Anxiety disorders
We've all been afraid before, that's a normal phenomenon. Anxiety is our internal alarm that warns us of danger and helps us avoid dangerous situations. So fear is a must for our survival. People without anxiety usually end up in more dangerous situations, so they are more likely to be victims of accidents.
When anxiety is present without a dangerous situation occurring, or they are disproportionate, this can have a serious impact on daily life.
People then speak of anxiety disorders.
What is it?
There are different forms of anxiety disorders. According to the DSM-5, 11 types of anxiety disorders can be distinguished:
Separation anxiety disorder:
This type of anxiety develops during childhood. Every child is sometimes afraid of being separated from their parents. However, children with “separation anxiety” are constantly afraid that something terrible will happen to the person they are attached to.
Selective mutism:
People with selective mutism are unable or afraid to speak in a social situation. For us as humans, language is the ideal means of communication. If you are unable or afraid to express yourself, you can end up in social isolation, with all the negative consequences that entail.
Social anxiety disorder
People who suffer from social anxiety disorder face a great deal of uncertainty, fear of not doing well or being rejected when they are in company.
Specific phobia:
This is an extreme fear of a specific animal, thing or situation. Avoid the anxiety-inducing situation as much as possible. As a result, this form of anxiety has a smaller impact on social life than anxiety disorders that are related to social events.
Panic disorder:
This is a disorder where the patient is suddenly and unexpectedly overwhelmed by severe anxiety. Between attacks, people are afraid of being confronted with those panic feelings again. Usually, no immediate reason is needed to trigger a panic attack. During a panic attack, the patient has the feeling that they will faint, go crazy, or even die.
Agoraphobia:
People sometimes talk about agoraphobia. Agoraphobia is expressed in situations that occur outside the home, such as using public transport, joining a crowd, queuing up at the local grocery store, etc. People with agoraphobia avoid public places as much as possible and prefer to be accompanied when they need to leave their home.
Generalized anxiety disorder:
Daily life consists of all kinds of small problems, events, tasks that we manage to complete every time (without thinking too long). People with generalized anxiety disorder are constantly concerned about all those minor concerns. This anxiety disorder is characterized by frequent worrying, having bad forebodings, being overprotective, feeling sad, etc.
Anxiety disorder due to a substance or medication:
Some drugs can trigger a panic disorder, the so-called “bad trip”. But abstaining from certain substances can also cause anxiety. For example, people who quit smoking or other addictive substances may (temporarily) experience anxiety attacks.
How to treat
Anxiety has a neurobiological origin.
Scientific research shows that the brains of people with an anxiety disorder have made different connections than healthy volunteers.
For example, the brains of people with anxiety disorders have stronger functional connections with the amygdala, the insular, putamen, thalamus, and the posterior cingulate cortex.
Areas such as the posterior cingulate cortex play an important role in determining the activation state of the nervous system. The insular helps determine the level of activation of, among other things, the sympathetic nervous system, which is predominantly active in case of danger.
At the same time, the brains of people with an anxiety disorder show fewer strong functional connections in the frontal and temporal areas. The function of the amygdala is slowed down by frontal areas such as the pregenual anterior cingulate cortex. When this' brake 'does not work properly, the amygdala can go into overdrive, resulting in a panic attack.
Medication can influence this hyperactivity. Tranquilizers (e.g. Xanax, Temesta, Valium) and antidepressants (e.g. Cipramil, Sipralexa, Seroxat, Serlain) are usually used.
Neuromodulation such as tDCS, TMS, NFB, tES,... can also influence the functioning of the brain regions involved. In contrast to medication, neuromodulation is less likely to cause unpleasant side effects.
The effect of cognitive behavioral therapy should not be underestimated.
Combining neuromodulation and cognitive behavioral therapy is even recommended.
Neuromodulation influences brain function while behavioral therapy helps the patient prevent a panic attack from completely breaking through.
One QEEG can help us determine which neuromodulation technique could have the most effect.
Other conditions that we treat
Auditory and vestibular disorders
These disorders are related to hearing and balance and can have a major impact on your daily life.
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Neurological and cognitive disorders
These disorders affect brain function, which can lead to problems with attention, memory, and motor skills.
Mental and emotional disorders
Mental illness can be deeply rooted in neurobiological dysfunctions.
Chronic Pain and Fatigue Syndromes
Chronic pain and fatigue are often difficult to treat with conventional methods, especially when there is no obvious physical cause.
Fatigue syndromes and sleep disorders
Sleep and energy management are essential for brain function. Problems in these areas can lead to severe tiredness and difficulty concentrating.
Headache and facial pain disorders
Headaches and facial pain can result from complex neurological processes.
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