation and manage it in a less drastic way. Basically stress management, relaxation techniques, meditation. Thoughts? Recommendations? Cheers!

Comment #16 moy (63.176.159.36) -

Post # 15 is really on point. The fact of the matter is that we measure the extent of 'danger' by ourselves and take drastic measures as per what we deem to be the right way. Adrenalin runs in our blood and we rush over doing stuff we cannot explain later on when things are back to normal.

To me, anxiety and fear go hand in hand though you can indeed be nervous but not fearful. That explains why most people diagnosed with mental ailments are majority of times, really anxious in nature.

Comment #17 crystal from asia (Contact Member) -

well, anxiety and phobia is common in us. We both experience it. We all have different emotions that goes out every time we face a situation. I think that's just pretty normal but too much of it makes it abnormal.

Comment #18 moy (63.176.159.145) -

Yeah, phobia is part and parcel of every human being; how you choose to handle that will determine how big in magnitude a situation will probably be in your own perspective.

People have in the past explained that fear has to with false things appearing to be reality. I would say that it also encompasses the kind of approach that we employ when facing challenging times.

Comment #19 JuanCarlito (63.176.159.100) -

Please don't introduce yoga to this forum, if you want to discuss about yoga bring it up someplace else. Anxiety disorders or phobias can only be cured by professional help.

Comment #20 Leanne (86.25.181.31) -

"anxiety"

We all experience anxiety, we are designed to. However, anxiety disorders are characterised by excessive worrying that can have a devastating impact on the individual's life.

It's not appropriate to suggest yoga, or to suggest being laid back etc; if it was that simple, there wouldn't be a disorder in the first place.

If you were suffering from any anxiety disorder, OCD included, trust me, you would know.

Also, it's not how we "choose to handle it"; people do not CHOOSE to have certain chemical levels in their brains which leave them predisposed to suffering from these disorders in the first place.

For people with mental disorders it can be extremely difficult to be taken seriously or to get the approprite help because all too often, people who have no idea what they are talking about like to offer their opinion or trivialise the issue.

Comment #21 smithy (63.176.159.189) - Sat Jan 9 15:48:52 2010

Sometimes I take in with a bit of anxiety issues. I guess it's because I like things to be done already, and dread having to even think about the process sometimes. That can be very unhealthy though.

Comment #22 Dagan (63.176.159.114) - Mon Feb 1 20:18:59 2010

So what is the exact definition of pathological anxiety?

Pathological anxiety

A disproportionately excessive level of anxiety that interferes with the ability to function in normal daily activities.

So this kind of anxiety is what we should avoid, since it will surely have a big impact in our daily lives. I have to say that people should take a break once in a while to b able to prevent this kind of anxiety.

• what is pathological anxiety?

Comment #23 Sammy (109.111.97.147) - Mon Mar 1 22:26:05 2010

I know this girl that hates cockroaches so much that whenever she sees jsut a single tiny cockroach near her she'd freak out and loose control. Do you think this is one kind pathological anxiety since her fear over cockroaches is so extreme? I would want to help her get through her fear but I do not know how. Would you mind posting here some good link about this matter?

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