Anxiety in Its Many Forms

Did you know there are forty-four million people in the United States alone that suffer with anxiety? Are you one of those forty-four million people? If you are, there is hope. I know through understanding of the disorder and eventual help, people can overcome their anxiety and live a fulfilling life. I know because I was once a sufferer myself.

The key to understanding anxiety is to know what it means. The correct term or explanation comes from the Latin word anxius, meaning a condition of agitation and distress. You can better understand the nature of anxiety by looking at both what it is and what it is not. For example, when we jump from fright when a spider crawls up the wall or we cringe when lightning spreads across the sky. These are valid fears but are they anxiety, real panic?

With anxiety, the difference is that the person has an unknown fear, something he/she cannot place. All he/she knows is that they are sweating profusely, their heart pounding rapidly, a feeling of impending, overwhelming doom that they are going to die.
They seek help by going to several doctors who tell them the same thing; “there is nothing wrong with you.”

By this time, the person is confused, frightened and even a bit angry that nobody understands what he or she is going through. When they are finally diagnosed, a feeling of relief, coupled with a fear that they are crazy, causes feelings ranging from failure as a person to being abnormal. They feel ashamed and unworthy. Being ashamed, in itself, is the number one reason why people do not seek the help they need. There are many anxiety disorders ranging from mild to severe.

– Panic Disorder: This disorder is characterized by sudden episodes of acute apprehension or intense fear that occur “out of nowhere.” This disorder can be particularly debilitating because of the unpredictable timetable. Many people who suffer from this disorder often become agoraphobic.

– Agoraphobia: Of all the disorders, agoraphobia is the most prevalent. The word agoraphobia means fear of open spaces; however, the essence of agoraphobia is a fear of panic attacks. That is why many people stay in their homes, because of the fear of having yet, another panic attack.

– Social Phobia: Social phobia is one of the more common anxiety disorders. It involves fear of embarrassment or humiliation in situations where you are exposed to the scrutiny of others or must perform. This fear is stronger than the other disorders, in that you start to avoid the situation altogether.

– Simple Phobia: This disorder involves a strong fear or avoidance on one particular type of situation or object. There are no panic attacks or fear of panic attacks; therefore, you still have fears, (i.e. animal phobias, acrophobia: fear of heights, airplane phobia and so on, so forth that keep you from the situation.

– Generalized Anxiety Disorder is a chronic anxiety that persists for at least six months but is again, unaccompanied by panic attacks, phobias or obsessions. This could include a death, a birth, a move, something that has changed your life in the period of six months.

– Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: This disorder is an extreme compulsion and obsession about something, a compulsion towards neatness, organization, health, etc. Obsessions are the thoughts or ideas that seem senseless but nevertheless continue to encroach into your mind.

– Last but not least, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: The essential feature to this disorder is that it directly relates to a traumatizing event such as wars, car or plane accidents, tornadoes or other violent crimes against you or your family. In this disorder, often times, the person has recurring nightmares, repetitive or distressing thoughts about the event, flashbacks so intense they feel they are reliving the event all over again.

There is that light at the end of the tunnel. There are several things people can do to control their anxiety and eventually conquer their fears. There is help and people need not feel ashamed or unworthy of that help.

One excellent source is “The Anxiety Disorders Association of America.” It is a nonprofit, charitable organization founded in 1980 by leaders in the field of treatment for phobias, agoraphobia and panic/anxiety disorders. Another wonderful source is “The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook.” This book has been immensely helpful to me. It is very clear and precise and details the many aspects of anxiety. Another great source is the Internet. The Internet has a wide and expansive field of information to help. Go to http://www.nimh.nig.gov/anxiety/index.com or www.anxiety.mentalhelp.net these two sites are very valuable sources for anxiety.

Anxiety need not rule people’s lives. The most important thing to know is that you are not alone.