What Do You Know About Anxiety Disorder?

 

Anxiety disorders are the most common global health problem of all mental health disorders. Categories of anxiety disorders considered are: generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, aerophobia, social phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, specific phobia, post-traumatic stress disorder, and acute stress disorder. Overall, anxiety disorders cost the United States between $42-46 billion annually in direct and indirect health care costs, compared to an annual mental health bill of $148 billion.

In the United States, social phobia is the most common anxiety disorder, affecting approximately 5.3 million people each year. About 5.2 million people suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder each year. Panic disorder is estimated to affect between 3 and 6 million people each year, an anxiety disorder that affects twice as many women as men. Specific phobias affect more than 1 in 10 people, with a slightly higher prevalence in women than men.

Today, much is known about the causes and treatment of this mental health problem. We know that every anxiety disorder has biological and psychological components and that the best form of treatment is a combination of cognitive-behavioral psychosocial interventions. Depending on the severity of the anxiety, medications are used in conjunction with psychotherapy.

Many people still have the misconception that anxiety disorders are a character disorder, a problem that occurs because you are vulnerable. They say, pull yourself up by your bootstraps! and You just have a case of nerves. Wishing the symptoms away doesn't work -- but there are treatments that can help.