What is an Anxiety Disorder?
Fear and anxiety are part of life. You may feel anxious before you take a test or walk down a dark street. This kind of anxiety is useful - it can make you more alert or careful. It usually ends soon after you are out of the situation that caused it. But for millions of people in the United States, the anxiety does not go away, and gets worse over time. They may have chest pains or nightmares. They may even be afraid to leave home. These people have anxiety disorders.
Anxiety disorders are the most common of emotional disorders and affect more than 25 million Americans.
Anxiety disorders differ from normal feelings of nervousness. Untreated anxiety disorders can push people into avoiding situations that trigger or worsen their symptoms. People with anxiety disorders are likely to suffer from depression, and they also may abuse alcohol and other drugs in an effort to gain relief from their symptoms. Job performance, school work, and personal relationships can also suffer.
What are the symptoms of anxiety disorders?
- Overwhelming feelings of panic and fear
- Uncontrollable obsessive thoughts
- Painful, intrusive memories
- Recurring nightmares
- Physical symptoms such as feeling sick to your stomach, “butterflies” in your stomach, heart pounding, startling easily, and muscle tension
What are the types of anxiety disorders
- Panic Disorder — the core symptom is the panic attack, an overwhelming combination of physical and psychological distress
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder — obsessions and irrational thoughts that keep reoccurring. Compulsive behavior can be very disruptive to normal daily routines and social relationships.
- Post-traumatic Stress Disorder — occurs in individuals who have survived a severe or terrifying physical or emotional event.
- Phobias — excessive and persistent fear of a specific object, situation, or activity
- Specific phobia — An extreme or excessive fear of an object or situation that is generally not harmful.
- Social phobia (also called social anxiety disorder) — Significant anxiety and discomfort about being embarrassed or looked down on in social or performance situations.
- Agoraphobia — This is the fear of being in situations where escape may be difficult or embarrassing or help might not be available in the event of panic symptoms.
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder — ongoing, severe tension that interferes with daily functioning. They worry constantly and feel helpless to control these worries.
Read more about anxiety disorders >>
Is there help?
Yes. Although each anxiety disorder has its own unique characteristics, most respond well to two types of treatment: psychotherapy and medications.
Information provided by the National Institutes of Health