Introduction | Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) | Panic attacks and panic disorder | Phobias | Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) | Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) | Medications for anxiety disorders | Role of family and friends in treatment

Introduction

We have all experienced anxiety at some point in our their lives, and everybody knows what it's like to feel anxious:

• your heart pounding when you come close to having a road accident

• butterflies in your stomach before a speech or performance

• the tension you feel when your boss is angry

• dry mouth just before a job interview

• the knot in your stomach when you are reminded of a large unpaid bill

Anxiety and worry are a normal part of life. Whether the stakes are a job or the outcome of a sporting event, most people will tend to worry a little about how things might turn out. Not only is anxiety a common human emotion but moderate amounts of anxiety can be helpful. Anxiety produce exactly the right response to a difficult situation. It can motivate a person to prepare for an exam, to complete an essay or a painting or to deliver a speech, and it can give them the inspiration to produce high quality work and perform well. . Anxiety prepares us to face difficult or threatening situations, drives us to action, and helps us cope. Nervousness in anticipation of a situation is normal, but if you have an anxiety disorder, exaggerated anxiety can impede your performance. People with anxiety disorders may be unable to find ways of coping with or reducing their feelings of anxiety. Their anxiety may become excessive to a point that they may not be able to take part in everyday activities. Excessive anxiety is more than butterflies in your stomach. It is a real, medical illness, which disrupts people's lives.

Anxiety disorders are a group of very common, serious, yet treatable disorders that affect behavior, thoughts, feelings and physical sensations. They include a number of apparently very different conditions (see Table: Types of anxiety disorders), which all have anxiety in common as a major or underlying symptom. Anxiety symptoms range from feelings of uneasiness to episodes of incapacitating terror. Some of the anxiety disorders which doctors know about are generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), phobias, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Like many other illnesses, anxiety disorders often have an underlying biological cause, and frequently run in families. Experts believe that most anxiety disorders are caused by a combination of biological and environmental factors, in the same way as medical disorders such as heart disease or diabetes.

Table: Types of anxiety disorders

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) Panic disorder (with or without agoraphobia) Agoraphobia (with or without panic disorder) Phobias Obsessive-compulsive disorder Post-traumatic stress disorder

Fortunately, most people with an anxiety disorder can be helped with the right professional care. There are no guarantees, and success rates vary with the circumstances. Treatment periods vary. Some people require only a few months of treatment, while others may need a year or more. Generally, psychiatrists prescribe a combination of psychotherapy and medication.

Anxiety disorders are common in all countries and cultures. About 16% of adults are thought to suffer from some form of anxiety disorder. Panic disorder and agoraphobia, in particular, are associated with an increased risk of attempted suicide.