Anxiety is the most common of emotional disorders. Anxiety can be a normal reaction to stressful situations, but it becomes a problem when it is excessive and effects daily functioning. There are several types of anxiety-related disorders including Panic Disorder (characterized by panic attacks), Phobias (excessive fear of an activity, object or person), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (compulsive behavior such as excessive hand-washing), and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (a steady, all-over feeling of anxiety that effects daily life).
Anxiety sufferers also frequently suffer from depression and may abuse alcohol or other substances in an effort to relieve their symptoms. Twice as many women as men suffer from the disorder.
People who suffer from anxiety worry excessively about almost everything…family, money, work, school, their health…even when there are no signs of trouble.
Anxiety often arises during childhood, either from a traumatic experience that affected the brain’s normal response to fear or perhaps as a result of a genetic predisposition:
Each type of anxiety disorder has its own characteristics; however, most disorders respond well to two types of treatment:
The most important thing to know about anxiety is that many people with the disorder do not seek help, fearing criticism from family or friends. Anxiety is an illness that has effective treatments.
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