Who Gets Anxiety Disorders?

Anxiety disorders can affect anyone at any age. Anxiety disorders are the most common form of emotional disorder. (APA) Approximately 40 million American adults (18 percent of the population) are affected by an anxiety disorder in any given year. (NIMH)

If you have an anxiety disorder, you may also be depressed. Some people with anxiety disorders abuse alcohol or other drugs in an effort to feel better. This may provide temporary relief, but can ultimately make the condition worse. It may be necessary to treat an alcohol or drug problem before the anxiety can be addressed.

What Does Anxiety Feel Like?

Anxiety is hard to describe. You might feel like you’re standing in the middle of a crumbling building with nothing but an umbrella to protect you. Or you might feel like you’re holding onto a merry-go-round going 65 mph and can’t do anything to slow it down. You might feel butterflies in your stomach, or your heart might be racing. You could experience nightmares, panic, or painful thoughts or memories that you can’t control. You may have a general feeling of fear and worry, or you may fear a specific place or event.

What Is the Difference Between Anxiety and an Anxiety Disorder?

Anxiety is a feeling of fear you have when you must do something stressful. It’s normal to feel anxious about moving to a new place, starting a new job, or taking a test. Normal anxiety is unpleasant, but it may motivate you to work harder and do a better job. Normal anxiety is a feeling that comes and goes, but does not interfere with your everyday life.

In the case of an anxiety disorder, the feeling of fear may be with you all the time. It is intense and sometimes debilitating. This type of anxiety may cause you to stop doing things you enjoy. In extreme cases, it may prevent you from entering an elevator or crossing the street or even leaving your home. If left untreated, the anxiety will keep getting worse.

What Are the Types of Anxiety Disorders?

An anxiety disorder can take many forms, including:

  • panic disorder: characterized by bouts of intense fear or terror that develop quickly and unexpectedly
  • phobia: excessive fear of a specific object, situation, or activity
  • social anxiety disorder: extreme fear of being judged by others in social situations
  • obsessive-compulsive disorder: recurring irrational thoughts that lead you to perform specific, repeated behavior
  • separation anxiety disorder: fear of being away from home or loved ones
  • hypochondriasis: anxiety about your health
  • post-traumatic stress disorder: anxiety following a traumatic event, such as the death of a loved one, war, or being the victim of a crime

What Is the Outlook for Someone with an Anxiety Disorder?

Anxiety disorders can be treated with medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of the two. Some people who have a mild anxiety disorder or a fear of something they can easily avoid decide to live with the condition and to not seek treatment.

It is important to understand that anxiety disorder is an illness and can be treated, even in severe cases. Treatment may not result in a complete cure, but in most cases, the symptoms can be controlled so you can live a normal life.

What Are the Complications of Anxiety?An anxiety disorder is a medical condition that interferes  with your life. It makes it difficult for you to handle job or school responsibilities, do daily tasks, concentrate, and establish and maintain personal relationships. It might make it difficult for you to leave your home or even get out of bed. Untreated anxiety can increase your risk of more severe, even life-threatening conditions.

The potential complications of anxiety disorder include the following:

DepressionAnxiety disorder and depression often occur together.  They have similar symptoms and can be difficult to tell apart. Both can cause agitation, insomnia, the inability to concentrate, and feelings of anxiety.


Suicide

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, over 90 percent of people who die by suicide have been diagnosed with mental illness. This can include anxiety. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, about 4 percent of adults per year in the United States have serious thoughts about suicide. These numbers are even higher in people who also suffer from depression.

If you have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or social phobia, you are also at an increased risk for suicide. If you have one of these anxiety disorders along with depression, your risk is even greater. 

: Addiction

Substance Abuse

If you have anxiety disorder, you are at a high risk for addiction to many substances. These include alcohol, nicotine, and other drugs. If you have depression along with anxiety disorder, your risk increases.

Often, people with anxiety use alcohol and other substances to relieve their symptoms. There is no evidence that alcohol actually relieves anxiety, but the belief that it does can bring some relief. However, long-term alcohol use can cause biological changes that may actually produce anxiety.

People with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, and social phobia are especially at risk for alcohol and drug abuse. Smoking and substance abuse are also common in cases of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Adolescents with PTSD also have an increased risk of eating disorders.


Physical Illness

Anxiety disorder increases your risk of developing certain illnesses. Chronic stress can compromise your immune system. This makes you more susceptible to infections, such as colds, the flu, and other viral and bacterial diseases.

Anxiety disorder has also been associated with:

  • an increased risk of heart disease
  • headaches, both tension and migraine
  • irritable bowel syndrome and other gastrointestinal disorders
  • obesity
  • respiratory problems
  • allergies
  • sleep disturbances
  • teeth grinding


Long-Term Outlook

There is no cure for anxiety disorder. It is a chronic condition that can take many forms. The long-term outlook depends on the severity of your condition. Most people with OCD, phobias, and panic disorder improve greatly within the first weeks or months of proper treatment. Many people with PTSD and GAD can also make substantial improvement. Some symptoms of anxiety disorder seem to diminish with age.

Stress management will probably be an ongoing concern, and symptoms may flare during periods of acute stress. But with a combination of medication and psychotherapy, most people with anxiety disorder can get their symptoms under control and live a fairly normal and comfortable life. 

What Is Social Anxiety Disorder?

Social anxiety disorder, sometimes referred to as social phobia, is a type of anxiety disorder that causes extreme fear in social settings. People with this disorder have trouble talking to people, meeting new people, and attending social gatherings. They fear being judged or scrutinized by others. They may understand that their fears are irrational or unreasonable, but feel powerless to overcome them.

Social anxiety is different from shyness. Shyness is usually short-term and doesn’t disrupt one’s life. Social anxiety is persistent and debilitating. It can affect one’s ability to:

  • work
  • attend school
  • develop close relationships with people outside of their family

  • Symptoms of Social Anxiety DisorderThe exact cause of social phobia is unknown. However, current research supports the idea that it is caused by a combination of environmental factors and genetics. Negative experiences also may contribute to this disorder, including:

    • bullying
    • family conflict
    • sexual abuse

    Physical abnormalities such as a serotonin imbalance may contribute to this condition. Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that helps regulate mood. An overactive amygdala (a structure in the brain that controls fear response and feelings or thoughts of anxiety) may also cause these disorders.

    Anxiety disorders can run in families. However, researchers aren’t sure if they’re actually linked to genetic factors. For example, a child might develop an anxiety disorder by learning the behavior of one of their parents who has an anxiety disorder. Children can also develop anxiety disorders as a result of being raised in controlling or overprotective environments.

    Diagnosing social anxity disorderThere is no medical test to check for social anxiety disorder. Your healthcare provider will diagnose social phobia from a description of your symptoms. They can also diagnose social phobia after examining certain behavioral patterns.

    During your appointment, your healthcare provider will ask you to explain your symptoms. They will also ask you to talk about situations that cause your symptoms. The criteria for social anxiety disorder includes:

    • a constant fear of social situations due to fear of humiliation or embarrassment
    • feeling anxious or panicky before a social interaction
    • a realization that your fears are unreasonable
    • anxiety that disrupts daily living

      Drugs to Treat Anxiety Disorder

      If you have been diagnosed with anxiety disorder, you will need treatment. Anxiety is a medical condition and does not go away on its own. You cannot will it away any more than you can will away appendicitis or a broken arm.

      There are many forms of anxiety disorder and each case is different. You will need the help of a medical doctor or mental health professional to determine the best course of treatment for you. You may have other conditions that need to be treated before or along with your anxiety disorder. This can only be determined by your doctor.

      Most anxiety disorder patients are treated with a combination of psychotherapy and medication. The goal is to help you manage your anxiety so you can function and feel better in your day-to-day life.