Anxiety is a normal part of everyone’s life. It may be a mild sense of nervousness before taking a test or a strong fear of the unknown walking through a dark parking lot.
Anxiety can help keep us safe by alerting us to danger and helping us prepare to take quick action. Usually, anxiety goes away as soon as the trigger goes away -- you finish the test or get into your car and lock the door and immediately feel better.
But for many people in the United States, anxiety is a nearly constant condition. It can be overwhelming and may make ordinary activities difficult or impossible. This type of on-going anxiety is often called an “anxiety disorder”.
As many as 40 million adults in the United States have some type of anxiety disorder, such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These conditions are recognized as specific mental health conditions and are collectively the most common mental illness in the United States. (Anxiety Disorders Association of America)
While some anxiety disorders are associated with a specific fear or trigger, generalized anxiety disorder covers a broad range of triggers or causes of worry. GAD is characterized by excessive or exaggerated worry or anxiety about everyday occurrences even though there is no obvious reason to worry.
People with generalized anxiety disorder may always expect the worst and may not be able to set aside fears about health, money, school, work, family, or any other factor in their lives.
More than 6.5 million adults in America live with GAD. Women are more than twice as likely to develop the condition as men. (Anxiety Disorders Association of America)
General symptoms of anxiety include:
• Apprehension
• A feeling that you are powerless
• Feeling impending doom, danger, or panic
• Increased heart rate
• Breathing too fast (hyperventilating)
• Sweating
• Trembling
• Tiredness or fatigue
With basic anxiety, these symptoms generally have a recognizable or realistic trigger, such as a traumatic experience or being in an awkward or dangerous situation. These same symptoms are often present with an anxiety disorder, but may not have a logical or recognizable trigger and may last much longer.
Comparison 1:
• Anxiety may result from a specific fear or concern about a large medical bill, buying a house, or going to a job interview. Working through the specific situation can relieve the anxiety.
• Anxiety disorder may result in vague or general fears about running out of money. This anxiety is not attached to a specific trigger or event that you can complete or resolve to relieve the worry. The anxiety can be severe and may interfere with everyday life.
Comparison 2:
• Anxiety may result from nerves before you need to speak in public or do an important presentation at work.
• Anxiety disorder may cause panic attacks for no apparent reason. Fear of possible future attacks can make it difficult to function away from home.
Comparison 3:
• Anxiety or normal concern about the flu can make you wash your hands more often and take steps to stay healthy.
• Anxiety disorder may lead to compulsive hand-washing and house cleaning, or a fear of touching objects that you have not personally cleaned.
Researchers do not know the exact cause of anxiety disorder. Some studies suggest an imbalance in brain chemicals may be partly to blame, as well as family history of anxiety disorder. Traumatic experiences can also trigger anxiety disorder, especially in people who are already more prone to being anxious.
If you experience repeated anxiety or anxiety that seems not to have a specific cause, talk to your health care provider.
Sources:
Anxiety Disorders Association of America. Understanding Anxiety. Web. January 3, 2012.
http://www.adaa.org/understanding-anxiety
Mayo Clinic. Anxiety. Web. January 3, 2012.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/anxiety/DS01187
Anxiety Disorders Association of America. Facts & Statistics. Web. January 3, 2012.
http://www.adaa.org/about-adaa/press-room/facts-statistics
Medicine Net. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Web. January 3, 2012.
http://www.medicinenet.com/anxiety/article.htm#tocb
Medline Plus. Anxiety. Web. January 3, 2012.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/anxiety.html
Reviewed January 4, 2012
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith