Post traumatic stress disorder(PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to one or more traumatic events that threatened or caused grave physical harm.

It is a severe and ongoing emotional reaction to an extreme psychological trauma.  This stressor may involve someone’s actual death, a threat to the patient’s or someone else’s life, serious physical injury, an unwanted sexual act, or a threat to physical or psychological integrity, overwhelming psychological defenses.

In some cases it can also be from profound psychological and emotional trauma, apart from any actual physical harm.  Often, however, incidents involving both things are found to be the cause.

PTSD is a condition distinct from traumatic stress, which has less intensity and duration, and combat stress reaction, which is transitory.  PTSD has also been recognized in the past as railway spine, stress syndrome, shell shock, battle fatigue, traumatic war neurosis, or post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSS).

Diagnostic symptoms include reexperience such as flashbacks and nightmares, avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma, increased arousal such as difficulty falling or staying asleep, anger and hypervigilance.  Per definition, the symptoms last more than six months and cause significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning (e.g. problems with work and relationships.)

Cyberchondria is a colloquial term to describe the behavior of individuals who use the Internet to gather information on health or healthcare, for themselves or people in their care.  The market research company Harris Interactive Inc., which makes use of the word in various studies, states that cyberchondria literally means “online concern about health.”  Articles in popular media position cyberchondria anywhere from temporary neurotic excess to adjunct hypochondria.

Insomnia is a symptom of a sleeping disorder characterized by persistent difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep despite the opportunity. Insomnia is a symptom, not a stand-alone diagnosis or a disease. By definition, insomnia is “difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep, or both” and it may be due to inadequate quality or quantity of sleep. It is typically followed by functional impairment while awake. Insomniacs have been known to complain about being unable to close their eyes or “rest their mind” for more than a few minutes at a time. Both organic and non-organic insomnia constitute a sleep disorder.

It’s one of the most common psychological disorders on college campuses and chances are you know someone who has had it at one point in their lives… and it may have even been you: It’s an eating disorder known as Bulimia Nervosa.

The hallmark of bulimia nervosa is binge eating – or eating a larger amount of food than most people in a similar circumstance. Typically binges consist of junk food. And, just as important as the amount of food is the fact that it is out of control.

The pressure to be thin in our culture can be overwhelming, especially among women. Well imagine that pressure driving you to refuse to eat anything except minimal amounts of food causing serious medical complications, even death. Well that is the case with those with Anorexia Nervosa.

Although decreased body weight is the most notable feature in Anorexia Nervosa, there is also an intense fear of obesity and a relentless pursuit of thinness. And even though their body weight is much less than normal, they may deny the seriousness of their low weight and base their self-esteem on achievement of an ultra low weight or thin shape.

ref=315397

Did you ever have an eccentric aunt who wouldn’t leave the house? You always had to visit her and she would never go anywhere else? Maybe she wasn’t just eccentric… she may have suffered from a very debilitating anxiety disorder called Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia. In this disorder, people experience sudden unexpected panic attacks where they fear they are going crazy or losing control.

Those with Panic experience an intense fear or discomfort that comes on quickly. During the panic the person experiences several things that may include: pounding heart, sweating, shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, and fears of going crazy or dying.

Because they never know when one of these attacks might happen, they experience agoraphobia, which is the fear and avoidance of situations that they consider “unsafe.” Unsafe because they may have another panic attack and because it may be difficult or embarrassing to escape and get home (or to a hospital). In the most severe cases, those with Agoraphobia become totally unable to leave the house for years on end.

In this condition, if you have unexpected panic attacks and are afraid you may have another one, you want to be in a safe place or at least with a safe person who knows what you are experiencing.

Typical situations that may be avoided are restaurants, waiting in line, crowds, buses, subways, planes, elevators, tunnels, and any number of other situations where escape is difficult or may be embarrassing. Avoiding these situations is simply one way to cope with unexpected panic attacks. But the avoidance becomes a self-imposed prison.
Some people with this disorder don’t actually avoid agoraphobic situations, but endure them with intense dread.

It’s difficult to say how many people have Agoraphobia at any one time, but approximately one-third of those with Panic Disorder are thought to go on to develop Agoraphobia. Of those, 75% or more are women. But this number is also in question as many men may deny their fear and use alcohol or other drugs to cover it up.

Like other anxiety disorders, there are drug treatments that include anti-anxiety and anti-depressant medications that may be helpful.

Psychological treatment, especially cognitive-behavioral therapy, has proven to be quite effective in treating both agoraphobic avoidance and panic disorder. This type of treatment has been helpful in reducing anxiety, panic, and agoraphobic avoidance in nearly 70% of patients.

If you would like more information about this or other anxiety disorders, visit the Anxiety Disorders Association of America website at www.adaa.org

If you would like to know more about me you may go to my website at www.drgregcason.com .

ref=312873

Sure, we all have things to worry about these days: the economy, the threat of terrorism and natural disaster, and loss of our homes and jobs. You don’t have to look far to find something.
But worry is not all bad. Worry also helps us plan for the future – like helping us to remember to pack tickets for a trip or study for an upcoming test.

But what if you find yourself worrying about everything and feel like you can’t stop?… even when you know it’s not helping you and is making the people around you miserable? Well that’s what it’s like for those with Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder is characterized by excessive anxiety and worry, occurring more days than not over a 6 month period. Those who have it, find difficult to control or stop worry. And other symptoms may occur such as muscle tension, sleep problems, irritability, difficulty concentrating, and mind going blank.

Focusing attention on the task at hand becomes difficult as one’s mind quickly switches from crisis to crisis. As a result, some who have Generalized Anxiety Disorder may mistake it for Attention Deficit Disorder because they also have a trouble paying attention at times.
Although worry and physical tension are very common experiences for all of us, much fewer get Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Approximately 3% of the population will meet criteria during a given year. And women are twice as likely to be affected.

But what causes Generalized Anxiety Disorder? There may biological vulnerability and it appears that the disorder runs in families. Individuals with Generalized Anxiety Disorder also appear to be highly sensitive to threat in general – and this process appears to be out of their conscious awareness.

The field of cognitive science is showing us that people with Generalized Anxiety Disorder are so busy thinking about upcoming problems that they do not have time to think about what they might look like. In other words, they avoid the negative images that lead to emotions associated with their threat thoughts. Consequently, they are not able to work through their problems and find solutions. Thus they become chronic worriers with a great deal of muscle tension.

In the past, many people were prescribed benzodiazepines, which are minor tranquilizers. Though beneficial in the short term, they are highly addictive, making it difficult for people to stop taking them. For longer term drug treatments, today most people are prescribed less addictive anti-anxiety or anti-depressant medications.

Cognitive-behavior therapy has been shown to be beneficial for generalized anxiety disorder. With this therapy, people confront anxiety-provoking images head-on while processing information at an emotional level. They also learn coping techniques and how to identify, understand, and modify faulty thinking and behavior .

Relaxation, yoga, meditation, exercise, and biofeedback techniques may also be of some help.

If you would like more information about this or other anxiety disorders, visit the Anxiety Disorders Association of America website at adaa.org

If you would like to know more about me you may go to my website at www.drgregcason.com

ref=312867

It may have happened to you. One night after going to sleep, you suddenly wake up — Your heart is pounding, your chest hurts and you may feel like you are going to have a heart attack and die. Then you go to the hospital and after several tests find out that you weren’t having a heart attack at all, you were having a panic attack.

Those with Panic experience an intense fear or discomfort that comes on quickly. During the panic the person experiences several things that may include: pounding heart, sweating, shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, and fears of going crazy or dying.

Panic is common with Phobias. Phobias are irrational fears of particular things or situations. When exposed to one of these things or situations, a panic attack may follow.
By contrast some people never “know” when they are going to have an attack, making their world much less predictable.

But why do some people have panic attacks and others do not? There is strong evidence that we inherit a tendency to be tense or uptight. This genetic vulnerability sets the stage for us to become anxious if the right psychological and social factors line up.
In Panic, there is often some stress that leads to a feeling in the body such as dizziness or fast beating heart. The person with panic then focuses on this sensation and interprets it to be an indication that something very bad is about to happen, including completely losing control, going crazy, or dying.

Since many of the symptoms of panic disorder mimic those of illnesses such as heart disease, thyroid problems, and breathing disorders — people with panic disorder often make many visits to emergency rooms or doctors’ offices, convinced they have a life-threatening illness.
It often takes months or years and a great deal of frustration before receiving the correct diagnosis. Approximately one out of every 10 people has had an occasional unexpected panic attack. But only 3% of the population goes on to develop panic disorder. It is also three times more common in women than in men.

Many people suffering from panic attacks don’t know they have a real and treatable disorder. Some are afraid or embarrassed to tell anyone, including their doctors, fearing they will be considered a hypochondriac. Instead they suffer in silence, distancing themselves from friends, family, and others who could be helpful or supportive.

The disorder often occurs with other mental and physical disorders, including other anxiety disorders, depression, irritable bowel syndrome, asthma, or substance abuse.
Anti-anxiety and anti-depressant medications are often prescribed to treat symptoms of panic. In addition, a type of psychotherapy called cognitive-behavioral therapy has proven to be highly effective in decreasing both panic symptoms and the fear of having another panic attack. Approximately 80% of those who undergo cognitive-behavioral treatment for panic disorder experience significant improvement.

If you would like more information about this or other anxiety disorders, visit the Anxiety Disorders Association of America website at www.adaa.org

If you would like to know more about me you may go to my website at drgregcason.com

ref=312864

Has anyone ever told you to not think about Pink Elephants? If you really concentrate on not thinking about pink elephants, using every mental means possible, then you will realize how difficult it is to suppress a thought.

That is the battle people with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder fight all day, every day, and sometimes for most of their lives.

In other anxiety disorders, the dangerous event is usually an object or a situation. For the person with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (also known as OCD), the dangerous event is a thought, image, or impulse. They try to avoid these thoughts as completely as someone with a snake phobia avoids snakes.

Nearly everyone has had an occasional strange or intrusive thought – the difference is that most people let it go in one ear and out the other. People with OCD suffer from unwanted and intrusive thoughts that they can’t seem to get out of their heads (these are known as obsessions), often compelling them to try to ease their anxiety by repeatedly performing ritualistic behaviors and routines (known as compulsions).

Most people who have OCD are aware that their obsessions and compulsions are irrational, yet they feel powerless to stop them. Some spend hours at a time performing complicated rituals to ward off the persistent, unwelcome thoughts and images.

The most common obsessions are contamination, aggressive impulses, sexual thoughts, body concerns, and a need for symmetry. Most people have multiple obsessions. For examples, people with obsessive impulses may be consumed with fear that they may yell out at a staff meeting or grab someone sexually on a bus. They don’t do it but actively try to avoid these situations.

The most common compulsions involve cleaning rituals or checking rituals. Individuals with cleaning rituals typically fear contamination. Cleaning or washing gives them a sense of safety and control. Checking rituals, by contrast, serve to prevent some future imagined disaster or catastrophe. Most checking is logical at first, such as checking to make sure the stove is turned off. But compulsive checking may be illogical — checking the stove repeatedly, sometimes for hours.

Obsessions and rituals associated with HYPERLINK “http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/index.shtml”obsessive-compulsive disorder can interfere with a person’s normal routine, schoolwork, job, family, or social activities. Several hours every day may be spent focusing on obsessive thoughts and performing rituals. Trying to concentrate on daily activities may be difficult. Left untreated, OCD can interfere with all aspects of life.

It is thought that one in every 100 people has OCD. It appears to affect men and women about equally and is remarkably similar across cultures.

The most effective drug treatments appear to be a class of anti-depressants known as SSRI’s.
Another effective treatment is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy known as exposure with response prevention where the patient is actively prevents himself from doing a ritual and then is exposed to the feared thoughts and situations. Many times therapy and medication are combined for the most effective results.

If you would like more information about this or other anxiety disorders, visit the Anxiety Disorders Association of America website at www.adaa.org
If you would like to know more about me you may go to my website at drgregcason.com

ref=312862

Are you shy around people? If so, you have something in common with up to 50% of the population. But a smaller number of people become so sick with fear around others that they suffer from a severe disorder known as Social Anxiety Disorder.

More than exaggerated shyness, Social Anxiety Disorder (sometimes called Social Phobia) is an inability to perform certain behaviors while others are watching. The most common form is public speaking — but also includes things like performing on stage, eating a restaurant, writing a check for a cashier, and, primarily for men, using a public urinal.

What is common about each of these situations is the person is required to do something while knowing that others may be watching and, to some extent, evaluating. When they’re alone, they tend to have no problems doing any of these things.

Up to 13% of people report having this disorder at some time in their lives, making it the third most common psychiatric disorder. But one of the most troubling findings is that 36% of people who have it report experiencing symptoms for 10 or more years before seeking help.
Social Anxiety Disorder is often selective. Some people may have an intense fear of talking to a salesperson or giving a speech, but they may be comfortable in other similar settings. Other people may become anxious during routine activities such as starting a conversation with a stranger or a person in authority, participating in meetings or classes, or dating and attending parties.

Although they recognize that the fear is excessive and unreasonable, people with social anxiety disorder feel powerless against their anxiety. They are terrified they will embarrass or humiliate themselves. The anxiety can interfere significantly with their jobs and social life, making it difficult to do everyday activities and have friendships and romantic relationships.
Physical symptoms of social anxiety disorder may include blushing, profuse sweating, trembling, nausea, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, dizziness, and headaches.

Social anxiety disorder usually begins in childhood or adolescence. But how do people develop this disorder? It is thought that first person inherits a biological vulnerability to be anxious or socially inhibited. Then that person is in a very stressful or even a traumatic social situation where he performs poorly or may even have a panic attack. He then learns to become anxious in other similar social situations and generally tries to avoid them.
Anti-anxiety and Anti-depressant medications are sometimes prescribed for those with this disorder.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy has also been shown to be highly effective with Social Anxiety Disorder, especially when combined with group therapy that uses behavioral techniques to help the person have more successful and effective social experiences.
If you would like more information about this or other anxiety disorders, visit the Anxiety Disorders Association of America website at www.adaa.org

If you would like to know more about me you may go to my website at drgreg.com .

ref=312856