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According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders affect 40 million adults in the United States every year. While they are highly treatable, only 36.9% of those suffering receive treatment. Stress is part of life for most people, but too much stress can have devastating impacts on your health. If you believe you may be struggling with an anxiety disorder, the first step is to identify and acknowledge what you’re going through, so you can seek treatment to improve your overall quality of life. Major anxiety disorders are broken down into five categories.
- Generalized anxiety disorder
Generalized anxiety affects around 6.8 million people in the U.S. and is twice as prevalent in women than men. This type of anxiety is characterized by persistent and excessive worry that is difficult to control. It usually comes on gradually and can progress at any age, though the risk is highest between childhood and middle age. Research shows that biological factors, family background and life experiences can play a role in generalized anxiety.
- Obsessive compulsive disorder
OCD affects around 22 million Americans and is equally present in men and women. It’s characterized by obsessions in the form of intrusive and unwanted thoughts, images or urges that cause distress or anxiety, as well as compulsions that a person feels compelled to perform in order to ease their stress or anxiety or suppress unwanted thoughts. Common obsessions include concerns about cleanliness, contamination or the need for symmetry. Common compulsions include washing or cleaning, arranging and checking.
- Panic disorder
Twice as likely to occur in women, panic disorder affects around 6 million Americans. This disorder is diagnosed in those who experience spontaneous panic attacks and are often fearful of a recurring attack. Panic disorder usually begins in early adulthood but it can also affect children.
- Posttraumatic stress disorder
PTSD affects 7.7 million adults in the United States. It’s a serious and potentially debilitating condition that can occur in those who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event, such as a serious accident, violent personal assault, war, natural disaster or the sudden death of a loved one. PTSD often occurs with substance abuse, depression and other anxiety disorders.
- Social anxiety disorder
Around 15 million American adults suffer from social anxiety disorder. Also called social phobia, this disorder is characterized by an intense fear of being negatively evaluated, judged or rejected in a social or performance situation. Most people with this disorder also experience physical symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, rapid heart rate and panic attacks when facing a fearful situation.
- Phobias
Specific phobias affect around 19 million American adults, and women are twice as likely to be affected as men. Common phobias include fear of flying, driving, heights, germs, dental or medical procedures, animals, insects and elevators.
If you do suffer from anxiety disorder, don’t be afraid to seek help. There are also natural treatments and lifestyle practices that can help you combat feelings of anxiety and stress. Enriching your diet with various stress-busting foods can also help combat anxiety from the inside, out.