A Survey On Anxiety Disorders

Today anxiety disorders are recognized as one of the most common mental health disorders. Anxiety has been around since human’s worried about being eaten by saber tooth tigers. “It’s important to note that at its core level, anxiety is a part of evolution. Anxiety is the activation of the fight or flight system the system your body uses to keep you safe from harm (Calm Clinic)”. Oddly, anxiety is a normal part of life; you may feel anxious when having to make a significant decision or taking a test, for most people these normal feelings usually fade, however for those who suffer from an anxiety disorder, these feels never subsides. They can cause such distress that it interferes with an individual’s ability to lead a normal healthy life.

Anxiety is the most common mental health disorder in the United States and women are over twice as likely to suffer from anxiety than men (Kessler et al., 2005). The symptoms of anxiety can be life disrupting; affecting personal and professional relationships, sleep, appetite, health, and overall quality of life. The causes of anxiety seem ever-present and there is no indication the situation is going to improve in the immediate future. Global politics, war, domestic terrorism, rising health care costs, and economic instability are but a few of the surfeit anxiety causing stressors individuals must endure while also managing daily pressures of everyday life.

Anxiety is a psychological disorder that affects many people, both mentally and physically. There are many different types of people who live with this disorder, from the young adults to the older generations and from female to male. There are various ways that the disorder may transform the life of the individual who go through the everyday effects of anxiety. A recent study from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America shows that “Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S, affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older, or 18% of the population.”(ADAA), with it being the most common disorder, it is also the most expensive disorder since people need a lot of help. People think of anxiety as just the usual small form of anxiety like when you drive and get nervous but it can be a lot more than extreme for some people. There are many different forms of anxiety that people can experience, for example social anxiety and various phobias. People have been researching ways to assist people with anxiety and attempt to help find the best methods to help them cope. Studies have been done on how anxiety runs in different cultural groups in america, these studies and more have shown that anxiety and depression usually go together.

Anxiety disorders may not seem like a problem in the world today, unfortunately, many people suffer from different types of anxiety disorders. They include, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, phobias, generalized anxiety disorders, and social disorders. Everyone has experienced a type of anxiety in their lives one time or another and can be bothersome. Anxiety is described as a normal response to stress, defined as a cluster of mental illnesses that causes people to feel scared, distressed, or uneasy during certain situations that others may not experience. In America, anxiety disorders are the most common today, and they affect more than 20 percent of the population. Effective treatment

Everyday someone is fighting a battle with an anxiety disorder. Anxiety is considered a mental illness that causes distress, worry, and fear to an individual. Some types of anxiety include the following: panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, specific phobias, and a generalized anxiety disorder with unrealistic worry (WebMD, 2016). The cause for anxiety is currently unknown, but environmental stress and changes in the brain can be linked factors (WebMD, 2016). Anxiety disorders affect 40 million adults who are 18 and older, this is 18% of the population in the United States (ADAA, 2014). General Anxiety Disorder alone affects 3.1% of the United States population and it most often affects

The eminent psychiatrist, Dr. Paul Hoch, in his classic treatise on differential diagnoses in the field of psychiatry made the observation that symptoms of anxiety and depression were components of every major psychiatric disorder (Hoch, 1972). Everyone also experiences anxiety which is typically defined as a diffuse, unpleasant, and sometimes vague sense of apprehension; however, anxiety disorders, psychological disorders whose main component is anxiety and lead to significant disruptions in a person's everyday functioning, are among the most prevalent psychiatric conditions in the world (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2000). Moreover, there is abundant empirical evidence that anxiety disorders when left untreated may increase the risk of cardiovascular-related disorders and other health concerns (APA, 2000). Therefore it is important to be able to distinguish the proper anxiety disorder diagnosis and initiate treatment. One of the most disabling of all the anxiety disorders is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Anxiety Disorders are characterized by many symptoms and often associated with depressive tendencies. Although the majority are produced in a person based off of their genetic material, other influences exist environmentally that can encourage or discourage the severity of the symptoms and prognosis it has on one’s overall well-being. Early diagnosis and a systematic combination of treatments can help reduce the tensions and encourage a more normal life than what was previously experienced by the person with the disorder.

We all of come across anxiety in various forms throughout the routine of our day to day activities. However, the mechanisms that regulate anxiety may break down in a wide variety of circumstances, leading to excessive or inappropriate expressions of anxiety. An anxiety disorder may exist if the anxiety experienced is disproportionate to the circumstance, is difficult for the individual to control, or interferes with normal functioning. More than 19 million American adults are affected by an anxiety disorder. Children and adolescents also develop anxiety disorders. People with anxiety disorders also have other physical or mental disorders such as: depression, eating disorders,

Anxiety disorders are so incapacitating and have many different types of categories in its self with its own unique sets of symptoms. Anxiety can become so rigorous that it can begin to affect relationships and even a person’s life. Some known are: obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social phobia (or social anxiety disorder), specific phobias, and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) disorders are some of the most commonly seen ("Frequently Asked Questions about Anxiety Disorders"). Discussions in this research paper will summarize the most commonly seen one; Generalized Anxiety and how it affects us. We will discuss what it is? Its symptoms, how it comes about, why it is misdiagnosed, and treatments.

According to Abnormal Psychology: An Integrative Approach (2015), anxiety is defined as a “negative mood state characterized by bodily symptoms of physical tension and apprehension about the future” (Barlow, 2015). Anxiety is a set of behaviors, such as looking worried, anxious or fidgety, or a physiological response in the brain that is reflected by increased heart rate and muscle tension (Barlow et al., 2015). Within the spectrum of anxiety disorder, there are many disorders that are classified under anxiety, such as panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, agoraphobia, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder. In regards to this essay, the anxiety disorders of obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting 40 million adults ages 18 and older, this is about 18% of the population (National Institute of Mental Health). Anxiety disorders are associated with the impairment of several domains of functioning, including the impairment of relationships, care giving and job productivity (DeBoer, Powers, Utschig, Otto & Smits, 2012). Anxiety disorders are a growing concern in our society, especially among college-aged teenagers/young adults. For quite some time, people have been looking for ways to decrease their levels of anxiety without the use of traditional prescribed medicine. There has been several studies done that show that there is a positive correlation between increased physical activity and an increase in a person’s state of well-being and mood patterns as well as a decrease in their anxiety levels. According to Broman-Fulks, Berman, Rabian, and Webster, “Aerobic exercise has been shown to reduce generalized anxiety, and may also reduce anxiety sensitivity through exposure to feared physiological sensations.” There is a great deal of evidence that backs up the notion that exercise is indeed an effective way to reduce one’s symptoms of anxiety.

Exercise is an effective anxiety management solution because it releases endorphins in your brain, exerting similar effects as some anxiety medications. Exercise plays a role in regulating mood and relaxation, by also depleting cortisol levels, which inhibiting some of the symptoms that can worsen anxiety. Studies reveal that exercise is significantly beneficial in managing anxiety and mood state, particularly rhythmic and aerobic exercises, using of large muscle groups (jogging, swimming, cycling, walking), of moderate and low intensity. Source

The Expanding Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Treatment Umbrella for the Anxiety Disorders: Disorder Specific and Transdiagnostic Approaches

Characteristics such as anxiety, fear and worry are necessary and useful mechanisms that we possess inherently and that warn and protect us from threats of the external world. However, when this anxiety, fears, and worries are severe and out of control, there emerge a group of psychiatric disorders called anxiety disorders, which influence and restrict the individuals’ lives. (Öztürk, 2008)

Since the term, “anxiety disorder” is an umbrella for the more specific disorder they might have, the treatment for anxiety varies. The most commonly used treatment by professionals are by the use of medication and psychotherapy. Studies show that, “although there are many resources available for people who has anxiety disorder, they do not seek professional help because of the negative stigma that goes along with it.” (Anderson K. et al.,