Health Facts

Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders, which range from feelings of uneasiness to bouts of immobilizing terror, are the most common of emotional disorders and affect more than 25 million Americans. The symptoms of these medical illnesses differ dramatically from normal feelings of nervousness and often occur without warning, turning the simplest of life's routines into extreme mental and physical discomfort. Many anxiety disorders can cause people to take extreme measures, such as refusing to leave the house, to avoid situations that may trigger or worsen their anxiety. As a result, job performance, school work, and personal relationships may suffer.

There are many types of anxiety disorders. People with panic disorder experience overwhelming fear that strikes suddenly and without warning. A combination of both psychological and physical distress, symptoms of a panic attack may include a pounding heart or chest pain, uncontrollable trembling or shaking, shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, or feelings of losing control or dying. Since those afflicted with the disorder cannot predict when the next panic attack will occur, many people live in constant worry of the next attack. A phobia is an uncontrollable, irrational, and persistent fear of an object, situation, or activity. The fear can be so great that some individuals go to extreme lengths to avoid the source of their dread. Phobias occur in several forms, such as a fear of spiders (specific phobia), a fear of public speaking (social phobia), or a fear of being in situations where escape may be difficult or embarrassing (agoraphobia). Individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have reoccurring, irrational thoughts that cannot be controlled by reason. This causes great anxiety and often disrupts normal daily routines and social relationships. Common obsessions include repeated hand washing to avoid dirt or germs, constant rechecking of a locked door to satisfy nagging doubts, or a need to have items in a rigid order. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs in individuals who have survived a severe or terrifying physical or emotional event. People with PTSD continue to relive the traumatic ordeal through flashbacks, recurrent nightmares, or experience extreme emotional, mental, and physical distress when exposed to situations that remind them of the trauma. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) occurs when people experience ongoing, exaggerated tension that interferes with daily functioning. Individuals with GAD worry constantly, and feel helpless to control these worries. Physical manifestations of this disorder may include irritability, sleeplessness, muscle aches, tension, and a lack of concentration.