Neurotic disorders, such as anxiety, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, somatization, and dissociation, are mental health conditions that can be treated with medication and counseling. Diagnosis is the first step, and treatment can improve quality of life.
Neurotic disorders are mental or psychological problems that tend to revolve around anxiety and discomfort under certain circumstances. They are distinguished from other mental health conditions because they usually do not have outward manifestations such as hallucinations or delusions. This can make them harder to diagnose at first and also easier for people to suffer undetected. The most common neurotic-type disorders include anxiety, intense phobias, and post-traumatic stress disorder; obsessive-compulsive disorder is usually included as well. Somatization, which is a stress-related condition, and dissociation, which can cause people to display multiple personalities, are less common but no less serious. Most of these are highly treatable with medication and counseling, although success often depends very much on the individual and their specific circumstances.
Anxiety
Anxiety is a component of some of the more common neurotic disorders. Experts including the American Psychiatric Association estimate that up to 5% of the general population is affected by some form of anxiety-related disorder. The most common symptoms include tremors, muscle tension, sweating and hyperventilation, often in response to situations that are not objectively stressful or difficult. Psychological treatment and medications, such as benzodiazepines and antidepressants, can help many people with anxiety disorders manage their symptoms.
Phobias
Individuals with phobias experience intense, irrational fears of objects or situations that usually lead them to avoid that particular thing or scenario. While many fears do not interfere with daily life, excessive phobias that dominate a person’s thoughts or consciousness usually require psychological treatment. Treatment usually focuses on gradually exposing the patient to the source of the fear and reducing the anxiety over time.
Post traumatic stress disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects people who have witnessed or been exposed to traumatic experiences. This neurotic disorder is commonly seen in soldiers returning from war situations and witnessing violent crimes. Patients with PTSD often relive the trauma through flashbacks and dreams, which can lead to insomnia, paranoia, and social withdrawal.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common neurotic disorder that causes repetitive thoughts and behaviors that preoccupy an individual’s life. Many people diagnosed with this create daily rituals where they have to do things a certain number of times or in a particular way. For example, a sufferer with a fear of germs or disease may wash their hands many times a day, to the point of making them bleed. Medication and psychological treatment, including behavior modification, are generally successful methods for many obsessive-compulsive patients.
somatization
Somatization disorder causes individuals to display psychological distress as physical symptoms. Somatic symptoms are physical symptoms that a patient experiences, but which cannot be medically validated through tests and other diagnostic procedures. Psychological treatment is the best course of action for people who suffer from it, although many patients resist psychiatric intervention because they believe their symptoms are very physical in nature.
Dissociation
Dissociation disorders cause individuals to display different personalities. These types of disorders are less common, but a significant percentage of people hospitalized for psychiatric problems show symptoms of dissociative identity disorder, according to leading experts. These patients also often suffer from memory problems. Dissociation disorders can be difficult to treat. A combination of individual and group psychotherapy is usually the best method, but many people never fully recover and may struggle with multiple identities throughout their lives.
Treatment and General Management
There is usually a broad spectrum when it comes to how sufferers manage their conditions and how conditions directly impact their lives. People often live with anxiety or PTSD for years without ever being treated, for example, although treatment almost always improves their quality of life. Diagnosis is often the first step and is usually made after a series of tests and conversations with a healthcare professional.
In some cases that provider may recommend certain stabilizing medications. Cognitive therapy is also often part of the treatment plan. Most people suffering from neurological disorders benefit from one-on-one counseling where they can explore the roots of the problem with a qualified therapist. Most people who seek treatment are able to live full lives despite their diagnosis, and many are able to overcome the condition completely.
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