Anxiety is a biological reaction—the body’s way of telling us something isn’t right.
But if anxiety becomes overwhelming and persistent, or if it interferes with regular daily activities, or even makes them impossible, it may be an anxiety disorder.
Anxiety is one of the most common forms of mental illness. Anxiety can affect your health. If you suffer from an anxiety disorder, research suggests that you may run a higher risk of experiencing physical health problems, too. So when you manage your anxiety, you’re also taking care of your physical health.
Founded in 1979, ADAA is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention, treatment, and cure of anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, and co-occurring disorders through education, practice, and research.
Panic disorder is diagnosed in people who experience spontaneous seemingly out-of-the-blue panic attacks and are very preoccupied with the fear of a recurring attack. Panic attacks occur unexpectedly, sometimes even when waking up from sleep.
About 2-3% of Americans experience panic disorder in a given year and it is twice as common in women than in men.
Many people don't know that their disorder is real and highly responsive to treatment.
Panic disorder is diagnosed in people who experience spontaneous seemingly out-of-the-blue panic attacks and are very preoccupied with the fear of a recurring attack. Panic attacks occur unexpectedly, sometimes even when waking up from sleep.
About 2-3% of Americans experience panic disorder in a given year and it is twice as common in women than in men.
Many people don't know that their disorder is real and highly responsive to treatment.
People who experience these seemingly excessive and unreasonable fears in the presence of or in anticipation of a specific object, place, or situation have a specific phobia.
Although people with phobias realize that their fear is irrational, even thinking about it can often cause extreme anxiety.
Their onset is usually sudden, and they may occur in situations that previously did not cause any discomfort or anxiety.
The term "anxiety disorder" refers to specific psychiatric disorders that involve extreme fear or worry, and includes generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder and panic attacks, agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder, selective mutism, separation anxiety, and specific phobias.
Anxiety disorders are real, serious medical conditions - just as real and serious as physical disorders such as heart disease or diabetes.
Anxiety disorders are the most common and pervasive mental disorders in the United States.
The term "anxiety disorder" refers to specific psychiatric disorders that involve extreme fear or worry, and includes generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder and panic attacks, agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder, selective mutism, separation anxiety, and specific phobias.
Anxiety disorders are real, serious medical conditions - just as real and serious as physical disorders such as heart disease or diabetes.
Anxiety disorders are the most common and pervasive mental disorders in the United States.
People who experience these seemingly excessive and unreasonable fears in the presence of or in anticipation of a specific object, place, or situation have a specific phobia.
Although people with phobias realize that their fear is irrational, even thinking about it can often cause extreme anxiety.
Their onset is usually sudden, and they may occur in situations that previously did not cause any discomfort or anxiety.
The defining feature of social anxiety disorder, also called social phobia, is intense anxiety or fear of being judged, negatively evaluated, or rejected in a social or performance situation.
As a result, they often avoid social or performance situations, and when a situation cannot be avoided, they experience significant anxiety and distress.
Social anxiety disorder affects approximately 15 million American adults and is the second most commonly diagnosed anxiety disorder following specific phobia.
The defining feature of social anxiety disorder, also called social phobia, is intense anxiety or fear of being judged, negatively evaluated, or rejected in a social or performance situation.
As a result, they often avoid social or performance situations, and when a situation cannot be avoided, they experience significant anxiety and distress.
Social anxiety disorder affects approximately 15 million American adults and is the second most commonly diagnosed anxiety disorder following specific phobia.
Some people stop going into situations because of a fear of being overwhelmed by anxiety and not being able to escape or get help.
These people have agoraphobia, and they typically avoid places where they feel immediate escape might be difficult, such as shopping malls, public transportation, and either open places (like parking lots) or enclosed places (like theaters).
Some people stop going into situations because of a fear of being overwhelmed by anxiety and not being able to escape or get help.
These people have agoraphobia, and they typically avoid places where they feel immediate escape might be difficult, such as shopping malls, public transportation, and either open places (like parking lots) or enclosed places (like theaters).
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterized by persistent and excessive worry about a number of different things.
Individuals with GAD find it difficult to control their worry. They may worry more than seems warranted about actual events or may expect the worst even when there is no apparent reason for concern.
GAD affects 6.8 million adults, or 3.1% of the U.S. population, in any given year.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterized by persistent and excessive worry about a number of different things.
Individuals with GAD find it difficult to control their worry. They may worry more than seems warranted about actual events or may expect the worst even when there is no apparent reason for concern.
GAD affects 6.8 million adults, or 3.1% of the U.S. population, in any given year.
Obsessions are intrusive and unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that cause distress or anxiety (such as contamination, cleanliness, aggressive impulses, or the need for symmetry).
Compulsions are behaviors that the person feels compelled to perform in order to ease their distress or anxiety (such as checking, washing/cleaning, and arranging).
OCD currently affects approximately 1 in 40 adults and 1 in 100 children in the U.S.
Obsessions are intrusive and unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that cause distress or anxiety (such as contamination, cleanliness, aggressive impulses, or the need for symmetry).
Compulsions are behaviors that the person feels compelled to perform in order to ease their distress or anxiety (such as checking, washing/cleaning, and arranging).
OCD currently affects approximately 1 in 40 adults and 1 in 100 children in the U.S.
Posttraumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a serious potentially debilitating condition that can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a life-threatening event.
There are currently about 8 million people in the United States living with PTSD.
Women are twice as likely to develop posttraumatic stress disorder as men, and children can also develop it.
Posttraumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a serious potentially debilitating condition that can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a life-threatening event.
There are currently about 8 million people in the United States living with PTSD.
Women are twice as likely to develop posttraumatic stress disorder as men, and children can also develop it.
Everyone experiences stress and anxiety at one time or another. The difference between them is that stress is a response to a threat in a situation. Anxiety is a reaction to the stress.
Symptoms range from headaches, high blood pressure, and chest pain to heart palpitations, skin rashes, and loss of sleep.
You can learn how to reduce the impact of stress and manage your symptoms.
Everyone experiences stress and anxiety at one time or another. The difference between them is that stress is a response to a threat in a situation. Anxiety is a reaction to the stress.
Symptoms range from headaches, high blood pressure, and chest pain to heart palpitations, skin rashes, and loss of sleep.
You can learn how to reduce the impact of stress and manage your symptoms.
Worry is common. It becomes problematic when it is excessive, intrusive, and constant. It's hard to turn off worry because it feels like problem-solving. If you cannot break the worry cycle, you may be experiencing an anxiety disorder.
Worry is common. It becomes problematic when it is excessive, intrusive, and constant. It's hard to turn off worry because it feels like problem-solving. If you cannot break the worry cycle, you may be experiencing an anxiety disorder.
Anxiety, or general anxiety, is a normal reaction to stressful and uncertain situations. It’s your body telling you to stay alert and protect yourself.
Anxiety, or general anxiety, is a normal reaction to stressful and uncertain situations. It’s your body telling you to stay alert and protect yourself.
