What are Anxiety Disorders?
Anxiety disorder is an umbrella term encompassing several mental disorders that involve high levels of fear or worry. Anxiety disorders affect over 40 million American adults in a given year (NIMH), which is roughly 18% of the U.S. population. 1Unlike normal anxiety that is experienced by most people, anxiety disorders are persistent and impair the individual’s ability to function.  Anxiety disorders may occur along with other mental or physical illnesses, including alcohol or substance abuse, which may mask anxiety symptoms or make them worse.

Listed below are some of the most common types of anxiety disorders:

• Panic disorder.
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia).
• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

 
Left untreated, anxiety disorders can interfere with an individual’s quality of life.  Effective therapies for anxiety disorders are available, which can help most people with anxiety disorders lead productive, fulfilling lives.  Full, functional recovery is an achievable goal for many individuals with anxiety disorders.
 
Panic Disorder
What is Panic Disorder?
Panic disorder is characterized by sudden attacks of terror, usually accompanied by a pounding heart, sweatiness, weakness, faintness, or dizziness.  During these attacks, people may flush or feel chilled; their hands may tingle or feel numb; and they may experience nausea, chest pain, or smothering sensations.  Attacks sometimes occur out of the blue, and the individual may experience worry about when the next attack will occur. Panic disorder affects over 6 million American adults and is twice as common in women as it is in men.2 Panic attacks often begin in late adolescence or early adulthood, worsening over time. It is important to note that many people experience a panic attack in their lifetimes, and not everyone who experiences a panic attack will develop panic disorder.2
 

Panic attacks can occur at any time, even during times of relaxation or sleep. An attack usually peaks within 10 minutes, but some symptoms may last much longer. Attacks can be situational or recurrent. Panic attacks usually produce a sense of unreality, a fear of impending doom, or a fear of losing control. The tendency to develop panic attacks appears to be inherited and sufferers cannot predict when or where an attack will occur. Panic attacks are commonly associated with a fear of crowds, heights or small spaces. Some people become so fearful that they avoid normal activities, such as grocery shopping or driving. About one-third of sufferers become housebound and are only able to confront a feared situation when accompanied by a spouse or other trusted person. At this stage, the disorder is referred to as panic disorder with agoraphobia, or a fear of open spaces.2

What are the Symptoms of Panic Disorder?

• Repeated and sudden feelings of terror, without warning.
• Increased heart rate.
• Increased perspiration.
• Sudden feelings of weakness, faintness, or dizziness.
• Tingling or numbness.
• Feelings of being flushed, chilled or nauseated.
• Chest pain.
• Experiencing a sense of unreality, fear of impending doom or loss of control.
• A fear of one’s own, unexplained physical symptoms.
• Persistent worry about when the next attack will occur or what the attacks mean. 2

 
How is Panic Disorder Treated?
Because panic attacks involve so many physical symptoms, people with panic disorder often visit several medical doctors before someone correctly diagnoses their condition. However, once correctly diagnosed, panic disorder is very treatable, responding in most cases to certain kinds of cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy, which helps change catastrophic thinking patterns and can reduce or even eliminate panic attacks.
 

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?
Obsessive compulsive disorder affects over 2 million American adults at any given time point.  Individuals diagnosed with OCD experience involuntary, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and often times develop behavioral rituals (compulsions) to alleviate the anxiety associated with the thoughts.  The compulsions may not be logically connected with the thoughts they are designed to control and only temporarily relieve the anxiety.3  The rituals also cause marked functional impairment and interfere significantly with daily life.  For example, if someone has obsession about germs, they may develop a compulsion to excessively wash their hands, even when they have become very dry and raw.  The process of performing rituals is not pleasurable for an individual with OCD, and many times the individual is aware that his/her behavior is severe.  However, they are often unable to control or stop their compulsive behaviors without help from a professional
 

The length and severity of OCD varies. Symptoms may come and go, ease over time, or get worse. If OCD becomes too severe, it can keep a person from working or carrying out normal responsibilities at home. People with OCD may try to help themselves by avoiding situations that trigger their obsessions, or they may use alcohol or drugs to mask their anxiety symptoms. 
 

What are the Symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?

• Persistent, unwelcome thoughts or images (obsessions).
• An urgent need to engage in certain rituals (compulsions) to reduce persistent thoughts.

 
How is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Treated?
OCD often responds well to treatment with exposure-based psychotherapy, in which people face situations that would usually trigger a compulsive behavior and then are prevented from engaging in the compulsive behavior.  With this treatment, compulsions tend to fade over time.  Antidepressant medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have also been shown to help some individuals with OCD by reducing the frequency of obsessions.3
 

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can develop as a result of a frightening, life-threatening, or otherwise traumatic experience. Traumatic events that may trigger PTSD include violent personal assaults, natural disasters, military combat, being sexually or physically abused, or seeing another person dead or badly injured.  It is important to note that not every person who lives through a traumatic event will develop PTSD.  For those who do, symptoms usually begin within 3 months of the incident, but occasionally emerge years later.  Symptoms must last more than a month to be considered PTSD.4

PTSD sufferers often feel that they are reliving the trauma in their daily thoughts or in nightmares when they sleep, these re-experiences are called flashbacks. Flashbacks may be triggered by ordinary occurrences, such as a door slamming or a car backfiring on the street. A person having a flashback may lose touch with reality and believe that the traumatic incident is happening all over again.  Individuals with PTSD also show signs of trying to avoid things that remind them of the traumatic experience, as well as signs of excessive physiological arousal such as being startled more easily than most people.4
PTSD affects more than 7.7 million American adults and can occur at any age, including childhood.4 Women are more likely to develop PTSD than men and there is some evidence that susceptibility to the disorder may run in families.

What are the Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?

• Frightening thoughts.
• Flashbacks.
• Nightmares.
• Avoiding places, events or objects that are reminders of the experience.
• Feeling emotionally numb.
• Feeling strong guilt, depression, or worry.
• Lost interest in previously enjoyable activities.
• Having trouble remembering the dangerous event.
• Being easily startled.
• Feeling tense or “on edge.”
• Angry outbursts.

 
How is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Treated?
Post traumatic stress disorder is highly treatable.  Certain types of psychotherapy have been shown to be effective in treating PTSD.  These therapies usually involve exposure, in which the person confronts and gradually becomes comfortable with memories and reminders of the event.  The therapies also involve cognitive processing, where the individual learns to challenge inaccurate and self blaming thoughts about the traumatic event. 
 

While medications alone tend to be insufficient for treating PTSD, antidepressant medications such as SSRIs can be a useful adjunct to psychotherapy for PTSD.
 
Social Anxiety Disorder

What is Social Anxiety Disorder?
 

Social anxiety disorder, also called Social Phobia, is a treatable anxiety disorder characterized by overwhelming anxiety and excessive self-consciousness in everyday social situations. People with social anxiety disorder have a persistent and intense fear of being watched and judged by others, as well as being embarrassed or humiliated by their own actions.  While many people may experience some degree of discomfort in certain social situations, or when engaging in activities like public speaking, individuals with social anxiety disorder experience extreme distress and may be unable to function in social situations.5

Social anxiety disorder can be limited to one type of situation, such as fear of public speaking, or may be so broad that a person experiences symptoms whenever they are around other people.  Social anxiety is common, affecting around 15 million American adults, or 7 percent of the population in any given year.6 Women and men are equally likely to develop the disorder, which often begins in childhood or early adolescence.5
While many people with social anxiety disorder realize that their fears are excessive or unreasonable, they often feel unable to overcome them. Even if they manage to confront their fears and be around others, they may be very anxious beforehand, intensely uncomfortable throughout the encounter, and worried about the situation afterward.5

What are the Symptoms of Social Phobia?
Signs of physiological arousal in some or all social situations, including:

• Blushing
• Profuse sweating
• Trembling
• Nausea
• Difficulty talking
• Avoidance of social situations
• Extreme distress or discomfort in social situations 5

 
How is Social Anxiety Disorder Treated?

Social anxiety disorder can be successfully treated.  The most common form of treatment for social anxiety disorder is exposure therapy, where individuals are gradually exposed to social situations and taught to challenge their inaccurate thoughts and beliefs.  Many people with social anxiety will experience a decrease in symptoms after receiving proper treatment. 
 
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder?

Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by uncontrollable, excessive and irrational worry about normal, everyday situations.  Individuals with GAD anticipate disaster and are excessively concerned about “normal” problems such as paying a bill on time or getting sick.  GAD is diagnosed when a person worries excessively about a variety of everyday problems for at least 6 months.7  People with GAD often recognize that their anxiety is unwarranted, but are still unable to control their thoughts without seeking treatment. 
Approximately 6.8 million adults in the United States are affected by GAD and about twice as many women as men are diagnosed with GAD. 6 GAD generally begins during adolescence, and symptoms often manifest themselves more slowly than in other anxiety disorders. 
What are the Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder?

• Fatigue.
• Headaches.
• Muscle tension.
• Muscle aches.
• Difficulty swallowing.
• Trembling or twitching.
• Irritability.
• Sweating.
• Nausea or lightheadedness.
• Having to go to the bathroom frequently.
• Feeling out of breath.
• Hot flashes.

 
How is Generalized Anxiety Disorder Treated?

Symptoms of GAD can lessen with proper treatment.  There are two types of treatments for generalized anxiety disorder: medications and psychotherapy.  A combination of both types of treatment is most effective.  One type of psychotherapy which is commonly used for GAD is cognitive behavioral therapy.  This therapy helps individuals identify their negative, unhealthy beliefs and work on creating new positive beliefs.  Medications utilized include a variety of anti-anxiety drugs.
 

 
1 Introduction: Anxiety Disorders. Retrieved June 25, 2009
2 Panic Disorder. Retrieved June 25, 2009
3 Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Retrieved June 25, 2009
4 Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Retrieved June 25, 2009
5 Social Phobia. Retrieved June 25, 2009
6 The Numbers Count: Mental Disorders in America. Retrieved November 20, 2009
7 Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Retrieved June 25, 2009