Maybe you’ve found yourself worrying about your finances, or if your relationship with your partner will ever improve, or if your job is secure. Perhaps the health issues you are facing are causing you to lose sleep. Perhaps these worries interfere with your being able to concentrate.
You are not alone.
Anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric illnesses affecting children and adults. An estimated 40 million American adults suffer from anxiety disorders, but only about one-third of them receive treatment, even though these disorders are highly treatable.
Anxiety can be defined as “constant and unsubstantiated worry that causes significant distress and interferes with daily life.” Some types of anxiety are:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder is characterized by excessive worry that persists on most days for a period of at least six months. Symptoms include being fatigued, muscle tension, irritability, difficulty concentrating and disturbed sleep.
Panic Attacks are abrupt surges of intense fear or discomfort that reaches a peak within minutes. During such an attack an individual may experience trembling or shaking, chest pains, dizziness, feeling light-headed, sweating, pounding heart and a fear of dying.
Social Anxiety in which a person avoids social situations out of fear she/he will be embarrassed, humiliated or judged.
Phobias are irrational fears or avoidance of a place, situation or object that poses little or no threat or danger.