| Anxiety Disorder is a real illness, and | | | | hands or checking ifwindows are locked |
| is the most common mental health problem | | | | - Repeating phrases, numbers etc… |
| in the United States. According to the | | | | Phobias |
| American Psychiatric Association, more | | | | - Fear that triggers intense anxiety |
| than 25 million Americans suffer from | | | | Many physical symptoms add to the |
| these disorders. Children as well as | | | | difficulty of anxiety disorders. The |
| adults are afflicted. There are several | | | | following anxiety disorder symptoms |
| types of anxiety disorders such as | | | | spread across much of the disorders. |
| Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), | | | | Many people feel nauseous, or their |
| Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic | | | | heart races so fast that they feel like |
| Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder | | | | they cannot breathe. They often have |
| (OCD), and Phobias. | | | | headaches, feel dizzy, sweat or have |
| Anxiety creates stress for all of us, at | | | | chills. Shaking or trembling as well as |
| some time, to varying degrees, but it | | | | heavy tension and achy muscles are part |
| becomes a disorder when it can no longer | | | | of the regular regimen. As well, for |
| be seen as rational, or it is adversely | | | | someone with an anxiety disorder, |
| affecting someone's life. Individuals | | | | chronic sleep problems plague him or |
| suffer extreme worry, anxiety, panic, or | | | | her. It becomes a vicious cycle. |
| an overwhelming fear of losing control | | | | Sleep is an essential requirement for |
| as well as physical symptoms. Anxiety | | | | good health, both mental and physical. |
| disorders hinder people from living | | | | Not getting enough sleep can result in |
| their daily life, let alone enjoying it | | | | poor work or school performance, |
| to the fullest. | | | | impaired judgment and decreased |
| If you, or anyone you know, suffer from | | | | attentiveness, which could result in |
| the following symptoms of anxiety | | | | injury. In addition, some medications |
| disorder , it is advisable to encourage | | | | given to treat anxiety can cause |
| and/or seek out medical attention. Here | | | | insomnia, thus the cycle continues. |
| is a list of the more common symptoms of | | | | Often treatment is avoided due to the |
| the above anxiety disorders: | | | | stigma attached to mental illness. |
| PTSD | | | | People try to deal with matters |
| - Overwhelming feeling of panic or fear | | | | themselves. They hear, "Where's your |
| - Flashback/reliving of traumatic event | | | | willpower?" or "All you need is a kick |
| - Nightmares | | | | in the butt." |
| - Insomnia | | | | There are many effective anxiety |
| Generalized Anxiety Disorder | | | | disorder treatments available. The |
| - Uncontrollable worrisome thoughts | | | | National Institute of Mental Health |
| about everyday things, without just | | | | states some of the antidepressant |
| cause, often exaggerated, lasting for | | | | medications that have been effective in |
| six months. | | | | treatment. Psychotherapy is also |
| Although, treatment may be warranted | | | | recommended in the form of Behavioral |
| earlier | | | | Therapy and Cognitive-behavioral |
| - Irritability | | | | Therapy. It is a good idea to discuss |
| - Trouble falling or staying asleep | | | | treatment options with your doctor. |
| Panic Disorder | | | | On a last note, we, as fellow human |
| - Overwhelming feeling of panic | | | | beings, need to support all people. Lift |
| - Avoidance of people or places | | | | the stigma of mental illness and help |
| - Fear of losing control | | | | others and ourselves. We need to take |
| OCD | | | | the time to put ourselves in someone |
| - Obsessive thoughts, such as germ | | | | else's shoes before we judge. We also |
| contamination | | | | need to understand that mental illness |
| - Repetitive actions, such as washing | | | | can happen to anyone, at anytime. |