Anxiety Disorder Guide

Germ phobia is an unnatural overwhelming fear of germs that affects a person’s daily living. It can be associated with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) or exist on its own.

The clinical term for germ phobia is "mysophobia." This actually means a pathological fear of dirt. The disorder can be debilitating with a continuous fear of germs. In extreme cases persons with germ phobia becomes convinced that everything carries such a high level of germs that it is dangerous to touch anything.

Anxiety chest pain can be a very scary the first couple of times it is felt, the majority of people think that they are having a heart attack, with good reason, as the symptoms are so similar. They are rushed into hospital, everyone is in a total panic, to be told that there is nothing physically wrong with them and that there is certainly nothing wrong with their heart.

If you have constant chest pain from anxiety the chances are that you have already been to a doctor who has ruled out heart disease. Chest pain from anxiety can fill tight; your heart may feel like it is beating out of your chest. Chest pain from a heart attack feels like someone is squeezing your heart or sitting on your chest.

Constant chest pain from anxiety can be debilitating. You may be having panic attacks which can include chest tightness, shortness of breath, a sense of impending doom and a need to flee the area.

Abdominal pain is one of the symptoms of a person experiencing frequent anxiety attacks. The sufferer might think he or she has an ulcer but it more than likely is associated with the excess acid produced by a churning stomach. The underlying causes that result in abdominal pain can be very difficult to suppress for the sufferer but relief will definitely ease some of the stress on the patient. Let's look at a few ways to get anxiety disorder related abdominal pain under control.

You have been applying for your dream job on several occasions over the last couple of years and finally they have called you to come in for an interview. On the big day you get ready to go to their office but you can feel your anxiety level begin to increase. You know you have problems with anxiety disorder anyways but this time your reaction is even more intense and you notice your heart is beating rapidly. In fact, your heart is beating so rapidly that it seems as if there is something seriously wrong-like you are having a heart attack. You end up calling the employer and canceling the interview. All hopes of your dream job are gone. Such is the life of a person suffering from anxiety disorder. And now, you worry about your heart. It is tough on your heart and you need to be aware of just what is causing these symptoms like heart palpitations so you can deal with them.

Most everyone gets a little nervous before a test, even if they have studied hard and done all their homework. This is quite normal and a little anticipation keeps you focused while you are taking the test. But for some people the stress and nervousness they get before a test, can be overwhelming and cause them to forget all the answers and not to be able to concentrate and focus. This is actually a performance anxiety called test anxiety. It is not just being afraid that you are not going to do well or score poorly. The appearance of butterflies, stomachaches, a headache, feeling shaky or in some cases vomiting or passing out, are all signs of this anxiety.

Stress is part of our daily lives. Believe it or not, stress can be healthy for you depending on how you deal with this stress. When your life however, becomes consumed with how to manage this stress, there is reason for concern. Anxiety is a form of stress that can cause great concern as it affects your body in many different ways.

When we look at the physical symptoms of General Anxiety Disorder, we discover that this disorder can affect six of the major body symptoms. Your blood pressed increases with anxiety and that can lead to rapid heartbeats or Tachycardia. There is also constriction of the blood vessels that may occur in both the legs and in the arms. While these blood vessels constrict, the vessels around the skeletal muscles dilate or become larger. These changes in your cardiovascular system can result in headaches, cold fingers and heart palpitations which is the awareness of your increased heart rate. This is just your cardiovascular system.

Do you experience an excessive feeling of fear? You feel as if you can not breathe, chocking, dizzy, weakening in the knee, cold sweat, nausea, stomach ache, or feel like you are dying. These are the symptoms of panic attack. Panic attack can induce physical symptoms that making the sufferer seem to be having a chronic disease. Things like; when feeling a chest pain one would imagining getting a heart attack; or when experiencing a headache, one would think that he/she is about to have a stroke.

Something that happens when an anxiety disorder sufferer has an attack is that the body's internal temperature goes up. There is more heat produced and the obvious reaction the body has is to sweat profusely. Sweating is part of the body's cooling system and if a person did not sweat he or she would be susceptible to serious heat injury to include heat stroke. One particularly troublesome problem for the anxiety sufferer is that the profuse sweating during an attack oftentimes will occur in the most embarrassing of situations and usually within a social context. Imagine giving a presentation to corporate management and breaking out in huge drops of sweat because of your inner anxiety. Those observing on the outside don't really know that the sufferer is having an anxiety reaction so they begin to draw conclusions that this person was not prepared or some other negative evaluation. Of course the sufferer is also aware of his or her situation and experiences embarrassment because of the sweat which can serve to add to more anxiety. This is definitely a symptom the sufferer wants to get under control but how?

Heather Locklear

Star of the 'Dynasty' and 'Melrose Place' is suffering from anxiety disorder and depression. Cece Yorke, Heather Locklear's publicist has confirmed that the actress is currently seeking medical treatment at a facility in Arizona to deal with her anxiety disorder and depression.