Anxiety is one of the most debilitating and most common mental illness in the United States Of America. Statistics show that a staggering 40 million individuals throughout the US are afflicted with some form of anxiety. This is an astounding 19% of all people in America. Every year over 140 billion dollars is spent on mental disorders; 42 billion dollars of that money is spent on anxiety disorders alone.

When it concerns anxiety there are several variations of the disorder. Additionally, there are numerous stages and states when it concerns each type of anxiety.

Some people will have just a touch of anxiety while others will experience extreme states of anxiety that cause them to experience life in a very troubling manner. Due to the extremities of this condition, an individual who believes they suffer from a form of anxiety should immediately consider their treatment options.

Varying Degrees And Types Of Anxiety

Due to the unique nature of anxiety it has been broken down into various classes and types. Each type features various symptoms and extremes.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Generalized Anxiety Disorder also known as GAD affects 6.8 million people a year. This form of anxiety effects the manner in which a person thinks and acts. Although this is essentially a mental disorder, a person suffering from GAD can actually sometimes experience physical symptoms caused by the condition.

A person with Generalized Anxiety Disorder is constantly tense and worried and is very easily frightened. GAD sufferers may also feel very restless or “on edge” for long periods of time. Additional Generalized Anxiety Disorder symptoms include but are not limited to: difficulty in concentration, sleep problems, excessive perspiration, headaches, irritability and nausea.

Many people who suffer from Generalized Anxiety Disorder will also suffer from other varieties of anxiety disorders including: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), various phobias, depression and panic disorder. Statistics indicate that women are more likely to be affected by Generalized Anxiety Disorder than men.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

This variety of anxiety is experienced by about 2.2 million people in the United States alone. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is one the most physically and mentally draining forms of anxiety. An individual with a severe case of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, may find it difficult to even leave their home or to even maintain a healthy diet.

An individual who experiences Obsessive Compulsive Disorder will experience obsessions or compulsions of various types and to a wide range of degrees. These compulsions usually involve repetition. For example, a person who suffers from OCD may have to open and close doors a specific amount of times before going in and out a door. Another example involves sufferers constantly washing their hands after touching items.

Due to the unique nature of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder many sufferers find that they cannot advance in their education and they are unable to carry out an occupation or even function socially. This is due to the fact that OCD generally occupies the majority of a sufferer’s time. Symptoms of OCDs generally present themselves in childhood and will then carry over into adulthood. This form of anxiety affects an equal amount of men as well as women.

Panic Disorder

Panic disorder is characterized by “panic attacks”. A person who experiences a panic attack will experience extreme feelings of terror, fear, self-pity and even claustrophobia. Generally, a panic attack will be triggered off due to stress or a person becoming upset about something going on in their life. However, there are many cases wherein a panic attack will take place for no reason.

Common symptoms that are associated with panic disorder include: increased heartbeat, varying levels of chest pains, nausea, a difficulty in breathing or pressure of the chest, chills and hot flashes, varying degrees of terror or fear, and a fear of dying. These symptoms can last several minutes or in some cases for hours.

The horrible thing about panic disorder is the fact that it can take place without warning. Therefore, it is vitally impossible for a person to prepare for a panic attack. The scary truth is that 6 million people in the US experience a panic attack each and every year.

Other Types Of Anxiety Disorders

Apart from Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Panic Disorder there are numerous other anxiety disorder types that afflict millions of people each year.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) afflicts a total of 7.7 million people each year. This form of anxiety is generally brought on by a traumatic event in a person’s life such as sexual abuse or rape.

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) affects 15 million people a year and another 19 million suffer from specific phobias which also fall into the category of anxiety. This includes a fear of heights, a fear of animals or spiders, and a fear of closed or open spaces to name a few.

The Bottom Line Concerning Anxiety

Anxiety is one of the most debilitating psychological and physiological states that a person can be afflicted with. It is an extreme state that involves various degrees wherein sufferers will exhibit emotional, somatic, and even behavioral issues and concerns due to their anxiety. In fact, anxiety is one of the leading mental affiliations worldwide.

A person with anxiety will often feel overwhelmed even by what others would not think twice about. In fact, due to the variety of anxiety that a person suffers from they may be unable to leave their homes or to appear in social settings due to the extent of their anxiety. Anxiety can truly affect a person’s life on many levels. A person with an extreme case of anxiety may fail in school and may also not be able to hold a job. Additionally, they may not be able to form long lasting relationships.

If a person with anxiety does not seek treatment they could even start suffering from physical health issues. Many forms of anxiety can actually lead to very dangerous physical health issues and concerns including high blood pressure and heart disease. Therefore, if proper treatment for anxiety is not obtained a person can truly put their life at risk. This goes to show how vitally important it is for a person to obtain treatment or other methods of anxiety avoidance in order to stop the affects of anxiety before they take hold.