Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety is a very common thing, particularly in the United States. Many things cause anxiety, such as high-stress work environments and financial concerns. So how can you tell if the anxiety you are feeling is "normal" or something bigger?
The best indicator of an anxiety disorder is the duration and severity of the symptoms. Symptoms of an anxiety disorder tend to last for a long time or are pretty constant, they can also be so intense that it manifests itself in physically.
Though there are many forms of anxiety disorder, such as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders and Social Anxiety Disorders, we will be focusing on one of the most common, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Generalized Anxiety Disorder affects 5% of the total population and is characterized by a constant worry, or stress, that is disproportionate to the source of the worry. For example, as a someone who suffers from generalized anxiety disorder myself, I would experience a full-blown panic attack from having used milk in my cereal that was close to it's expiration date. It's also important to understand that the source of anxiety can be different for each person. Generalized Anxiety Disorder also tends to be connected with depression, both very debilitating and painful disorders.
GAD often manifests itself physically as well as mentally. Physical symptoms include headaches, fatigue, irritability, increased heart rate, shakiness, and hot flashes. the most extreme of these physical symptoms is a panic attack.
To find out more about the symptoms of anxiety disorders and the symptoms of Panic Attacks, click onthe Anxiety Symptoms link below. | Anxiety Symptoms | Anxiety Medications | Treatments for Anxiety | How to Get Help | Listen to Others Stories