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