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Article title: Anxiety Disorders: NWHIC
Everybody knows what itís like to feel anxious -- the butterflies in your stomach before a first date, the tension you feel when your boss is angry, the way your heart pounds if youíre in danger. Anxiety rouses you to action. It gears you up to face a threatening situation. It makes you study harder for that exam, and keeps you on your toes when youíre making a speech. In general, it helps you cope.
But if you have an anxiety disorder, this normally helpful emotion can do just the opposite -- it can keep you from coping and can disrupt your daily life. Anxiety disorders arenít just a case of "nerves." They are illnesses, often related to the biological makeup and life experiences of the individual, and they frequently run in families. There are several types of anxiety disorders, each with its own distinct features. They include generalized anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, phobias, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Anxiety disorders are among the most common of all the mental disorders. Many people misunderstand these disorders and think individuals should be able to overcome the symptoms by sheer willpower. Wishing the symptoms away does not work -- but there are very effective treatments that can help.
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is much more than the normal anxiety people experience day to day. It's chronic and exaggerated worry and tension, even though nothing seems to provoke it. Having this disorder means always anticipating disaster, often worrying excessively about health, money, family, or work. Sometimes, though, the source of the worry is hard to pinpoint. Simply the thought of getting through the day provokes anxiety. People with GAD also seem unable to relax. They often have trouble falling or staying asleep. Their worries are accompanied by physical symptoms, especially trembling, twitching, muscle tension, headaches, irritability, sweating, or hot flashes. They may feel lightheaded or out of breath. They may feel nauseated or have to go to the bathroom frequently. Or they might feel as though they have a lump in the throat.
Many individuals with GAD startle more easily than other people. They tend to feel tired, have trouble concentrating, and sometimes suffer depression, too. Usually the impairment associated with GAD is mild and people with the disorder don't feel too restricted in social settings or on the job. Unlike many other anxiety disorders, people with GAD don't characteristically avoid certain situations as a result of their disorder. However, if severe, GAD can be very debilitating, making it difficult to carry out even the most ordinary daily activities.
If you, or someone you know, has symptoms of anxiety, a visit to the family physician is usually the best place to start. A physician can help you determine whether the symptoms are due to an anxiety disorder, some other medical condition, or both. Most often, the next step is to get treatment for an anxiety disorder from a mental health professional.
Among the professionals who can help are psychiatrist, psychologists, social workers, and counselors. However, itís best to look for a professional who has specialized training in cognitive-behavioral or behavioral therapy and who is open to the use of medications should they be needed.
Psychologists, social workers, and counselors sometimes work closely with a psychiatrist or another physician, who will prescribe medications when they are required. For some people, group therapy or self-help groups are a helpful part of treatment. Many people do best with a combination of these therapies.
When youíre looking for a health care professional, itís important to inquire about what kinds of therapy she or he generally uses or whether medications are available. Itís important that you feel comfortable with the therapy. If this is not the case, seek help elsewhere. However, if youíve been taking medication, itís important not to quit certain drugs abruptly, but to taper them off under the supervision of your physician. Be sure to ask your physician about how to stop a medication.
Remember, though, that when you find a health care professional youíre satisfied with, the two of you are working as a team. Together you will be able to develop a plan to treat your anxiety disorder that may involve medications, behavioral therapy, or cognitive-behavioral therapy, as appropriate. Treatments for anxiety disorders, however, may not start working instantly. Your doctor or therapist may ask you to follow a specific treatment plan for several weeks to determine whether itís working.
You can find out more about anxiety disorders and their treatments by contacting the following organizations:
Association for the Advancement of Behavior
305 7th Avenue
New York, NY 10001
Freedom From Fear
308 Seaview Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10305
National Mental Health Consumersí Self-Help Clearinghouse 1-800-553-4539
National Mental Health Association 1-800-969-6642
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill 1-800-950-6264
This information was abstracted from Anxiety Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health.
All material contained in the FAQs is free of copyright restrictions, and may be copied, reproduced, or duplicated without permission of the Office on Women's Health in the Department of Health and Human Services; citation of the sources is appreciated.
Publication date: 1998
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