Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders are a group of relatively common psychological problems, which used to be known collectively as neuroses. The main psychological feature of anxiety disorders is the unhappiness, the tension, and the excessive anxiety believed by their sufferers. Except for their symptomatic behavior individuals with anxiety disorders usually respond appropriately to their surroundings, both cognitively, and emotionally. They are aware that something is wrong, but they are generally able to cope without hospitalization. Their main characteristic is what mental health professionals may call personal distress. The most common anxiety disorders are phobic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder (Phillipchalk & McConnell, 1994). The less common are panic and obsessive-compulsive. These will be discussing ahead next to its causes, symptoms, and treatments according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed., text rev.; DSM-IV-TR; American Psychiatric Association, 2000) recommendations. Each anxiety disorder has different symptoms, but can alter the life of the individual who suffers those. It is possible to have more than one type of anxiety disorder at the same time or simultaneously. Individuals can also have an anxiety disorder with other mental health problems like depression and substance abuse among others.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder is much more than what a common person with anxiety may experience in his daily live. Acquiring this disorder means always to anticipate a disaster, however most of the times the root of the worries are hard to distinguish or to locate. People with general anxiety disorder may not seem to shake their worries, even when they think that their anxiety is more intense than the situation warrants (Phillipchalk & McConnell, 1994). They also seem unable to relax. It is estimated that general anxiety disorder is affecting approximately 5.7% of population in the United States (Hofmann, Smits, 2008).

Causes

Genes and stress contribute to the development of general anxiety disorder. The majority of people with general anxiety disorder say they have been presenting anxiety symptoms for as long as they can remember. The general anxiety disorder is most common in women than in men or children and it has no specific threat (Phillipchalk & McConnell, 1994).

Symptoms

The most common symptom is the constant tension and concerns, even when there is no cause or when nothing seems to provoke those. Family, personal relationships, work issues, money, and health are some examples among others. Even when individuals are aware that their concerns or fears are stronger and not necessary, individuals with generalized anxiety disorder still