| Anxiety Disorders DefinedThere are several | | | | repeating phrases or hoarding.People with |
| subgroups of Anxiety Disorders, with | | | | Panic Disorder suffer severe acute attacks of |
| different causes and treatement. Anxiety | | | | panic for no apparant reason, which may mimic |
| disorders are a serious social and financial | | | | the symptoms of a heart attack or cause them |
| concern to American business, since they cost | | | | to feel they are losing their minds. Symptoms |
| the country more than $42 billion a year in | | | | include heart palpitations, chest pain or |
| healthcare costs and lost productivity, | | | | discomfort, sweating, trembling, tingling |
| according to "The Economic Burden of Anxiety | | | | sensations, feeling of choking, fear of |
| Disorders," a study published in the Journal | | | | dying, fear of losing control, and feelings |
| of Clinical Psychiatry.More than $22.84 | | | | of unreality. Panic disorder is often |
| billion is spent on healthcare services, as | | | | accompanied by agoraphobia, in which people |
| those with anxiety disorders seek relief for | | | | are afraid of having a panic attack in a |
| emotional distress and physical symptoms. | | | | public place, so they become afraid to leave |
| Sufferers are 300 to 500 percent more likely | | | | the safety of their controlled home |
| to go to the doctor and 600 percent more | | | | environment. |
| likely to be hospitalized for psychiatric | | | | |
| disorders than non-sufferers. | | | | Posttraumatic Stress Disorder can follow a |
| | | | traumatic event such as a sexual or physical |
| Anxiety disorders are the most common | | | | assault, witnessing a death, the unexpected |
| psychiatric illness and affect both children | | | | death of a loved one, or natural disaster. |
| and adults. They develop from an interaction | | | | There are three main symptoms associated with |
| of numerous risk factors, including | | | | PTSD: "reliving" of the traumatic event (such |
| personality, genetics, brain chemistry, and | | | | as flashbacks and nightmares); avoidance |
| life stress. Approximately 19 million adult | | | | behaviors (such as avoiding places and other |
| Americans suffer from anxiety disorders. | | | | reminders related to the trauma) and |
| Anxiety disorders are highly treatable, yet | | | | emotional numbing (detachment from others); |
| only about one-third of those suffering from | | | | and physiological arousal such difficulty |
| them receive treatment.The main feature of | | | | sleeping, irritability or poor |
| Generalized Anxiety Disorder is excessive, | | | | concentration.Social Anxiety Disorder is |
| unrealistic and uncontrollable worry about | | | | characterized by severe anxiety about being |
| everyday events. This constant worry affects | | | | judged by others or behaving in a way that |
| daily functioning and brings physical | | | | might bring ridicule or embarrassment. This |
| symptoms. GAD can occur with other anxiety | | | | intense anxiety may lead to extreme shyness |
| disorders, depressive disorders, or substance | | | | and avoidance of social situations. Physical |
| abuse. It can be misdiagnosed because it | | | | symptoms associated with this disorder |
| lacks some of the dramatic symptoms, such as | | | | include faintness, heart palpitations, |
| unprovoked attacks of panic, that are seen | | | | blushing and profuse sweating.Anxiety |
| with other anxiety disorders. For a diagnosis | | | | disorders also include Specific Phobias, an |
| to be made, uncontrollable worrying occur | | | | intense and unreasonable fear of specific |
| more days than not for at least 6 months.The | | | | objects or situations, such as spiders, dogs, |
| focus of GAD is fluid, shifting unpredictably | | | | or heights. The disproportionate level of |
| from job issues, finances, health of both | | | | fear is recognized by the sufferer as being |
| self and family, and smaller issues such as | | | | irrational. It can lead to the avoidance of |
| chores, car repairs and being late for | | | | common, everyday situations. |
| appointments. The intensity, duration and | | | | |
| frequency of the worry are disproportionate | | | | Patients often have more than one anxiety |
| to the issue and interferes with the | | | | disorder, and sometimes other illness as well |
| sufferer's daily life. | | | | such as depression or substance |
| | | | abuse.Treatment of anxiety disorders includes |
| Physical symptoms can include muscle | | | | support groups, cognitive behavioral therapy |
| tension, sweating, gastrointestinal symptoms | | | | (CBT), exposure therapy, anxiety management |
| such as diarrhea and/or nausea, cold and | | | | and relaxation techniques, and psychotherapy. |
| clammy palms, the feeling of having a "lump | | | | Drugs therapy used to treat anxiety disorders |
| in the throat" and difficulty swallowing. | | | | includes benzodiazepines, selective serotonin |
| | | | reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclic |
| Sufferers are irritable and complain about | | | | antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors |
| feeling on edge, tire easily tired and have | | | | (MAOIs) and beta-blockers. Often a |
| trouble sleeping.Obsessive-Compulsive | | | | combination of the two therapies is more |
| Disorder is characterized by persistent, | | | | useful than one exclusively. Up to 90 percent |
| recurring thoughts (obsessions) that reflect | | | | of patients will show improvement of their |
| exaggerated anxiety or fears; typical | | | | symptom from medical treatment. |
| obsessions include worry about being | | | | |
| contaminated or fears of behaving improperly | | | | For more information on anxiety and other |
| or acting violently. The obsessions may cause | | | | health topics, visit our websites:Author is J |
| the individual to perform a rituals or | | | | Shipper who is very interested in anxiety and |
| routines to relieve the anxiety, such as | | | | how to treat it. |
| excessive handwashing, checking appliances, | | | | |