ANXIETY DISORDERS
Anxiety is a response to danger or threat. It is a natural state that can, in moderate degree and frequency, be a productive driving force. For millions of people, however, anxiety and fear are overwhelming and persistent, often drastically interfering with daily life. These people may be suffering from anxiety disorders, a widespread group of psychological disorders that can be terrifying and crippling.
Anxiety disorders affect approximately 19 million American adults. These disorders fill people's lives with overwhelming anxiety and fear. Unlike the relatively mild, brief anxiety caused by a stressful event such as a business presentation or a first date, anxiety disorders are chronic, relentless, and can grow progressively worse if not treated.
Effective treatments for anxiety disorders are available, and research is yielding new, improved therapies that can help most people with anxiety disorders lead productive, fulfilling lives. If you think you have an anxiety disorder, you should seek information and treatment.
The conditions classified as anxiety disorders include (but are not limited to):
- PANIC DISORDER
- SOCIAL PHOBIA
- SPECIFIC PHOBIAS
- GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER (GAD)
- OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER (OCD)
- POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD)
The information provided in these pages is meant as a guideline only, and should not be used to diagnose yourself or another. To make a valid diagnosis and receive the correct treatment, it is necessary to have an evaluation done by trained mental health professionals, such as a psychologist.