What Is Anxiety?

Anxiety can be a normal “alarm system” alerting you to danger. Imagine coming home and finding a burglar in your living room. Your heart beats fast. Your palms get sweaty. Your mind races. In this situation, anxiety can provide that extra spark to help you get out of danger fast. I like to call that the “Good Anxiety”. In more normal but busy situations, anxiety can give you the energy to get things done if, you know how to focus it properly. That’s “Good Anxiety” too.

But for most of you reading this, the anxiety you feel maybe out of control, giving you a sense of dread and fear for no apparent reason. This kind of anxiety can disrupt your life and can even be dangerous. Living a life of “high anxiety” for sustained periods of time can lead to major health problems like heart attacks and even a stroke. Our bodies are not designed to withstand this sort of pressure for very long. The answer is in learning the proper coping skills and using them to reduce, manage and even eliminate the anxiety in your life. The sooner, the better.

Anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric disorders affecting both children and adults alike. The truth is that most people were simply never taught how to manage their stress. Properly managing your stress and anxiety can actually add years to your life. That’s a scientifically Proven fact.

Here are some other shocking facts you need to know:

• Anxiety disorders may develop from a complex set of risk factors, including but not limited to: genetics, brain chemistry, personality, and life events.
• An estimated 40 + million adult Americans suffer from anxiety disorders.
• Anxiety disorders are highly treatable, yet only about one-third of those suffering from an anxiety disorder receive treatment or invest in their own well-being.
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). GAD is characterized by excessive, unrealistic worry that lasts six months or more; in adults, the anxiety may focus on issues such as health, money, relationships or career. In addition to chronic worry, GAD symptoms include trembling, muscular aches, insomnia, abdominal upsets, dizziness, and irritability.
• When you can’t think clearly, you don’t make good decisions in your life and as a result you live in torment.

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). In OCD, individuals are plagued by persistent, recurring thoughts (obsessions) that reflect exaggerated anxiety or fears; typical obsessions include worry about being contaminated or fears of behaving improperly or acting violently. The obsessions may lead an individual to perform a ritual or routine (compulsions)-such as washing hands, repeating phrases or hoarding-to relieve the anxiety caused by the obsession.
• Panic Disorder. People with panic disorder suffer severe attacks of panic-which may make them feel like they are having a heart attack or are going crazy-for no apparent reason. Symptoms include heart palpitations, chest pain or discomfort, sweating, trembling, tingling sensations, feeling of choking, fear of dying, fear of losing control, and feelings of unreality. Panic disorder often occurs with agoraphobia, in which people are afraid of having a panic attack in a place from which escape would be difficult, so they avoid these places.
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD can follow an exposure to a traumatic event such as a sexual or physical assault, witnessing a death, the unexpected death of a loved one, or natural disaster. There are three main symptoms associated with PTSD: “reliving” of the traumatic event (such as flashbacks and nightmares); avoidance behaviors (such as avoiding places related to the trauma) and emotional numbing (detachment from others); and physiological arousal such difficulty sleeping, irritability or poor concentration.
• Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia). Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is characterized by extreme anxiety about being judged by others or behaving in a way that might cause embarrassment or ridicule. This intense anxiety may lead to avoidance behavior. Physical symptoms associated with this disorder include heart palpitations, faintness, blushing and profuse sweating.
• Specific phobias. People with specific phobias suffer from an intense fear reaction to a specific object or situation (such as spiders, dogs, or heights); the level of fear is usually inappropriate to the situation, and is recognized by the sufferer as being irrational. This inordinate fear can lead to the avoidance of common, everyday situations.
• Anxiety disorders are highly treatable with psychosocial therapies, medication, or both.
• Psycho-social treatments used in the treatment of anxiety disorders include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure therapy, anxiety management and relaxation therapies, and psychotherapy.
• Drugs used to treat anxiety disorders include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclic antidepressants, benzodiazepines, beta blockers, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).
• Combination therapies are often utilized.
• Misdiagnosis and under treatment of anxiety disorders costs the nation billions of dollars annually.
• Anxiety disorders cost the U.S. more than $42 billion a year, according to “The Economic Burden of Anxiety Disorders,” a study commissioned by the ADAA and based on data gathered by the association and published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.
• More than $42.3 billion is associated with the repeated use of health care services, as those with anxiety disorders seek relief for symptoms that mimic physical illnesses.

People with an anxiety disorder who do not invest in their own wellbeing are three-to-five times more likely to go to the doctor and six times more likely to be hospitalized for psychiatric disorders than non-sufferers.

It doesn’t get any more clear then that. Take Action Today! You CAN conquer your anxiety, panic & stress starting right now. I can show you how.

Or…

For information on finding professional services in your area, write, call, or e-mail SAMHSA’s National Mental Health Information Center. The Center can also provide you with a list of community mental health centers and hospitals that provide psychiatric services in your State.

SAMHSA’s National Mental Health Information Center
P.O Box 42557
Washington, DC 20015
Telephone: 800-789-2647
Fax: 240-747-5470
(TDD): 866-889-2647
E-mail: nmhic-info@samhsa.hhs.gov
http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov

Other Referral Sources
American Association of Marriage and
Family Therapy
112 South Alfred Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-3061
Telephone: 703-838-9808
Fax: 703-838-9805
www.aamft.org

American Association of Pastoral Counselors
9504-A Lee Highway
Fairfax, VA 22031-2303
Telephone: 703-385-6967
Fax: 703-352-7725
E-mail: info@aapc.org
www.aapc.org

American Psychiatric Association
1000 Wilson Blvd., Suite 1825
Arlington, VA 22209-3901
Telephone: 703-907-7300
Toll Free: 888-357-6850
www.psych.org

American Psychiatric Nurses Association
1555 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 515
Arlington, VA 22209
Telephone: 703-243-2443
Fax: 703-243-3390
www.apna.org

American Psychological Association
750 First Street NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
Telephone: 800-374-2721
Fax: 202-336-5510
www.helping.apa.org

National Association of Social Workers
750 First Street NE, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20002-4241
Telephone: 800-638-8799 or 202-408-8600
Fax: 202-336-8310
E-mail: info@naswdc.org
www.naswdc.org

National Mental Health Association
2001 N. Beauregard Street, 12th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22311
Telephone: 703-684-7722 or 800-969-NMHA (6642)
Fax: 703-684-5968
www.nmha.org

Psychology Today
115 E. 23rd St., 9th Floor
New York, NY 10010
Telephone: 212-260-7210
www.psychologytoday.com

Remember:  If you don’t think you can be honest and completely open with this person, find someone else. You’ll only be hurting yourself in the long run. Trust me.