Dr Mark Cross, a psychiatrist and author who has lived with anxiety all his life, discusses his personal experiences with anxiety, different types of anxiety disorders, and navigating challenges such as growing up gay in South Africa. He highlights the importance of destigmatizing mental health and provides insights from his book on anxiety.
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Quick takeaways
Anxiety is characterized by a fight or flight response and intense physical sensations, while worry is more focused on specific events or concerns.
Anxiety disorders come in various forms including generalized anxiety disorder, PTSD, OCD, panic disorder, agoraphobia, and health anxiety.
Deep dives
Understanding the Difference Between Anxiety and Worry
Anxiety and worry are closely linked, but the main difference lies in the physiological response. Anxiety is characterized by a fight or flight response, accompanied by intense physical sensations such as an increased heart rate and racing thoughts. Worry, on the other hand, tends to be more focused on specific events or concerns. The current COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a surge in anxiety due to the uncertainty and fear surrounding the situation. While anxiety can be a universal condition experienced by everyone at some point, clinical anxiety is more persistent and can be debilitating, even in seemingly mundane situations.
Different Forms of Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders come in various forms, including generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, agoraphobia, and health anxiety. Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive worry and fear about the future without a specific cause. PTSD is more common than many realize and is often associated with experiencing or hearing about traumatic events. OCD includes intrusive thoughts or images, leading to anxiety, and the need to perform certain compulsive behaviors to alleviate the distress. Panic disorder involves recurring panic attacks with intense physical symptoms. Agoraphobia is a fear of crowded places that can lead to avoidance behavior and becoming housebound. Finally, health anxiety is characterized by a persistent belief that one has a serious illness, seeking multiple medical opinions and tests to alleviate anxiety.
Personal Journey with Anxiety and Overcoming Stigma
Dr. Mark Cross, a consultant psychiatrist, shares his personal journey with anxiety, starting from childhood when he developed anxiety after a family crisis and being labeled as 'stupid' by his teacher. Growing up gay in South Africa added another layer of anxiety due to societal expectations and norms. Dr. Cross emphasizes the importance of openness and breaking the stigma around mental health, particularly within the medical profession. Despite initial concerns about being perceived as weak, sharing his own experiences has fostered strong relationships with his patients. Dr. Cross aims to create awareness and normalize anxiety by using his own life as an example, hoping to provide help and support to others facing similar challenges.
Dr Mark Cross understands anxiety viscerally. Not only is he a psychiatrist, he’s also lived with the condition nearly all his life. And he’s made the decision to be open about his struggle – a rare move for a doctor. His latest book is called ‘Anxiety: Expert Advice from a Neurotic Shrink Who’s Lived With Anxiety All His Life’'.
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