Anxiety Disorders
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 cause
people to feel frightened, distressed and uneasy for no
apparent reason. Left untreated, these disorders can dramatically
reduce productivity and significantly diminish an individual's
quality of life.
How
Common Are Anxiety Disorders?
Anxiety
disorders are the most common mental illness in America;
more than 19 million are affected by these debilitating
illnesses each year.
Anxiety
disorders cost the U.S. $46.6 billion in 1990 in direct
and indirect costs, nearly one-third of the nation's total
mental health bill of $148 billion.
What
Are the Different Kinds of Anxiety Disorders?
Panic
Disorder-Characterized by panic attacks, sudden feelings
of terror that strike repeatedly and without warning.
Physical symptoms include chest pain, heart palpitations,
shortness of breath, dizziness, abdominal discomfort,
feelings of unreality, and fear of dying.
Obsessive-Compulsive
Disorder-Repeated, intrusive and unwanted thoughts
or rituals that seem impossible to control.
Post-Traumatic
Stress Disorder-Persistent symptoms that occur after
experiencing a traumatic event such as war, rape, child
abuse, natural disasters, or being taken hostage. Nightmares,
flashbacks, numbing of emotions, depression, and feeling
angry, irritable, distracted and being easily startled
are common.
Social
Phobia-Extreme, disabling and irrational fear of something
that really poses little or no actual danger; the fear
leads to avoidance of objects or situations and can cause
people to limit their lives.
Generalized
Anxiety Disorder-Chronic, exaggerated worry 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.
What
Are the Treatments for Anxiety Disorders?
Treatments
have been largely developed through research conducted
by NIMH and other research institutions. They are extremely
effective and often combine medication or specific types
of psychotherapy.
More
medications are available than ever before to effectively
treat anxiety disorders. These include antidepressants
or benzodiazepines. If one medication is not effective,
others can be tried. New medications are currently under
development to treat anxiety symptoms.
The
two most effective forms of psychotherapy used to treat
anxiety disorders are behavioral therapy and cognitive-behavioral
therapy. Behavioral therapy tries to change actions through
techniques such as diaphragmatic breathing or through
gradual exposure to what is frightening. In addition to
these techniques, cognitive-behavioral therapy teaches
patients to understand their thinking patterns so they
can react differently to the situations that cause them
anxiety.
Is
it Possible for Anxiety Disorders to Coexist with Other
Physical or Mental Disorders?
It
is common for an anxiety disorder to accompany another
anxiety disorder, or in some cases depression, eating
disorders or substance abuse. Anxiety disorders can also
coexist with physical disorders. In such instances, these
disorders will also need to be treated. Before undergoing
any treatment, it is important to have a thorough medical
exam to rule out other possible causes.
The
content of this fact sheet was adapted from material published
by the National Institute of Mental Health.
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