Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress. It helps one deal with a tense situation in the office, study harder for an exam, or keep focused on an important speech. In general, it helps one cope. But when anxiety becomes an excessive, irrational dread of everyday situations, it has become a disabling disorder.

Anxiety Disorders affect approximately 40 million American adults age 18 years and older (about 18%) in a given year, causing them to be filled with fearfulness and uncertainty. Unlike the relatively mild, brief anxiety caused by a stressful event (such as speaking in public or a first date), anxiety disorders last at least six months and can get worse if they are not treated.

Anxiety disorders commonly occur along with other mental or physical illnesses, including alcohol or substance abuse, which may mask anxiety symptoms or make them worse. In some cases, these other illnesses need to be treated before a person will respond to treatment for the anxiety disorder.

There are five major types of anxiety disorders. These include:

Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Panic Disorder
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Social Phobia or Social Anxiety Disorder

Click on any of the above titles for more specific information.

Effective treatments for anxiety disorders are available, and research is yielding new, improved therapies that can help people with anxiety disorders lead productive, fulfilling lives. In general, anxiety disorders are treated with medication, specific types of psychotherapy, or both. Treatment choices depend on the problem and the person’s preference.

Many people with anxiety disorders benefit from joining a self-help or support group and sharing their problems and achievements with others. Internet chat rooms can also be useful in this regard, but any advice received over the Internet should be used with caution, as Internet acquaintances have usually never seen each other and false identities are common. Talking with a trusted friend, family member, or member of the clergy can also provide support, but it is not a substitute for care from a mental health professional.

If you think you have an anxiety disorder, you should seek information and treatment right away.

Source: National Institute of Mental Health

For additional information on anxiety disorders contact:

Anxiety Disorders Association of America
www.adaa.org
8730 Georgia Avenue, Suite 600
Silver Spring, MD 20910
(240) 485.1001
information@adaa.org