Anxiety Disorders
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Download a detailed booklet from the National Institute of Mental Health that that describes the symptoms, causes, and treatments of the major anxiety disorders, with information on getting help and coping
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Anxiety Disorders
The following has been adapted from information from the Canadian Mental Health Association,.
Anxiety can be a normal reaction to stress. Anxiety can occur during such potentially tense situations as workplace pressures, public speaking, writing an exam etc. These feelings are similar but yet different from those experienced by someone diagnosed with an Anxiety Disorder.
According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, Anxiety Disorders are the most common of all mental health problems. Feelings of anxiousness are normal for everyone at certain times. Feelings of anxiousness can occur when public speaking, writing an exam, during a job interview, etc. These anxious feelings are uncomfortable but will pass. The feelings of anxiety experienced by those with Anxiety Disorders are much different. Anxiety Disorders present with the same symptoms, i.e. trembling, muscle tension, headaches, irritability and constant worry, but they become chronic and interfere with daily life. Approximately one in ten people will be affected by an Anxiety Disorder. Research into Anxiety Disorders has established that the causes are both biological and individual circumstances.
Anxiety Disorders are conditions which can affect a person by causing extreme anxiety. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (V-TR), the following are examples of Anxiety Disorders:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder - is characterized by chronic anxiety (at least 6 months), exaggerated worry and tension, even when there is little or nothing to provoke it. The worry is usually difficult to control and interferes with daily tasks.
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) - is characterized by recurrent, unwanted and potentially disturbing thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviors (compulsions). Obsessions often concern contaminating, doubt (did not lock the door) and sometimes disturbing sexual or religious thoughts, the Compulsions are often performed to neutralize or avoid the anxiety provoking obsessions.
- Panic Disorder - is characterized by unexpected episodes or attacks of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms that may include chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, or abdominal distress.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - develops after exposure to a significantly traumatizing event, in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened. Symptoms often include flashbacks where the person re-lives the trauma, nightmares depression and anger or irritability.
- Social Phobia ( or Social Anxiety Disorder) - is characterized by overwhelming fear that they may embarrass themselves in social situations. They have an intense fear of being observed doing somethign wrong where someone might see, that they often avoid situations that may stimulate their fear, making it incredibly difficult to lead a "normal" life.
- Specific Phobia - is characterized by seemingly unreasonable and uncontrolled fears of specific situations or items. The feared situation or item causes extreme anxiety and panic.
Treatment Options
It is important to get a proper diagnosis of the particular Anxiety Disorder a person is struggling with as there are specialized treatment options depending on the form of the illness. Drug therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy are two treatments that have been found to be successful, alone or in combination, in those with Anxiety Disorders. The goals of treatment are often to restructure fearful thinking. Also helpful are support groups and learning resources as they can help develop coping strategies.