What you can do to help somebody with an Anxiety Disorder like a Phobia, Panic Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

What you can do to help somebody with an Anxiety Disorder like a Phobia, Panic Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

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Home Page > Health > Mental Health > What you can do to help somebody with an Anxiety Disorder like a Phobia, Panic Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

What you can do to help somebody with an Anxiety Disorder like a Phobia, Panic Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

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What you can do to help somebody with an Anxiety Disorder like a Phobia, Panic Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

By: Mel Wilson

About the Author

Mel Wilson is part of what today would be considered a large family. He believes that most of his immediate family is suffering from mental disorders. Some of them professionally diagnosed with mental disorders including, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. In an attempt to understand and help, he has read everything he could find about mental disorders and their treatments. He has learned that you can't help somebody that won't admit they have a problem. It is his hope that you will be able to help someone you care about with the information in his articles and on his website at 4anxietyinformation.weebly.com. You may e-mail him at manicmel.o@gmail.com.

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Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – What you can do to help somebody with an Anxiety Disorder like a Phobia, Panic Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

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Introduction

In this article you will learn how to help a friend or loved one cope and recover from panic attacks, by using a method called self exposure. A way for them to slowly become accustomed to the things and situations that make them uncomfortable. You will also learn how to avoid mistakes that would do more harm than good. Mistakes family and friends make with good intentions, but may only serve to have them avoid the things and situations that cause them anxiety

Learning the techniques of Exposure Therapy

You will need to learn about anxiety disorders and exposure treatment. If your friend or loved one has been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, focus on that particular disorder. There are many good online works on exposure therapy you can read to prepare yourself to help them. I have included a brief description of Four different anxiety disorders.

Don't feel that you can't possibly help without being a qualified behavioral therapist. The main influences in our lives are the people around us, not the experts or professionally trained.

Is the person you want to help ready?

After learning the techniques of exposure therapy, discussing them with the person you wish to help may get them to give the techniques a try. Help cannot be forced on anybody. They must make a conscious decision of their own to accept your help and work at confronting their fears. He or she may not know the rewards of trying hard and might, consciously or unconsciously, believe that the techniques won't work and would not be worth the effort.

The importance of trust

People don't accept help from someone they can't trust. If you've promised to help, stick to your word and take it seriously. You must prove to them that you can be trusted and relied on. Your actions are more important than what you say. If you don't do the things you said you would, they will lose their trust in you. The person you want to help should not have to feel grateful that you actually kept your promise(this time). They may get discouraged and loose interest in trying to confront their fears.

You will need to be unobtrusive, fully attentive and supportive. Always be exactly where they need you to be. You should never act board or complain. Remember that you're there to help them overcome something that makes them very uncomfortable. Pushing them to hard, nagging or threatening, will more likely discourage them than increase their efforts.

Brief descriptions of some Anxiety Disorders

Social Anxiety Disorder and its symptoms

Social anxiety disorder is also known as social phobia. A person with social phobia may feel moderate to extreme anxiety in certain situations. They may be self-conscious at social events. Some of the physical symptoms of social anxiety disorder are difficulties talking, blushing, sweating, and nausea. They often feel they are being watched and judged. Somebody with social phobia may also fear embarrassing themselves in front of others. For more information on social anxiety disorder, symptoms and treatments.

Anxiety Disorder and its symptoms

Anxiety disorder is sometimes called panic disorder. Someone with anxiety disorder may have moderate to severe panic attacks. They may or may not know what triggers their fears. Some of the physical symptoms of panic disorder are heart palpitations, chest pains, dizziness, shortness of breath and stomach pains. These symptoms can be severe enough to make them think they are having a heart attack or may die.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and its symptoms

Obsessive compulsive disorder is another form of anxiety disorder. A person with OCD has re-occurring unwanted thoughts that caused them to feel anxious. They perform rituals in an attempt to distract themselves from their obsessive thoughts and relief the anxiety they feel. The physical symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder are similar to other anxiety disorders. Some of the rituals they may perform are listed below.

checking repeatedly if the doors locked
rearranging things after somebody has disturbed them
repeatedly combing their hair or checking their make up
cleaning something multiple times
counting
repeatedly washing hands

For more information on obsessive compulsive disorder, symptoms and treatments.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and its symptoms

Somebody with generalized anxiety disorder spends most or all of their time worrying excessively. People with GAD are extremely concerned about things some people would feel are trivial or of little consequence. Unlike with some other anxiety disorders, a person with generalized anxiety disorder don't usually avoid situations that cause them anxiety. Some of the concerns they may have are health conditions, difficulties at work or money. The physical symptoms of GAD are similar to other anxiety disorders.

For more information on generalized anxiety disorder, symptoms and treatments.

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Article Tags:
panic, self, exposure, therapy, anxiety, disorders, disorder, treatment, social, symptoms, phobia, obsessive, compulsive, ocd, generalized, gad