A prevalent mental health concern worldwide is anxiety disorder. These are the signs of anxiety disorder, along with a treatment strategy and helpful hints.

1. Archana Pokharel
Psychologist & Lecturer
Department of Psychiatry

2. Introduction to Anxiety
What is Anxiety?

4. • Anxiety is a normal emotion.
• It’s your brain’s way of reacting to stress and alerting us of potential danger
ahead.
• Everyone feels anxious now and then. For example, you may worry when faced
with a problem at work, before taking a test, or before making an important
decision.
• Occasional anxiety is OK. But anxiety disorders are different.
• They’re a group of mental illnesses that cause constant and overwhelming anxiety
and fear.
• The excessive anxiety can make you avoid work, school, family get-togethers,
and other social situations that might trigger or worsen your symptoms.

5. A Lot More People Than You Think Struggle
With Anxiety
• In 2019, 301 million people in the world had an anxiety
disorder, making anxiety disorders the most common of all
mental disorders
• An estimated 4% of the global population currently
experience an anxiety disorder.

6. Etiology of Anxiety
No one knows exactly what causes anxiety problems, but there
probably lots of factors involved. Here are some things which can make
anxiety problems more likely to happen:
• Past experiences
• Your current life situation (school, home, friends)
• Physical and mental health problems

7. Past experiences
• Losing a loved one.
• Being bullied or being socially excluded.
• Neglect.
• Any form of abuse.
• Parenting style (eg: overprotective or emotionally inconsistent)
(Difficult experiences in childhood, adolescence or adulthood are a common
trigger for anxiety problems. Going through stress and trauma is likely to
have a particularly big impact if it happens when you're very young.)

8. • Genetics
• Brain chemistry.
• Environmental stress.
• Drug withdrawal or misuse.
• Medical conditions.
Other causes of Anxiety

9. Risk factors for anxiety disorders include:
•History of mental health disorder.
•Childhood sexual abuse.
• Trauma.
•Negative life events.
•Severe illness or chronic health condition.
•Substance abuse.
•Being shy as a child.
•Low self-esteem.
Risk Factor

10. Impact of Anxiety
What does anxiety look and feel like?

11. Fight or Flight or Freeze

12. What is going on in my mind?

13. Avoidance

14. Safety Behaviours

15. Symptoms Of Anxiety Disorder :
The main symptom of anxiety disorders is excessive fear or worry and common symptoms of
anxiety are:
• Panic, fear, and uneasiness
•Feelings of panic, doom, or danger
•Sleep problems
•Not being able to stay calm and still
•Cold, sweaty, numb, or tingling hands or feet
•Shortness of breath
•Breathing faster and more quickly than normal (hyperventilation)
•Heart palpitations
•Dry mouth
•Nausea
•Tense muscles
•Dizziness
•Thinking about a problem over and over again and unable to stop (rumination)
•Inability to concentrate
•Intensely or obsessively avoiding feared objects or places

16. Types of Anxiety Disorders : 12 other disorders are included under Anxiety
Disorders according to DSM 5, section II, Diagnostic Criteria and Codes. These
are:
• Separation Anxiety Disorder
• Selective Mutism
• Specific Phobia
• Social Anxiety Disorder or Social Phobia (SAD)
• Panic Disorder
• Panic Attack
• Agoraphobia
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• Substance/Medication-Induced Anxiety Disorder
• Anxiety Disorder Due to Another Medical Condition
• Other Specific Anxiety Disorder
• Unspecified Anxiety Disorder
Your specific symptoms depend on the type of anxiety disorder you have.

17. Coping Techniques
(How to manage anxiety)

18. • Avoid or cut down on alcohol and don’t use illicit drugs, which can make
anxiety worse
• Exercise regularly, even if it’s just a short walk
• Stick to regular eating and sleeping habits as much as possible and eat a
healthy diet
• Learn relaxation techniques, such as slow breathing and progressive
muscle relaxation; and
• Develop the habit of mindfulness meditation, even if it’s just a few
minutes per day.

19. Calm Box

20. Square Breathing
Breathe
in for 4
Hold
for 4
Breathe
out for
4
Pause
for 4

21. Progressive Muscle Relaxation

22. Management / Treatment
• Medication : Anti Anxiety Drug, Antidepressants
• Psychotherapy -: Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Exposure Therapy