Anxiety

[jd_1984]

It is probably hard to give a definitive answer for this as we are all so individual.
But, broadly speaking, how do you know the difference between what would be medically diagnosed as "Anxiety" and somebody just feeling quite anxious for a period of time. What is it that leads to the diagnosis?

[Sqad]

No idea and I am not an expert.
My idea of the difference is:

Anxiety is a short lived response to an identifiable stimulus e.g the thought of being unemployed when a business or company goes into liquidation.

Anxiety State (medical diagnosis) is a long term response to a situation that may or may not be totally real........

Anxiety is a normal response and temporary.
Anxiety State is a Psychiatric disorder of long duration.

[pastafreak]

This article is directed at uni students,but it's a clear and easily understood description of the differences between the two.

http://www.ulifeline.org/articles/439-anxiety-vs-anxiety-disorders

[Sqad]

Why do ABers always fly to the www. when answering questions, haven't they got opinions of their own? Even if they are nonsensical, they are at least original.

This is not a criticism of you pasta.......just something that has confused me for many a year.

[Bathsheba]

certainly sounds like a criticism of pasta to me Sqad, as she was the one to post an online article...

[Sqad]

OK...^^^

[Mamyalynne]

Where anxiety is concerned I have always taken the view that it is time to seek help when you have to rearrange your life because of it.


I know many 'anxious' types who are far and away more intrepid than me.

[ummmm]

Instead of posting links Sqad says 'Google XYZ' so what's the difference?

[Sqad]

You are correct.....as usual......no difference.^^^^

[tiggerblue10]

I am unable to provide any answer but.........I was suffering from short term anxiety last month. Constant stomach churning, restlessness and worrying. It soon passed once I had dealt with the issues that were causing it and one of them.

[woofgang]

I think tiggerblue has made an important point here. if the anxiety passes when whatever causes it has been dealt with and you are able to deal with it, then it is unlikely to be a medical condition.

[jd_1984]

Thanks all, some excellent advice and links.

[Rubyrose]

Hi,

I suffered from bad anxiety in my late teens. I had a seizure when I was 16 and was diagnosed with epilespy and I think the anxiety was some sort of delayed shock reaction to it as I was fine and only ever had one seizure but years later I started having anxiety attacks, thinking I was going to have a seizure when I was out and about on my own etc. It was very bizarre.
It went on for some time and the doctors tried to give me antidepressants but I refused them as I wasn't depressed. One day I just took control of it though and realised that I needed to get on with my life so although I still had anxiety attacks, I learnt how to managed them.
I had therapy through the NHS which didn't really help and Hypnotherapy which was quite possibly one of the things that changed my attitude towards it all. It taught me how to recognise my feelings as anxiety and not anything more than that.
I still have anxious moments now and then but I wouldn't say they're 'attacks' anymore. I just have an anxious temprement apparently and always will. I get very very anxious when I know I have to get on a plane and the anxiety can start about two weeks before but that's due to a certain situation.

I think someone once said to me that panic attacks can happen anytime, anywhere for no reason at all. Anxiety attacks happen due to a certain situation. Like mine was the fear of having a fit when out on my own or driving so I often had an attack in the car.

I don't know if any of this helps.. I'm just talking really! :-/

x