Anxiety disorder definition

Anxiety disorder – background, classification.

There are two different types of anxiety, the first is normal anxiety, which occurs in a dangerous situation and has the function of warning of danger. This is a useful fear and does not require treatment.

The other type is also called pathogenic fears or fears from the past. These usually arise in early childhood in emotionally significant, overwhelming/traumatic situations and could not be integrated or processed. In order not to jeopardize psychological survival, they had to be split off/repressed into the unconscious, where they have a destructive effect. Such fears are dangerous in themselves, because they are unconsciously(!) subversive and dysfunctional. They dominate and control people.

Each fear is charged to a different degree, in other words, each fear has a different burden or level of fear. When an anxiety has reached a certain level of stress, it is referred to as an anxiety disorder.

There are two different types of anxiety disorders:

1. Anxiety disorders with concrete, specific triggers, such as fear of criticism, fear of rejection, phobias such as arachnophobia, etc. These are specific fears. They are also referred to as “bound” fears.

These anxiety disorders appear when anxiety reactions occur in situations that are actually harmless. The fear is not proportionate to the actual threat. Those affected nevertheless experience the anxiety very intensely, both mentally and physically. Although they may recognize that their anxiety is unreasonable or unfounded, they are unable to eliminate or control it. The anxiety experiences occur again and again. People with anxiety disorders then usually try to avoid these anxiety-inducing situations or places. In extreme cases, anxiety disorders can cause sufferers to withdraw completely.

2. Disorders without a specific trigger, such as panic disorders and generalized anxiety disorders. These are also referred to as “unattached” anxieties.

The symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder are persistent. People with generalized anxiety disorder are constantly driven by exaggerated fears. They fear, for example, that an accident will happen to them or someone close to them or that they will develop a serious illness. This happens without any concrete reasons or real evidence.

People with panic disorder repeatedly panic suddenly and without any recognizable cause. Violent physical reactions are typical of a panic attack. These can include, for example, a racing heart, sweating or shortness of breath. Panic attacks occur in fits and starts.