WHAT ARE ANXIETY DISORDERS?
Anxiety disorders are a group of mental health conditions which are characterized by unusually high levels of anxiety, especially over an extended period of time. According to the Web site for the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately “40 million American adults age 18 years an older” (or 18% of the American adult population) reports having an anxiety disorder every year.
Anxiety disorders can occur in people of any age from childhood to older adulthood. Mental health specialists have recently begun to realize the extent to which children and senior citizens can be affected by anxiety disorders. Psychologists and psychiatrists are now working to find unique treatment methods for both groups and trying to determine how to tailor existing treatments to these individuals.
WHAT IS CONSIDERED AN ANXIETY DISORDER?
There are a number of anxiety disorders which have varying symptoms and treatment methods. Anxiety disorders include, but are not limited to:
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Phobias (social phobia, emetophobia, etc.)
- Paruresis (“shy bladder syndrome”)
These disorders have treatment options which can be unique or shared among one another. Specific treatment plans are determined by a licensed mental health professional based on the needs of the affected individual.
WHAT ARE SOME COMMON ANXIETY DISORDERS?
Generalized anxiety disorder is one of the more common anxiety conditions which is diagnosed in American adults. It is characterized by persistent worry and anxiety over a wide variety of topics.
While a healthy person may feel worried about certain issues in his or her life, a person who has GAD will worry almost incessantly and rarely feel calm or relaxed. He or she may feel extremely pressured and stressed about relationships, work, money and other common issues. Unlike a healthy person, a person who has GAD will fret about these problems almost obsessively, and he or she may also be preoccupied with worries about issues which are not of great importance.
A person who has generalized anxiety disorder may also agonize about things that are not likely to happen (e.g., getting robbed in a safe neighborhood in the middle of the day) or things which have already happened and cannot be changed.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is another anxiety condition which is somewhat more common than the others. Because it can develop in anyone who has experienced a trauma and is old enough to be emotionally impacted by the occurrence, PTSD can be found in a variety of age groups.
HOW DO ANXIETY DISORDERS AFFECT YOU?
The overwhelming and unrelenting anxiety experienced by a person who has GAD or another anxiety disorder can have a negative effect on his or her mood and physical health. A person with anxiety problems may suffer from chronic stomach pain, muscle aches, or headaches. Insomnia (an inability to fall asleep or stay asleep) is also a frequent complaint of people who have an anxiety condition like generalized anxiety disorder. The poor sleeping habits and long-term physical discomfort can lead to irritability or overly emotional responses which can harm relationships (personal and professional).
A person who is frequently worried may also be more likely to develop unhealthy lifestyle habits. Someone with generalized anxiety or another anxiety disorder may start to eat unhealthy “comfort” foods high in saturated fat, salt or sugar (likely because eating foods in these categories, such as chocolate, releases endorphins in the brain, which increases feelings of well-being).
Because long-term anxiety stresses the body and weakens the immune system, a person who is struggling with anxiety may also feel too physically exhausted and ill to get regular exercise. A person who has an anxiety disorder may also be drawn to using unhealthy means of “escape” to temporarily ease his or her worries and fears. This can make addiction to substances like alcohol or nicotine a particular issue for people who are highly anxious.
Stay tuned for the second part in this series to learn about depression and how it relates to anxiety disorders.
