Question

Is anxiety a psychological disorder?

Answer 1

Psychological disorders are also known as mental disorders or mental illness. These disorders affect behavioural patterns. And it has a huge impact on day-to-day functioning in life and interactions.

Complete answer:
Anxiety is a mental health disorder or a psychological disorder. It causes a feeling of worry, apprehension, fear as well as an extreme amount of nervousness in the individual. It is a type of behavioural disorder and can lead to panic attacks, nervousness, and certain types of phobia or fear. It is one of the most common types of psychological disorders in individuals all around the world. It is an exaggerated response by the body and mind towards a state of stress. The existence of anxiety for a long period of time is considered a disorder.

There are different kinds of anxiety disorders:
- Panic disorder
- Social anxiety
- Separation anxiety
- Selective mutism
- Specific phobia

The major signs and symptoms of this disorder are:
- Shortness of breath
- Feeling nauseous
- Disorders in the sleeping pattern
- Dry mouth
- High heart rate/ tachycardia
- Excessive sweating of palms
- Increased breathing rate/ Hyperventilation

There are different causes for anxiety disorders and they can be genetic which are passed on from parents to offspring, or due to any chemical imbalance in the brain, any underlying medical condition such as heart disease, or exposure to constant stress.

Note: Mostly mild cases of anxiety can be treated using changes in the lifestyle, such as counselling and the inclusion of meditation. However, in moderate to severe cases, medical attention is required to treat the symptoms. The medications used are anti-anxiety medications.