Lamar Chairez

What is Anxiety?

• Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress and can actually be beneficial in some situations. People with an anxiety disorder are three to five times more likely to go to the doctor and six times more likely to be hospitalized for psychiatric disorders than those who do not suffer from anxiety disorders.

Anxiety disorder(Medical)

An emotional state identified by panic attacks

Symptoms of an anxiety disorder• Feelings of panic, fear, and uneasiness• Uncontrollable, obsessive thoughts• Problems sleeping• Cold or sweaty hands and/or feet• Shortness of breath• Palpitations• An inability to be still and calm• Dry mouth• Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet• Nausea• Dizziness

Symptoms of anxiety almost always lead to a panic attack.

What is a Panic Attack?

• Panic attacks are periods of intense fear or apprehension that are of sudden onset and of variable duration from minutes to hours.

• Many who experience a panic attack, mostly for the first time, fear they are having a heart attack or a nervous breakdown. Common psychological themes associated with panic attacks include the fears of impending death or loss of sanity.

Types of Anxiety• There are several types of anxiety. People can be diagnosed with one type, or several types.

Panic Disorder

•Panic disorder is diagnosed in people who experience spontaneous seemingly out-of-the-blue panic attacks and are preoccupied with the fear of a recurring attack. Panic attacks occur unexpectedly, sometimes even during sleep.

Signs and Symptoms• Experience frequent, unexpected panic attacks that aren’t tied to a specific situation• Worry a lot about having another panic attack• Are behaving differently because of the panic attacks, such as avoiding places where you’ve previously panicked

6 million, 2.7% affected

OCD• Children and adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) suffer from unwanted thoughts that they can't seem to get out of their heads. They often compel them to repeatedly perform ritualistic behaviors and routines (compulsions) to try and ease their anxiety.

2.2 million, 1.0% affected

• Some spend hours at a time performing complicated rituals involving hand-washing, counting, or checking to ward off persistent, unwelcome thoughts, feelings, or images.

PTSD• Posttraumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is a serious potentially condition that can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a natural disaster, serious accident, violent personal assault such as rape, or other life-threatening events.

• Women are twice as likely to develop posttraumatic stress disorder as men. PTSD often occurs with depression, substance abuse, or other anxiety disorders.

7.7 million, 3.5% affected

Social anxiety• It’s the extreme fear of being

judged by others in social or performance situations: Social anxiety disorder can wreak chaos on the lives of those who suffer from it. This disorder is not simply shyness that has been inappropriately medicalized.

15 million, 6.8% affected

• Symptoms may be so extreme that they disrupt daily life. People with this disorder, also called social phobia, may have few or no social or romantic relationships, making them feel powerless, or alone.

• About 15 million American adults have social anxiety disorder.

Specified phobias• New places, high bridges, old elevators may make all of us a bit uneasy or even frightened.

• But people with specific phobias, or strong irrational fear reactions, work hard to avoid common places, situations, or objects even though they know there's no threat or danger.

19 million, 8.7% affected

• Specific phobias commonly focus on animals, insects, germs, heights, thunder, driving, public transportation, flying, medical procedures, and elevators.

Treatments• Medication is a main treatment for anxiety but will not cure anxiety disorders. It can keep them under control while the person receives psychotherapy. Medication must be prescribed by physicians, usually psychiatrists.

Common medications used for treatment

•alprazolam (Xanax) panic, generalized anxiety, phobias, social anxiety, OCD

•clonazepam (Klonopin) panic, generalized anxiety, phobias, social anxiety

•diazepam (Valium) generalized anxiety, panic, phobias

•lorazepam (Ativan) generalized anxiety, panic, phobias

•oxazepam (Serax) generalized anxiety, phobias

•chlordiazepoxide (Librium) generalized anxiety, phobias

• People may say they have anxiety, but really they may not even be medically diagnosed.

• If you feel like you have any of these anxieties, it would be good to talk to your doctor as soon as possible.

citations

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders/index.shtml

http://www.adaa.org/about-adaa/press-room/facts-statistics

http://www.Medicalnewstoday.com/info/anxiety

http://www.Psychcentral.com/disorders/anxiety

http://www.Helpguide.org/topics/anxiety_disorders

http://www.en.wikapedia.org/wiki/panic-attack

http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/guide/mental-health-anxiety-disorders

http://www.anxieties.com/152/introduction-commonmedications-for-anxiety-disorders#.u3pvwfdxh4

http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/guide/anxiety-panic-guide-overview-facts