Anxiety: An Introduction to This Potentially Debilitating Disorder

Your life isn’t just defined by the happy highs, such as graduation or getting your first paycheck, but by the lackluster lows too, including divorce or physical injuries.

Although it is normal to be concerned about aspects of your life, such as your job, relationships, bank account or health, too much stress and worry can be devastating for your body.

At first glance, this may look like just a simple rise in your stress levels or an increase in tiredness, but if there are bodily changes that are physical, mental or emotional, or a combination of all three, then this could mean that you are already experiencing an anxiety disorder.

Distinguishing Anxiety Disorders From Everyday Emotions

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary simply defines anxiety as a “fear or nervousness about what might happen.”1 However, anxiety actually refers to a group of disorders that can cause nervousness, fear, apprehension and worrying. There are seven common types of anxiety disorders, namely:2

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)	Panic Disorder
Phobias	Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Social Anxiety Disorder	Separation Anxiety Disorder
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

These diseases have their own symptoms, triggers and complications, but these are arguably the most common signs that you have an anxiety disorder, as noted by HelpGuide:3

Emotional	Physical
• Feelings of apprehension or dread, looking out for signs of danger and anticipating the worst • Restlessness • Difficulty in concentrating • Feeling tense, jumpy or irritable • Feeling absent-minded or that the mind has gone blank	• Pounding heartbeat • Sweating • Headaches • Upset stomach • Dizziness • Frequent urination or diarrhea • Shortness of breath • Muscle tensions, tremors and twitches • Fatigue • Insomnia

How Prevalent Are Anxiety Disorders?

Numbers related to mental illnesses (anxiety disorders are some of them) are sadly rising in the U.S. In fact, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) notes that these disorders are already the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting around 40 million adults aged 18 and above — that’s 18 percent of the population. Here’s a breakdown of how many adults in the U.S. are affected by certain anxiety disorders:4

Generalized Anxiety Disorder — 6.8 million (3.1 percent), women are twice as likely affected as men	Panic Disorder — 6 million (2.7 percent), women are twice as likely to be affected than menr
Social Anxiety Disorder — 15 million (6.8 percent), equally common among men and women	Phobias — 19 million (8.7 percent), women are twice as to be affected than men
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder — 22 million (1.0 percent), equally common among men and women	Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder — 7.7 million (3.5 percent)

Plus, according to a study commissioned by the ADAA entitled “The Economic Burden of Anxiety Disorders,” these disorders cost the U.S. more than $42 billion dollars annually, or nearly one-third of the $148 billion total mental health bill of the country.5

Good News: You Can Alleviate Anxiety Minus the Health Risks

Given that numbers for various mental illnesses (not just anxiety disorders) have been rising significantly, drugs have already been made available to treat these conditions. However, it’s been proven time and time again that these medications have side effects that can cause further harm.

The good news is there are natural treatments and lifestyle practices that patients with anxiety disorder can follow to help combat these feelings of anxiety and stress. Furthermore, you can actually enrich your daily diet with various stress-busting foods too.

Don’t let these disorders affect you or someone you know. Learn more about Anxiety in these informative pages. See how anxiety usually affects the mental and emotional health of people, as well as the various types of symptoms that you should watch out for, along with natural treatments that are inexpensive and beneficial.