In the United States alone, 1 in every 10 Americans struggle with anxiety disorder. Contrary to the popular belief, anxiety disorders are more than just being worried or concerned about a certain situation or event. Anxiety disorders are actually a mental health condition that if left untreated, can cause a person to become unable to function normally in society. Some types of anxiety disorders can be extremely severe that it prevents a person to be able to keep a job and foster healthy relationships.
There are many different types of anxiety disorders catalogued by the American Psychological Association, or APA. Below are just some of the common anxiety disorders that inflict men and women all over the world.
One of the most common anxiety disorders that men and women struggle with is generalized anxiety disorder, or GAD. This particular type of anxiety disorder is often characterized by the inability of a person to shake off a feeling of worry or dread towards a particular situation or incident. While it is normal to worry or feel apprehensive, people that struggle with generalized anxiety disorder experience continuous feelings of dread and fear for day, weeks and even months. In many instances, people with GAD end up avoiding normal daily activities as a result of the fear and worry that they experience.
Separation anxiety disorder is a type of childhood anxiety disorder that is observed in about 2.4% of the population. Oftentimes, this common anxiety disorder continues on well into adulthood if left untreated. Separation anxiety disorder entails a debilitating fear of a child to be separated from a safety net. This may be in the form of a trusted person like a nanny or an object like a security blanket. Children that suffer from this kind of anxiety disorder are not only able to do normal activities often seen among children. Over time, separation anxiety disorder can result to the child being unable coping mechanisms and the ability to develop and foster healthy relationships with their peers, which can have a direct effect on them later on in life.
Social phobia is not just one of the common types of anxiety disorders. It is also the third most common mental health condition treated by psychologists, next to substance abuse and depression. While it is common for people to be conscious about the impression that they make on other people, those that struggle with social phobia develop a paralyzing fear being around other people whether it is during a social gathering or in a crowded area like the mall or school. People struggling with social phobia have an intense fear that they will embarrass themselves in front of other people as well as a fear of rejection. Social phobia is classified as a childhood anxiety disorder as it is commonly seen among children and adolescence.
Commonly referred to as PTSD, this type of anxiety disorder is often exhibited by individuals who have, at one point in their life, experienced an extremely traumatic event. This may come in the form of fighting in a war, being victimized by a violent crime or a sudden death or injury of a loved one. Individuals that are reminded of these traumatic events - whether a sound, place, or circumstance - begin to exhibit numerous symptoms attributed to anxiety disorders such as shortness of breath, palpitations, and a feeling of being trapped and helplessness.
The good thing about these common anxiety disorders is that they are treatable. The first step of this is coming to terms and accepting that this condition exists. If you think you are suffering from any of these types of anxiety disorders, or know someone who is, it is best to immediately seek medical help to deal with its symptoms and take control of your life.
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