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are several different disorders that can be classified as anxiety disorders.
These disorders currently affect about 19 million adults in the United States.
Anxiety disorders are not just the occasional and normal feeling of panic
or fright an individual may feel when encountering normal stressors such
as job interviews or first dates. An individual with an anxiety disorder
may experience feelings of fear and anxiety that are so intense he or she
may not be able to perform normal, everyday tasks. These disorders are chronic
and if not treated can become increasingly worse over time. Each disorder
has it's own specific feature but all of these disorders are strung together
by the irrational and excessive fear and characteristics that personify
anxiety disorders. |
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this section, since anxiety disorders comprise more than just one disorder,
the research being conducted as well as the treatments available for anxiety
disorder as a whole will be discussed in more depth at the end of the entire
section. The following disorders will be outlined in this section: |
- Panic Disorder
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder,
- Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (See above separate section on PTSD)
- Social Phobia (or Social Anxiety Disorder)
- Specific Phobias
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
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It is common
for an anxiety disorder to be accompanied by another anxiety disorder or
another illness. Often people who have panic disorder or social phobia,
for example, also experience the intense sadness and hopelessness associated
with depression. Other conditions that a person can have along with an anxiety
disorder include an eating disorder or alcohol or drug abuse. Any of these
problems will need to be treated as well, ideally at the same time as the
anxiety disorder.
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Approximately
19 million people in the United States currently have a disorder
that falls underneath the branch of anxiety disorders. |
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Anxiety disorders
encompass any of the following disorders: panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive
disorder (OCD), social phobia (or social anxiety disorder),
specific disorders, such as agoraphobia, and generalized anxiety
disorders. |
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Anxiety disorders
are more than the fear or anxiety most individuals experience
when faced with certain stressors. Anxiety disorders are characterized
by extreme and irrational anxiety that can often have debilitating
side effects. |
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The National Institute
of Mental Health (NIMH) is constantly supporting and running
research in order to identify possible preventive and treatment
disorders for the said illnesses. |
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