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