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What Are Anxiety Disorders?
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, DSM 5, is a diagnostic support manual in the field of mental health.
This manual classifies mental illnesses and anxiety disorders as the name of one category.
The category anxiety disorders in this manual bring together different mental illnesses that have characteristics in common.
These common features are the development of symptoms related to fear and anxiety.
Also, anxiety disorders are similar in some behavioral disturbances or problems.
In other words, the category anxiety disorders groups 10 different disorders that have in common the development of symptoms related to fear and anxiety.
Anxiety disorders are highly comorbid, i.e., two or more may occur in one person.
Despite this, for their diagnosis, they must be distinguished by the clinical psychologist by identifying the cause or origin of the symptoms.
So, as we have seen, anxiety disorders can be identified by the development of symptoms related to fear or anxiety.
These symptoms must occur excessively, be persistent and significantly affect the person’s quality of life.
Now, for practical purposes, let us see what we should understand by fear and anxiety.
On the one hand, we understand fear as an emotional response developed due to a threat that can be real or imaginary.
Fear is associated with different physiological processes that prepare us to defend ourselves or flee from danger.
Also, fear is associated with thoughts related to immediate danger and with flight behavior.
On the other hand, we understand anxiety as an emotional response that occurs in anticipation, that is, due to the perception of a future threat.
In fact, anxiety is related to muscular tension, vigilance related to a future threat, as well as cautious and avoidant behaviors.
Thus, fear is an emotional response associated with an immediate danger (real or imagined) and anxiety is an emotional response associated with a future danger (real or imagined).
Separation Anxiety Disorders.
The person who develops separation anxiety disorder experiences symptoms related to fear and anxiety.
Separation anxiety disorders can develop in relation to one or more attachment figures.
The concept of attachment was developed by John Bowlby in his well-known “Attachment Theory”.
In this theory, the author explains that attachment is a strong bond of affection that unites the child with the caregiver or possibly with another person.
In separation anxiety disorder, attachment is present to an excessive and inappropriate degree, affecting mental health.
The person with this disorder rejects separation or possible separation from the attachment figure or major attachment figures.
The discomfort experienced by individuals is excessive when separated from attachment figures or when away from home.
Sometimes, children cannot be alone in a room and often demand to be near the attachment figure at all times.
Physical symptoms such as stomach pain, headache, and vomiting may also occur.
This disorder usually develops in childhood, but can also occur or develop in adults.
Selective mutism.
Selective mutism is part of the group of anxiety disorders, it is characterized by the inability to speak in social situations where there is an expectation to speak.
It is important that the inability to speak is not related to a lack of language proficiency, a communication disorder, or an illness.
A child with selective mutism is able to speak in certain social situations.
For example, children with this disorder may talk at home with immediate family members, but generally do not talk with friends or other relatives.
In fact, these children do not initiate a conversation or do not respond to social interaction; they remain silent. If you would like to learn more actionable tips, ideas, and advice about the best cbd products uk, visit their page for further info.
Children with selective mutism experience important consequences that affect their development.
The consequences can be related to academic performance and social relationships in general.
