Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety is a normal emotion characterized by an uncomfortable feeling of fear, uneasiness, or concern about something that is either going to happen or may happen. Anxiety involves both physical and emotional symptoms, which can be mild or severe. While we all experience some degree of anxiety, if the feelings of anxiety, worry or fear are recurrent, overwhelming and interfere with daily living, they may constitute an anxiety disorder.

Anxiety disorders affect up to 10% of adults. These disorders often begin in childhood, adolescence and early adulthood. They occur slightly more often in women than in men.

There are many types of anxiety disorders. Panic disorder involves feelings of extreme fear or terror that strike suddenly and repeatedly with no warning. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disorder involving constant thoughts or fears that cause one to perform certain self-protective rituals or routines. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition that can develop following a traumatic and/or terrifying event, such as a sexual or physical assault, the unexpected death of a loved one, or a natural disaster. Social anxiety disorder , also called social phobia, involves overwhelming worry and self-consciousness about everyday social situations. Phobias are intense fears of a specific object or situation, such as snakes, heights or flying. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) involves excessive, unrealistic worry and tension.

Symptoms vary depending on the type of anxiety disorder, and may include some combination of feelings of panic, fear and uneasiness, avoidance of specific situations, uncontrollable obsessive thoughts, repeated thoughts or flashbacks of traumatic experiences, nightmares, ritualistic behaviors, problems sleeping, cold or sweaty hands, shortness of breath, palpitations, an inability to be still and calm, dry mouth, numbness or tingling in the hands or feet, nausea, and muscle tension.

The exact cause of anxiety disorders is unknown, and no doubt varies from person to person. Anxiety disorders are not the result of personal weakness, character flaws or poor upbringings. Rather, these disorders are caused by a combination of factors, including changes in the brain and environmental stresses. Stressful life events may trigger an anxiety disorder in people who have an inherited susceptibility to developing the disorder.

Treatment for anxiety involves counseling , which most often includes the use of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) . In CBT, patients suffering from anxiety disorders learn to recognize and change thought patterns and behaviors that lead to troublesome feelings. Medication used to reduce the symptoms of anxiety disorders can complement CBT for some individuals. Daily exercise and a healthy, balanced diet, in addition to counseling and social support, can help to reduce anxiety.