Consistent feelings of worry or fear that may interfere with everyday activities.
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is insistent and persistent feelings of worry and fear that interfere with people's everyday lives.
In many cases, Anxiety disorders involve feelings of sudden intense panic or fear, which peaks in what's known as a panic attack.
For some, Anxiety could be linked to another health-related issue, such as, but not always or limited to: diabetes and thyroid problems.
Some examples of Anxiety disorders are:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Social Anxiety Disorder
Phobias
Seperation Anxiety
There are some risk factors that may increase one's risk of developing an Anxiety disorder:
Trauma
Undergoing a lot of stress
Having a certain personality type (ex. Perfectionists)
Having any blood related family members that are diagnosed with an Anxiety disorder
Using drugs or alcohol
Symptoms and Statistics
Common symptoms that people with Anxiety face include, but are not limited to:
Hypervigilance
Irritability or Restlessness
Lack of Concentration, Racing or Unwanted thoughts
Fatigue or Sweating
Constant Worry or Fear about imoending doom
Nausea
Anxiety Disorder is the most common mental illness in the U.S, and it affects about 18% of the population every year.
Thankfully, Anxiety Disorders are able to be treated, but only about 37% of those suffering from this disorder actually get treatment.
According to the National Institute of Health, about 1 in 3 teenagers aged 13 to 18 will experience a form of this disorder, a number which will only grow higher.
80% of kids diagnosed with an Anxiety disorder are not getting treatment, even though Anxiety is very treatable.
Treatments
Thankfully, Anxiety disorders are very treatable. Treatments include therapy, counseling, and prescribed anti-anxiety medication.
For therapy, the length of the time spent in therapy will depend on the degree of the disorder, but most people improve in about 8 to 10 therapy sessions.
In therapy, you'll work with your therapist to identify issues that have been going on in your life, and work out ways to healthily express emotions and be a better communicator.
Of course everyone's different, and there is no set time for when you will be "cured". And if therapy does not end up working for you, there are other natural ways to release the stress buildup that causes Anxiety.