UNDERSTANDING ANXIETY

Everybody knows what it's like to feel anxious--the butterflies in your stomach before a first date, the tension you feel when your boss is angry, the way your heart pounds if you're in danger. Anxiety rouses you to action. It gears you up to face a threatening situation. It makes you study harder for that exam, and keeps you on your toes when you're making a speech. In general, it helps you cope.

But if you have an anxiety disorder, this normally helpful emotion can do just the opposite--it can keep you from coping and can disrupt your daily life. Anxiety disorders aren't just a case of "nerves." They are illnesses, often related to the biological makeup and life experiences of the individual, and they frequently run in families. There are several types of anxiety disorders, each with its own distinct features.

An anxiety disorder may make you feel anxious most of the time, without any apparent reason. Or the anxious feelings may be so uncomfortable that to avoid them you may stop some everyday activities. Or you may have occasional bouts of anxiety so intense they terrify and immobilize you. *

In UNDERSTANDING ANXIETY, you'll discover that anxiety disorders are common and are suffered by many, including some famous people. You'll also find brief descriptions along with links to further material about Panic Disorders, Agoraphobia , Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Specific Phobia, Social Phobia, OCD, Children and Anxiety, and PTSD.

After getting a good sense of the current understanding of anxiety as a diagnostic description, you'll probably want to visit the TREATMENT section where you'll get more information on causation and therapeutic approaches.

* text taken from ANXIETY DISORDERS: DECADE OF THE BRAIN (NIMH).

Additional Resources

Anxiety Disorders APA

Anxious Famous People

ASAP FAQ

The Causes of Anxiety and Panic Attacks

LINKS