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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 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.
For more information
contact:
National Mental
Health Association
800.969.NMHA
Other Resources:
National
Institute of Mental Health
1-866-615-6464, Information
Center
1-888-826-9438, Order Publications
Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation - 203.315.2190
Anxiety Disorders
Association of America - 240.485.1001
Freedom From Fear - 718.351.1717 or 888-442-2022
American
Psychiatric Association - 888.357.7924
American
Psychological Association - 800.964.2000
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