Anxiety disorder is a caused by one's reaction to an event or events that elicit the stress response in the body. It can be a normal part of our lives, protecting us from danger. However, if apprehension and fear become a pervasive and persistent influence in your life, it becomes an anxiety disorder that is accompanied with associated "panic attacks." It is a common disorderhttp://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000917.htm that can be treated with prescription medications,which are generally used in combination with cognitive and/or behavioral therapies.http://www.adaa.org/GettingHelp/Treatment.asp http://www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/what_psychotherapeutic_other_non-drug_approaches_anxiety_disorder_000028_8.htm
Various complementary and alternative therapies such as mediation, tai chi, qigong and yoga have been found useful for conditioning the mind and body so that it is less susceptible to stress causing events. Applying mind-body techniques are common in stress management approaches. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy has shown promise.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17765453 This web page provides you with a list of common symptoms, links, news, and blogs and video instructional resources that will help to learn more about anxiety and treatment methods. There is also a Mahalo answers section if you have any questions about the subject. Another tool you may want to use is the Mahalo page: How to Manage Stress.
Most Common Types of Anxiety Disorders
Treatment of Anxiety Disorder
- Psychotherapy
- Counseliing
- Cognitive behavior therapy - see the description below
- Relaxation training.
- Complementary methods:
Passiflora herbals and homeopathic Argentum nitricum. acupuncture, relaxation methods, including hypnosis and meditation. Evidence for the use of these techniques is gradually increasing.http://www.complemed.co.uk/anxiety/anxietytreatment.htm
Anxiety Treatment with Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
A meta-analysis of many studies on the use of cognitive-behavioral therapy has demonstrated its effectiveness for the treatment of anxiety disorders. http://www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/what_psychotherapeutic_other_non-drug_approaches_anxiety_disorder_000028_8.htm In order to overcome anxiety, the therapy educational, thought challenging and exposure-response prevention components. http://www.uh.edu/anxiety/cbt.htm The therapy can last from 12-20 weeks.
About Generalized Anxiety Disorder
This featured video features Dr. Matthew H. Erdelyi Ph.D. sharing information about generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). He gives you information that can help you decide if the anxiety you are feeling is normal or if it could be GAD. There are treatments that can help those with GAD overcome their anxiety.
References
Fast Facts
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How Common is Anxiety?
It is the most common mental illness in the United States.
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Fact:
19 million people are affected by an anxiety disorder in America each year.
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Fact:
There are medications and other therapies available to help treat anxiety.
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Fact:
Anxiety disorders can co-exist with other mental disorders.
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Common Symptoms of Anxiety Disorders
Difficulty controlling worry, worry out of proportion to the situation most of the time, difficulty concentrating, difficulty falling or staying asleep, or restless sleep, restless or feeling keyed up, muscle tension, shakiness, headaches, irritability, fatigue, stomach or intestinal problems, excessive sweating, palpitations, shortness of breath and depressiona substance or alcohol abuse may be associated with the disorders.
