Anxiety disorders

Anxiety is an emotional state that everyone will experience at some time.  Anxiety can be a normal part of an individual’s response to stress and in some situations it can be appropriate and helpful. It becomes abnormal or pathological when it occurs without a specific trigger; when it is excessive, or interferes with a person’s normal daily activities; or causes distress. Anxiety disorders are common in people with intellectual disability, as they are in the general population. Risk factors for anxiety for people with a disability include an increased likelihood of stressful experiences, limited coping skills and little support to experience and learn adaptive responses. In general, anxiety disorders are under-diagnosed and under-treated in people with intellectual disability. Anxiety can have the following components:

Physical

 Palpitations or pounding or racing heart,  Sweating,  Trembling or shaking,  Dry mouth,  Difficulty breathing; hyperventilation,  Chest pain or discomfort,  Nausea, vomiting or churning stomach,  Dizziness; unsteadiness,  Hot flushes or cold chills,  Restlessness.

Emotional

 Fear,  Worry,  Irritability.

Cognitive

 Nervous anticipation,  Fear of failure, death or harm,  Poor concentration,  Inability to think clearly.

Behavioural

(The classic behavioural response of anxiety is ‘flight or fight’, as anxiety may be viewed as preparing the body to follow one of these options)  Running away,  Aggression,  Collapse,  Obsessional behaviour (rituals, repetitive statements),  Tearfulness,  Restlessness (foot tapping, pacing, hand wringing),  Self-injury (picking, cutting).