Treatment for Anxiety in Dubai

Fear is a natural human experience, warning and protecting individuals from threats. Everyone experiences nervousness or anxiety under certain circumstances. It might relate to a test situation, a job interview, or coming life changes. In today’s world, especially in big cities like Dubai, there is a tremendous deal of professional and social pressure. Long working hours, family obligations, and no proper life-work balance are the breeding grounds for stress and anxiety.

The step preliminary to treatment of any anxiety disorder is an in-depth diagnosis necessary to exclude other psychiatric conditions appearing with similar symptoms.

This article will help you understand the difference between “normal” or “physiological” anxiety and anxiety disorders, such as generalised anxiety, phobias, or panic attacks. You will also find here information on treatment options.

Looking for effective treatment for anxiety in Dubai? This guide explores the symptoms, causes, and best therapy options available, including medication, cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), and holistic approaches. Whether you’re experiencing generalised anxiety, panic attacks, or social anxiety, our German Psychiatric Clinic in Dubai offers therapy for anxiety disorders.

Anxiety in Modern Society

Individuals living and working in big, dynamic cities like Dubai are exposed to high work stress. They have performance reviews and quotas; additionally, many adults face pressure to perform in multiple roles, such as meeting the demands of work, marriage, and being a parent. School-age children and college students often feel pressure. Standardised tests, GPAs, and trying to fit in with friends put a high stress on students to perform above and beyond.

Feeling anxious is a normal reaction to stress. It prompts us to prepare for important events, follow through with assignments and duties, and plan our time carefully. In itself, experiencing anxiety is not a negative thing. A touch of anxiety can serve us well. It gives us the ability to sense danger, be extra careful about our environment, and engage in the “fight or flight” response if in danger. However, the accumulation of stress, long working hours, lack of sleep, and partnership problems can easily overextend an individual’s coping abilities, which might end in an anxiety disorder or depression.

We must keep in mind that there is a real difference between having anxiety in a situation and an anxiety disorder. When someone has a constantly present intense anxiety disorder and/or excessive anxiety coming in waves (panic attacks), they will be present with debilitating symptoms.

Many people with anxiety disorder will begin to avoid situations that trigger or worsen their symptoms. This can initiate a vicious circle with damaging effects on a person’s life and emotional health. In order to stop the disorder spiralling down, it’s necessary to start the therapy for anxiety, which should be provided by a certified health care professional.

Anxiety disorders include conditions that share features of excessive fear and anxiety and related behavioural disturbances.

Types of Anxiety Disorders

Fear is the emotional response to a real or perceived imminent threat, whereas anxiety is the anticipation of a future threat. Obviously, these two states overlap but also differ. Fears are associated with surges of autonomic arousal necessary for a fight or flight reaction. Anxiety is more often associated with muscle tension and vigilance in preparation for future danger and cautious or avoidant behaviours. Sometimes the level of fear or anxiety is reduced by pervasive avoidance behaviours.

Below we list the distinct categories of anxiety disorders. In this article, we describe more profoundly only the generalised anxiety disorder.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

People with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) suffer from a constant feeling of worry and tension about everyday events and problems. Their concerns often revolve around areas that others might also worry about. However, for individuals with GAD, these worries are much more intense and pronounced, significantly impacting their daily lives.

Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder

The persistent tension and worry experienced by individuals with GAD can lead to a range of psychological and physical symptoms. A diagnosis of Generalized Anxiety Disorder is made when the worry and tension about everyday events persist for at least six months and are accompanied by various symptoms, such as:

• Heart palpitations
• Sweating
• Stomach butterflies or discomfort
• Dizziness
• Lightheadedness
• Trembling or excessive sweating
• Muscle tension
• Difficulty concentrating
• Nervousness or irritability
• Trouble falling asleep
• Fear of going crazy or dying

Panic Attacks and Panic Disorder

Panic attacks are abrupt surges of intense fear associated with physical discomfort. A panic attack reaches its peak within minutes and lasts usually a few minutes to half an hour and occurs for no apparent reason.

Panic disorder involves repeated panic attacks, causing intense physical and emotional distress. Symptoms can be so severe that people may think they’re having a heart attack. Panic attacks can be triggered or happen unexpectedly. Panic disorder usually begins around ages 20-24 and can coexist with other disorders, like depression or PTSD.

People who suffer from the panic disorder develop strong fears about when and where their next panic attack will occur, increasingly restricting their life activities.

Specific Phobias

Disorders in which panic attacks occur in the context of certain situations or objects are called “phobias.” Individuals with phobias develop over time expectation fears trying to avoid certain places or situations, for example, flying. Although people know their fear is excessive, they feel powerless to control it. This fear may lead them to avoid situations like public speaking, flying, and exposure to narrow spaces, large open spaces, or hights. Below are a few examples of specific phobias:

Agoraphobia

Individuals with agoraphobia experience fear and anxiety in various situations. These may include using public transportation, being in open or enclosed spaces, standing in a line, or being in a crowd. They may also fear being outside their home alone. These situations evoke anxiety due to concerns about the difficulty of escaping or receiving help in case of panic-like or other debilitating symptoms. Such situations are often avoided and require the presence of a companion, inducing almost constant fear or anxiety.

Claustrophobia

People with claustrophobia avoid situations that trigger their panic and anxiety. For example, they might choose stairs instead of elevators, even if it means climbing many floors. It’s important to know that claustrophobia is a diagnosed condition that can seriously disrupt someone’s life.

Social Phobia

People with social phobia feel extreme anxiety about being judged, embarrassed, or rejected in social settings. They may avoid these situations or endure them with intense fear. Examples include fear of public speaking, meeting new people, or eating in public. The anxiety interferes with daily life and lasts at least six months.

Separation Anxiety Disorder

Separation anxiety disorder involves an intense fear of being apart from close loved ones. It’s beyond typical levels for the person’s age and can last at least four weeks in children and six months in adults. People may avoid going out or have nightmares and physical symptoms when separated from loved ones.

Selective Mutism

Selective mutism affects children who don’t speak in some social settings, like school, but do talk in others, like at home. This can cause problems with learning and social interaction. Many children with selective mutism are very shy and may also have social anxiety. The disorder often begins before age five and may improve as the child grows.

Anxiety in Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterised by persistent, uncontrollable, and unwanted feelings or thoughts (obsessions) and routines or rituals (compulsions). The affected individuals engage in ritualistic behaviours to try to prevent or rid themselves of the disturbing thoughts and the associated anxiety.

Examples of common compulsions include washing hands or cleaning the house excessively for fear of germs. Once the patient stops the rituals, he will immediately experience anxiety. Hence, the cycle continues.

Anxiety in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Suffering severe emotional trauma, such as from a natural disaster or serious accident or crime, may experience PTSD. Thoughts, feelings, and behaviour patterns become seriously affected by reminders of the event. Often months or even years after the traumatic experience.

Symptoms such as extreme fear, shortness of breath, racing heartbeat, insomnia, nausea, trembling, and dizziness are common in anxiety disorders. Although they may begin at any time, anxiety disorders often surface in adolescence or early adulthood. There is some evidence that anxiety disorders run in families; genes as well as early learning experiences within families seem to make some people more likely than others to experience these disorders.

Anxiety Disorders. Summary

Normal anxiety, also called “physiological anxiety,” is a part of the human psychic apparatus. Experiencing anxiety under certain circumstances, like exams or a job interview, as well as in dangerous or life-threatening situations, is normal. It warns from potential dangers and serves in the “fight or flight” reaction, protecting an individual’s life. Such “normal” anxiety doesn’t require any treatment.

Anxiety disorders differ from normative fear by being excessive or persistent. In cases where the anxiety appears constantly, like generalised anxiety, or in intervals, like panic attacks, we speak about “anxiety disorders.”

There are distinct forms of anxiety disorders, of which the most common are generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, and phobic disorders such as agoraphobia, claustrophobia, social phobia, or flying phobia.

Diagnosis of Anxiety Disorders

Before commencing the therapy, it’s necessary to secure the diagnosis of the anxiety disorder. Diagnosis of an anxiety disorder requires excluding other causes, such as psychiatric or physical illness associated with anxiety. The meticulous assessment encompasses medical history, physical examination, and various diagnostic tests to exclude underlying physical causes and ensure an accurate diagnosis.

Recognising the symptoms and understanding the causes are crucial steps toward effective management and treatment.

Treatment for Anxiety Disorders

The treatment for anxiety disorders typically involves a combination of medication and psychotherapy. While no treatment method promises a “quick fix,” the treatment with medication provides a faster relive, paving the road for the psychotherapy. In less severe cases, the psychotherapy is a stand-alone treatment method. The long-term objective for the patient is to achieve an anxiety-free life without further relapses.

Over time and under the guidance of a therapist, patients begin to notice improvement. By using a proper setting such as long-term psychiatric monitoring and psychotherapy, anxiety can be fully cured.

Our German Psychiatric Clinic offers anxiety treatment in Dubai. For more information, contact:

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FAQ about Anxiety

This section of frequently asked questions provides the answers to the most common queries about anxiety disorders and when to get help.

I feel anxious…

Question:

I live in Dubai. Since a few weeks, I feel anxiety. There is nothing in my life that could explain such feelings. My mother suffered from anxiety, and she is taking an antianxiety medication. I don’t want to get addicted to any medication. Where can I find a counsellor in Dubai?

Answer:

Psychotherapy is a highly effective treatment method. It could be used alone if your anxiety is not constantly present or is not very severe. In case of severe anxiety affecting your private and professional life, we would suggest suppressing the anxiety with medication, such as antidepressants, while doing in parallel the psychotherapy. It doesn’t mean that you must take the medication endlessly. In cases of severe anxiety, the combined therapy method is the most effective strategy for decreasing the total length of the treatment.

I feel anxiety while driving in Dubai…

Question:

I frequently feel anxious and get heart palpitations while driving in Dubai. In my home country the traffic is not so dense, so I don’t know if this is “my Dubai traffic anxiety.” I must commute, but I’m getting increasingly scared driving a car. Is there a medication that can help me get rid fast of the anxiety?

Answer:

The anxiety you describe is triggered by external circumstances (in your case, driving). It can be, in fact, the denser traffic; nevertheless, the anxiety affects your social or professional performance. So, there is no other option but to start the treatment as soon as possible.

The first choice would be the treatment with medication. Such treatment is highly effective in the short and middle term. In most cases, the right medication can suppress the symptoms completely. In the second step, counselling should take place.

Combining medication and psychotherapy is the most effective treatment method. Simplifying the treatment strategy: medication allows to suppress/remove the symptoms, and the counselling helps to remove the medication while keeping you still symptom-free.

What is anxiety?

Anxiety arises as a natural reaction to stress or perceived threats, marked by sensations of fear, worry, or apprehension. While occasional bouts of anxiety are typical, consistent or overwhelming anxiety that disrupts daily functioning could signal an anxiety disorder.

What are the different types of anxiety?

Anxiety disorders include generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, social anxiety disorder (social phobia), specific phobias, and others. Each type of anxiety disorder has its own set of symptoms and triggers.

What are the symptoms of anxiety?

Symptoms of anxiety can vary but may include excessive worrying, restlessness, irritability, muscle tension, difficulty concentrating, and sleeplessness disturbances. Physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, sweating, trembling, and gastrointestinal issues may also occur.

What causes anxiety?

Anxiety disorders can result from a combination of factors, including genetics, brain chemistry, personality, life experiences, and traumatic events. Certain medical conditions and substance use may also contribute to anxiety.

How is anxiety treated? What are the treatment options in Dubai?

Anxiety disorders are typically treated with a combination of psychotherapy and medication. The treatment can typically happen in an outpatient setting in one of the clinics in Dubai. The psychotherapy method of choice is cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT). In more severe cases, we recommend the use of medication. The treatment with medication, typically with antidepressants, lasts a few months, is not addictive, and can completely remove the anxiety, restoring normal life quality.

Can anxiety cause chest pain?

Yes, anxiety can cause chest pain. When a person experiences anxiety, the body’s stress response is activated, leading to various physical symptoms, including muscle tension and increased heart rate. This tension can sometimes manifest as chest pain or discomfort, which may feel like tightness, pressure, or aching in the chest. It’s essential to consult a healthcare professional to rule out any other potential causes of chest pain and to receive appropriate management for anxiety-related symptoms.

Can anxiety be cured?

Anxiety disorders can be effectively treated with appropriate treatment. The majority of anxiety disorders can be cured without the necessity of further treatment, most often by using a combined treatment: psychotherapy and medication. In some cases, a low dosage of medication might be used as a prophylaxis, providing protection from relapse. By a very small percentage of patients, the intensity and frequency of anxiety can be significantly reduced; however, a continued anxiety treatment will be indicated.

I feel anxious without any reason. What to do?

Question:

I lived in Dubai for five years. A few months ago, I started to feel anxious while experiencing tidiness in the chest. I didn’t find any reason for the anxiety. I thought that I might have something on my lungs; that’s why I feel anxious. However, the internal medicine doctor didn’t find any problems with my lungs or heart. I think I have anxiety. When can I get help in Dubai?

Answer:

If an organic problem such as asthma or some problems on your heart were excluded, then you probably have an anxiety disorder. In such a situation, it’s essential to seek help from a qualified mental health professional. Our psychiatrist or psychologist can assess your symptoms, provide a diagnosis, and recommend an appropriate treatment plan tailored to your needs.

Managing anxiety without medication?

Question:

I live in Dubai and suffer from anxiety in crowded places and while interacting with groups of people. I know that some medication, such as anti-anxiety medication, is prohibited. Can I get rid of my anxiety without using medication?

Answer:

Let’s first clarify our worries about using medication for treatment of anxiety in Dubai. Medication used for treatment of anxiety in Dubai is semi- or fully controlled and can be only prescribed by a psychiatrist.

A mild level of anxiety can be managed without medication through various therapeutic techniques such as psychotherapy, relaxation exercises, mindfulness, and lifestyle modifications. However, in some cases, medication may be necessary for symptom control. In more severe cases of anxiety, the most effective treatment method involves a combination of medication and psychotherapy.

What happens when I don’t treat my anxiety?

Untreated anxiety can lead to significant impairment in various areas of life, including work, relationships, and physical health. It may also increase the risk of developing other mental health conditions, such as depression and substance abuse disorders. Seeking timely treatment can help prevent these long-term consequences.

What is the difference between panic attacks and constantly present anxiety?

While both panic attacks and generalised anxiety involve feelings of fear and discomfort, they differ in intensity and duration. Panic attacks are sudden, intense episodes of fear or panic that typically peak within minutes, accompanied by physical symptoms like rapid heartbeat and shortness of breath. The constantly present anxiety, or caller generalised anxiety disorder, on the other hand, involves persistent feelings of worry, nervousness, or unease that may vary in intensity over time.