Anxiety is Part of Everyday Life For Most People
It can be a normal response for people who are under stress or feeling uncertain. However, frequent symptoms can also be a sign of an Anxiety Disorder. An anxiety disorder may be given if the symptoms are intense, frequent and interfere with daily living.
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting 40 million adults or 18.1% of the population every year, with about 8% of children and teenagers experiencing an anxiety disorder. This has worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are living in more times of stress and anxiety than ever before. The teenage years generally have significant stress and this has worsened in recent years. Although anxiety disorders are highly treatable, only 36.9% of those suffering receive treatment.
Here Are Some of The Most Common Types of Anxiety Disorders
Generalized Anxiety Disorder: This is typically an unrealistic worry about everyday tasks. Marked by apprehension, racing thoughts and physical symptoms.
Panic Disorder: You feel a sudden fear that causes a panic attack. This may include feeling you are losing control, fear of a heart attack, difficulty breathing, excessive sweating, chest pain and pounding heart.
Social Anxiety Disorder: You feel an overwhelming worry about social situations. You are likely overly self-conscious and fear others judging you.
Phobias: You have an intense fear of something that may have caused trauma for you in the past but presents no present danger.
A first-line treatment for anxiety is psychotherapy or talk therapy. The treatment aims to help a person understand the thoughts, beliefs, or experiences that may be contributing to persistent anxiety, and ways of changing or coping with them.
Some people benefit from medications that can reduce the symptoms of anxiety, making the condition more manageable. Some people take medications to make it easier to begin therapy, while others may take them on an on-going basis.
