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Most people experience feelings of anxiety before an important
event such as a big exam, business presentation, or first date. Anxiety
disorders, however, are illnesses that fill people's lives with
overwhelming anxiety and fear that are chronic, unremitting, and can
grow progressively worse. Tormented by panic attacks, obsessive
thoughts, flashbacks of traumatic events, nightmares, or countless
frightening physical symptoms, some people with anxiety disorders even
become housebound. Fortunately, through research supported by the
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), there are effective
treatments that can help.
How Common Are Anxiety Disorders?
Anxiety disorders, as a group, are the most common mental illness in
America. More than 19 million American adults are affected by these
debilitating illnesses each year. Children and adolescents can also
develop anxiety disorders.
What Are the Different Kinds of Anxiety Disorders?
Panic Disorder—Repeated episodes of intense fear that strike often and
without warning. Physical symptoms include chest pain, heart
palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, abdominal distress,
feelings of unreality, and fear of dying.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder—Repeated, unwanted thoughts or compulsive behaviors that seem impossible to stop or control.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder—Persistent symptoms that occur after
experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event such as rape or other
criminal assault, war, child abuse, natural or human-caused disasters,
or crashes. Nightmares, flashbacks, numbing of emotions, depression,
and feeling angry, irritable or distracted and being easily startled
are common. Family members of victims can also develop this disorder.
Phobias—Two major types of phobias are social phobia and specific
phobia. People with social phobia have an overwhelming and disabling
fear of scrutiny, embarrassment, or humiliation in social situations,
which leads to avoidance of many potentially pleasurable and meaningful
activities. People with specific phobia experience extreme, disabling,
and irrational fear of something that poses little or no actual danger;
the fear leads to avoidance of objects or situations and can cause
people to limit their lives unnecessarily.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder—Constant, exaggerated worrisome thoughts
and tension about everyday routine life events and activities, lasting
at least six months. Almost always anticipating the worst even though
there is little reason to expect it; accompanied by physical symptoms,
such as fatigue, trembling, muscle tension, headache, or nausea.
Do Anxiety Disorders Co-Exist with Other Physical or Mental Disorders?
It is common for an anxiety disorder to accompany depression, eating
disorders, substance abuse, or another anxiety disorder. Anxiety
disorders can also co-exist with illnesses such as cancer or heart
disease. In such instances, the accompanying disorders will also need
to be treated. Before beginning any treatment, however, it is important
to have a thorough medical examination to rule out other possible
causes of symptoms.
- Anxiety disorders are conditions that cause a person to feel anxious or distressed for no logical reason.
- They are among the most common mental illnesses in America.
- Anxiety disorders account for one-third of the total mental-health bill in the United States.
- People with anxiety disorders are three to five times more likely to visit a physician than those without them.
- Anxiety disorders are often associated with depression, which is
characterized by feelings of sadness, hopelessness and reduced energy.
- Only one-third of people who experience symptoms actually visit a doctor.
- Most cases of anxiety disorders that do not respond to one form of treatment will respond to another.
- There are five major categories: generalized anxiety disorder,
obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, phobias and
post-traumatic stress disorder.
- The exact cause of most anxiety disorders is unknown, but they most
likely stem from a combination of psychological, biological, genetic
and environmental factors.
- People who are diagnosed with one form of anxiety disorder are often diagnosed with a second type.
- Treatment for these conditions may include psychotherapy, medication or a combination of both.
- Most anxiety disorders begin in childhood, adolescence or early adulthood.
- Some types affect women more often than men. However, in some
disorders -- such as generalized anxiety disorder -- the percentages
are nearly equal.
- Anxiety is also a symptom of other mental health disorders. An
anxiety disorder is diagnosed when anxiety is the predominant symptom
that requires help from a mental health professional.
- Psychotherapy for people with anxiety disorders may include
individual or group sessions and is particularly effective for social
phobia and panic disorder.
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