Most people have experienced the clammy hands and the waves of nerves in their stomachs just before public speaking or the restless anxious feelings just before taking an exam.

These anxieties that emerge throughout our days are considered normal, however anxiety disorders lead to feelings of uneasiness, distress and irrational fears. When these anxieties aren’t properly addressed they could result in lost productivity and could also negatively affect a person’s quality of life.

Facts on Anxiety

• Over 19 million Americans are afflicted with some type of anxiety disorder.

• In 1990, the costs to cover anxiety disorders in America reached $46.6 billion.

• The costs for anxiety disorders makes up about one-third of the nation’s total mental health bill, which currently stands at $148 billion.

There is widely held misconception among the public that people with anxiety disorders have the capability to gain control of their symptoms through sheer willpower. The causes of anxiety disorders range from biological to environmental factors such as post-traumatic stress.

Five Common Types of Anxiety Disorders

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

• Constant, intense worry about daily tasks and schedules

• Over 4 million Americans have been diagnosed with this disorder

• Most people with this disorder have the tendency to look at situations from a worst-case scenario perspective, which eventually disrupts their sleep patterns and ability to concentrate

• Physical symptoms include fatigue, trembling, muscle tension, headache and nausea
  

Panic Disorder

• Common traits of this disorder include panic attacks, instant feelings of terror that occur often and unexpectedly, chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, abdominal pain, loss of touch with reality, tingling extremities and a fear of dying

• Attacks usually last a couple of minutes, however in some cases can last up to one hour

• More women than men suffer from this type of anxiety

• Commonly surfaces in early adulthood before the age of 24

Social Phobia

• Overwhelming fear of social events and situations

• Causes people to avoid social events and places limitations on people’s lives

• Causes people to feel that others are constantly judging and evaluating their actions and behaviors

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

• The repetition of rituals and thoughts that people feel unable to control

• Some of the symptoms include constant hand washing and counting things
  

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

• Ongoing symptoms that are a result from traumatic experiences such as war, rape, child abuse and natural disasters

• Other typical emotional symptoms include depression, anger and irritability
  

Research has shown that the two most successful treatments of anxiety disorders are psychotherapy and behavioral therapy.

Behavioral therapy is defined as targeting the issue through breathing exercises and small increments of exposure to what is causing the person anxiety. Cognitive behavioral therapy on the other hand, is designed to help the person deal more effectively with situations that fill them with anxiety.

Silver City Daily Press June 10, 2004