Ketamine for Anxiety Treatment in Centerville, OH

There are several different types of anxiety disorders each having some unique symptoms. Below is a brief overview of the six main types of anxiety disorders:

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder, commonly abbreviated as PTSD, is one of the most common forms of anxiety disorders. Just like the name suggests, PTSD mainly affects individuals who have either experienced or witnessed traumatic life experiences.

Examples of traumatic events and experiences that can result in post-traumatic stress disorder include physical abuse, hostage situations, gruesome accidents, sexual abuse, terrorist attacks, war, and emotional abuse just to name a few. According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, up to 20% of military personnel who have been involved in active combat for the past few decades have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

The number could be even higher since not all affected individuals seek medical help due to the fear of stigmatization. Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder include reliving the trauma through intrusive thoughts, nightmares, and vivid flashbacks, hypersensitivity, excessive irrational fear, survivor’s guilt, and panic attacks.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder, abbreviated as GAD, is a type of anxiety where a person develops an extreme sense of worry and uneasiness for no obvious reason. This can result in restlessness, irritability, sleeplessness, and a persistent feeling that something bad is about to happen. GAD is not a life-threatening condition. However, without proper medical care, the disorder can completely disrupt the patient’s life.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, also known as OCD, is a type of anxiety disorder where the affected person subconsciously engages in repetitive behaviors or obsesses over certain thoughts, fears, or actions as a way of coping with stressful situations. Examples of obsessive-compulsive behavior include washing hands repetitively due to fear of germs or contamination, arranging and rearranging things in a certain manner, and repeatedly checking the stove to ensure it is switched off. Without proper treatment, OCD can make life miserable for both the patients and their loved ones. OCD is mostly genetic by nature and tends to run in families.

Panic Disorder

Panic disorder is characterized by a sudden crippling fear or a panic attack that strikes out of the blue. Symptoms of panic disorder include heart palpitations, difficulty breathing, sweating, trembling, and chest pain. Individuals suffering from this type of anxiety disorder often find it impossible to go about their day-to-day activities due to the fear of impending panic attacks. If correctly diagnosed, panic disorder can easily be treated through counseling.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Social anxiety disorder (SAD), also known as social phobia, is the numbing fear of crowded places and social settings. People suffering from social phobia find it difficult to talk to other people, make new friends, or interact in social gatherings. Essentially, they end up isolating themselves from the rest of the world which can ultimately lead to depression. Fortunately, social phobia is a highly treatable condition that can be managed using psychotherapy and medication.

Separation Anxiety Disorder

Separation anxiety disorder, also abbreviated a SAD, is an anxiety disorder that is characterized by an extreme fear of being separated from a place or person with whom one shares a strong emotional connection. Separation anxiety disorder is very common in small children and adolescents but can also affect adults.