Today, about 15% of the population in the US is dealing with anxiety disorders on day to day basis. It’s a psychological state that is characterized by increased tension, nervousness, and sometimes unprovoked panic. It’s also a fact that women are twice as likely to suffer from anxiety disorders, which mostly comes from hormone fluctuations, as well as the other reasons. Although anxiety disorders are in a sense disorders, and thus can be quite unpleasant, they are also very normal to a certain degree. Anxiety is needed for the body to stay sharp enough if the need arises. To control anxiety, you first need to be aware of different types of anxieties that exist in human’s behavior.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD is the type of disorder that develops in people after they get through an immensely stressful situation or setting, like being in combat, surviving a car crash, childhood abuse, or even being a victim of sexual violence. Some of the symptoms of PTSD are:
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Re-experiencing the trauma through flashbacks and nightmares
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Extreme depression and anxiety
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Insomnia is very common with people who develop PTSD
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Easily triggered – People with PTSD usually respond intensely when they hear a sudden noise.
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Feeling of detachment
It’s also worth noting that people who develop PTSD are much more vulnerable to daily stress, which makes them short tempered.
Social Anxiety Disorder
Irrational fear of being in social situations is what defines social anxiety disorders. People with this type of disorder are afraid of people they don’t know, as well as of situations that they can’t possibly predict. Not only are they absolutely terrified when in public, they also get anxious for even thinking about it. They behave very passively when in social situations because they’re afraid of doing something wrong and being judged for it by other people. They also despise being observed and have a big problem developing a meaningful relationship with (at first) unknown people.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
An anxiety disorder that is extremely destructive in nature, OCD is a mental disorder that makes people have persistent, unwanted thoughts, as well as ideas and urges to do a certain action over and over again. You’ve probably seen a movie or two where a person washes their hands repeatedly, which is a huge red flag for OCD. The level of this disorder can vary from mild to extreme, but also can worsen a lot without proper treatment, up to a point where a person with OC isn’t able to function at work, or even live comfortably in their own home.
Sexual Performance Anxiety
This type of anxiety can affect both women and men, though it’s more common in latter. It’s characterized by fear about the outcomes of sex, whether it’s fear of pregnancy, shame, or most commonly – underperforming. Whenever people who suffer from sexual performance disorder have these kinds of negative thoughts, their bodies react by releasing stress hormones which inconveniently interfere with arousal and sex performance. Today, more than 30% of all men suffer from PE (Premature Ejaculation), while another 15% have a complete lack of interest in sex due to this disorder.
We’re living in a society where sexual health is important, so breaking through this anxiety can benefit both partners and lead to a better relationship.
Panic Disorder
People with panic disorder usually go through a number of panic attacks. Even though it’s a mental disorder, it affects the whole body as people who suffer from it often experience difficulty breathing, which leads to thoughts about dying. Sweating, nausea, and rapid heartbeats are all very common with people who go through panic attacks and they can leave a person feeling extremely fatigued and unable to go on with their daily routines. There are many other symptoms to panic attacks, and while it’s completely normal to experience these a couple of times in your lifetime, having these types of attacks on monthly or weekly basis is a red flag for panic disorder.
Bottom Line
We’re living in the age of stress, there’s no denying that. There wasn’t a time in humanity’s existence where stress levels were as high as they are today, and we have our lifestyle to thank for that. Regular exercise is the single best way you can fight day-to-day stress and release the much-needed serotonin to your brain. And that’s not all, as exercise will also make you feel more tired which will solve most of the issues you might have with your sleep. The biggest problem with anxiety disorders is that they usually lead to lack of sleep due to excessive fear, and lack of sleep further increases anxiety. Breaking this chain is essential and regular exercise can get you there, as long as you commit to it.