Anxiety Disorders Defined
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.
Fortunately, through research conducted by the
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), there
are effective treatments that can help. NIMH is
conducting a national education campaign to increase
awareness of these disorders and their treatments.
Anxiety Disorders Statistics
� Anxiety disorders are the most common mental
illnesses in America with more than 19 million 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.
Different Kinds of Anxiety Disorders
Panic Disorder
Repeated episodes of intense fear that strike often
and without warning. Physical symptoms include chest
pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath,
dizziness, abdominal distress, feelings of unreality,
and fear of dying.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Repeated, unwanted thoughts or compulsive behaviors
that seem impossible to stop or control.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Persistent symptoms that occur after experiencing a
traumatic event such as rape or other criminal assault,
war, child abuse, natural disasters or crashes.
Nightmares, flashbacks, numbing of emotions, depression
and feeling angry, irritable, distracted and being
easily startled are common.
Phobias
Two major types of phobias are specific phobia and
social phobia. People with specific phobia
experience extreme, disabling, and irrational fear of
something that poses little or no actual danger; the
fear leads to avoidance of objects or situations and can
cause people to limit their lives unnecessarily.
People with social phobia have an overwhelming
and disabling fear of scrutiny, embarrassment, or
humiliation in social situations, which leads to
avoidance of many potentially pleasurable and meaningful
activities.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Constant, exaggerated worrisome thoughts and tension
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.
How To Help
As mentioned earlier, it is frustrating and at times
terrifying when a friend or relative suffers from
anxiety disorder. Frustration may come from the major
changes a person goes through when caught in the grip of
anxiety.
The once outgoing, daring person may become
withdrawn, nervous or even down right afraid of even
simple things like attending a ball game or going to the
movies.
Fears come from the unusual behavior accompanied with
panic attacks. When a friend or family member has a
panic attack he or she may suffer any of the following
physical symptoms:
1. shortness of breath
2. increase of heart rate and blood pressure
3. vomiting or dry heaves
4. uncontrollable shaking
5. crying
6. dizziness
7. feelings of unreality (a feeling like nothing
around them is real)
8. paranoia
9. a desperate need to run or yell
10. fainting
11. confusion
It is important to understand if this person is
suffering from anxiety or panic he or she WILL NOT DIE
although they will claim they are doing just that. Here
are some things you can do to help people through such
episodes:
1. reassure them that you are there
2. remind them that it is a panic attack and that
they are NOT going to die
3. hold their hand or cradle them until the first
wave of intense fears begins to subside
4. help them take long deep breaths (much like
recovering from hyperventilation)
5. give them water
6. fan them with a shirt or other material
7. call their doctor or 911 IF NEEDED
8. bring them to a place where they feel less
conspicuous (ie a rest room)
9. remind them that the feelings will pass
10. let them know you love them in spite of the
problem
It is extremely important for people with anxiety to
know their friends and family members love them and care
about them even though they suffer with this problem.
Many people with anxiety will suffer with self-esteem
problems and the reassurance of love and acceptance is
very important for the patient to have the confidence to
seek proper help to become better.
Anxiety Disorders Treatments
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 being tested or are 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.
Anxiety Disorders and Other
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.
Material from the National Institute of Mental
Health was used with permission
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