Understanding Anxiety

Anxiety is an emotional and physical reaction to a threat, whether it is real or imagined. It is an unpleasant emotional state, which ranges from a vague uneasiness to intense fear or even overwhelming panic attacks. Thoughts and emotions associated with anxiety include apprehension, dread, fear, irritability and uneasiness; often accompanied by physical symptoms, including bad dreams, dry mouth, fatigue, headaches, inability to sleep, increased pulse rate, muscle tension or trembling, and sweating.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is defined as excessive or unrealistic worry related to a variety (two or more) of life’s daily activities or events, and lasts at least six months. Women experience GAD at twice the rate of men. 1.

Excessive anxiety is associated with numerous disorders including; phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorders, panic attacks, and acute and post-traumatic stress disorders. 2.

Common causes of anxiety include actual danger (terrorist’s threats), responsibilities at work, financial stress, poor health, grief, side effects and reactions to drugs (especially to caffeine, cold remedies, decongestants, bronchodilators, and antidepressants.) 3.

Nearly 20 million Americans, aged 18 to 54, are affected by anxiety disorders every year, making them the most common mental illnesses in America. 4.

People of all ages can develop anxiety disorders. Among people