MAIN POST
Discussion 5: Thoughts on Anxiety Dx? Initial Post Due 2/23/20

Please post your thoughts about this week’s readings on anxiety disorders.  Be sure to reference the assigned readings in addition to the video.
One area you might discuss is the area of shyness as a mental disorder.

Karmyn RESPOND TO THE MAIN POST

            When you think of Anxiety Disorder, you do not associate a person being shy. You do not think about them having anxiety to the point they cannot speak up for themselves, or they tend to stay to themselves. Just like many other disorders, these individuals are not healthy and are struggling with the most straightforward task. They cannot go out for more than a few minutes at a time; they cannot even perform the task of writing a check, because they are afraid someone is watching. I can understand why people become unemployed and or wanting to be self-employed. Being self-employed would help the individual stay to themselves and not have to deal with the outside world. 
            Having anxiety disorder is easy enough to understand how it exists within a person. Anxiety is a disorder that runs in the families; it can also be a disorder that can be passed along genetically to a person. According to Freedom From Fear (2011), people go through a situation where they can be humiliated, criticized, or rejected socially. According to Freedom From Fear (2011), a person starts to feel they are losing control in a situation, then comes embarrassment and shame. Out of all the emotions a person feels, and the traumatic events they go through, it starts to become a conditioned response. 
Many individuals with anxiety do not report their symptoms due to not recognizing them or out of fear of being labeled neurotic. According to Freedom From Fear (2011), anxiety can cause an affected individuals neurochemistry to become imbalanced. Many individuals with an anxiety disorder or heightened anxiety use caffeine or other stimulants to combat the associated fatigue, which can then lead to more anxiety, particularly when they drink too much and start to experience side effects, such as interrupted sleep at night.
Treating Anxiety Disorder
            According to ADAA (2018), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an example of one type of psychotherapy that can help people with anxiety disorders. It teaches people different ways of thinking, behaving, and reacting to anxiety-producing and fearful objects and situations. Cognitive therapy and exposure therapy are two CBT methods that are often used, together or by themselves, to treat social anxiety disorder. According to ADAA (2018), cognitive therapy focuses on identifying, challenging, and then neutralizing unhelpful or distorted thoughts underlying anxiety disorders. Medication does not cure anxiety disorders but can help relieve symptoms. The most common classes of medications used to combat anxiety disorders are anti-anxiety drugs, antidepressants, and beta-blockers.
References

Anxiety and Depression Association of America. (2018). Symptoms. Retrieved from https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/generalized-anxiety-disorder-gad/symptoms
(Links to an external site.)
Freedom From Fear. (2011, May 13). Social anxiety documentary: afraid of people. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmEJEfy5f50