What is anxiety? Everyone experiences anxiety. However, when feelings of intense fear and distress are overwhelming and prevent us from doing everyday things, an anxiety disorder may be the cause. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health concern in the US. An estimated 40 million adults in the US, or 18%, have an anxiety disorder. Approximately 8% of children and teenagers experience the negative impact of an anxiety disorder at school and at home. What are the symptoms of anxiety? Just like with any mental illness, people with anxiety disorders experience symptoms differently. But for most people, anxiety changes how they function day-to-day. People can experience one or more of the following symptoms: Emotional Symptoms Feelings of apprehension or dread Feeling tense and jumpy Restlessness or irritability Anticipating the worst and being watchful for signs of danger Physical symptoms Pounding or racing heart and shortness of breath Upset stomach Sweating, tremors and twitches Headaches, fatigue and insomnia stomach, frequent urination or diarrhea Types of Anxiety Disorders: Different anxiety disorders have various symptoms. This also means that each type of anxiety disorder has its own treatment plan. The most common anxiety disorders include: Panic Disorder; characterized by panic attacks-sudden feelings of striking repeatedly and without warning. Often mistaken for a heart attack, a panic attack causes powerful, physical symptoms including chest pain, heart palpitations, dizziness, shortness of breath and stomach upset. Phobias: Most people with specific phobias have several triggers. To avoid panicking, someone with specific phobias will work hard to avoid their triggers, depending on the type and number of triggers, this fear and the attempt to control it can seem to take over a person’s life. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD): GAD produces chronic, exaggerated worrying about everyday life. This can consume hours each day, making it hard to concentrate or finish routing daily tasks. A person with GAD may become exhausted by worry and experience headaches, tension or nausea. Social Anxiety Disorder: Unlike shyness, this disorder causes intense fear, often driven by irrational worries about social humiliation-“saying something stupid” or
What is anxiety? Everyone experiences anxiety. However, when feelings of intense fear and distress are overwhelming and prevent us from doing everyday things, an anxiety disorder may be the cause. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health concern in the US. An estimated 40 million adults in the US, or 18%, have an anxiety disorder. Approximately 8% of children and teenagers experience the negative impact of an anxiety disorder at school and at home. What are the symptoms of anxiety? Just like with any mental illness, people with anxiety disorders experience symptoms differently. But for most people, anxiety changes how they function day-to-day. People can experience one or more of the following symptoms: Emotional Symptoms Feelings of apprehension or dread Feeling tense and jumpy Restlessness or irritability Anticipating the worst and being watchful for signs of danger Physical symptoms Pounding or racing heart and shortness of breath Upset stomach Sweating, tremors and twitches Headaches, fatigue and insomnia stomach, frequent urination or diarrhea Types of Anxiety Disorders: Different anxiety disorders have various symptoms. This also means that each type of anxiety disorder has its own treatment plan. The most common anxiety disorders include: Panic Disorder; characterized by panic attacks-sudden feelings of striking repeatedly and without warning. Often mistaken for a heart attack, a panic attack causes powerful, physical symptoms including chest pain, heart palpitations, dizziness, shortness of breath and stomach upset. Phobias: Most people with specific phobias have several triggers. To avoid panicking, someone with specific phobias will work hard to avoid their triggers, depending on the type and number of triggers, this fear and the attempt to control it can seem to take over a person’s life. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD): GAD produces chronic, exaggerated worrying about everyday life. This can consume hours each day, making it hard to concentrate or finish routing daily tasks. A person with GAD may become exhausted by worry and experience headaches, tension or nausea. Social Anxiety Disorder: Unlike shyness, this disorder causes intense fear, often driven by irrational worries about social humiliation-“saying something stupid” or
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