8 Things Everyone With an Anxiety Disorder Diagnosis Should Know

April 14, 2016Substance AbuseTyler Collins

In today’s modern world nearly everyone feels anxious at some point; however, there are others who are more susceptible to anxiety than others. Those individuals who suffer from serious anxiety on a daily basis are actually classified as having an anxiety disorder. There is some misinformation out there in the popular news and media about anxiety and anxiety disorder; but do not worry! Here are eight things that will bring some clarity to the issue:

1. You are not alone. Everyone feels anxious at some point in life and stress is a natural response to the chaos that ensues in life. This type of stress can be helpful because it can drive and motivate you to devise solutions for what is causing the stress. It is important to have this kind of stress because it will help you become more productive.

What is the difference between feeling stress and having an anxiety disorder?

Studies show that the difference can be determined by how much time you spend worrying about life circumstances and obsessing over problems. Those who have a disorder known as generalized anxiety disorder, or GAD, have these symptoms present the most. To put it into perspective, the typical worrier spends less than an hour of their day worrying, while GAD diagnosed individuals will spend over well over three hundred minutes that same day worrying. That is more than five times the worrying and over five times the anxiety.

2. It is not uncommon. Anxiety disorders are classified as a mental illness, and in the United States they are the most common one. Studies show that over thirty-five million Americans over the age of eighteen have enough anxiety that it affects their everyday life. That accounts for nearly twenty percent of the nation’s population. Of those forty million individuals over five million have a GAD diagnosis, more than ten million suffer from social anxiety disorder, nearly fifteen million have major depressive disorder (which is characterized with anxiety), and over seven million are affected by post-traumatic stress disorder, which always involves high levels of anxiety.
3. There are many different kinds of anxiety disorders:

• Separation anxiety disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Major depressive disorder
• Phobic disorders
• Social anxiety disorder
• Panic disorder
• General anxiety disorder (GAD)
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

The most common anxiety disorder of all is generalized anxiety disorder. Women are most commonly the victims of this disorder, and it affects about five percent of all Americans.

4. Women Tend to Be More Anxious. Women are actually twice as likely to develop anxiety disorders than men. PTSD is the only exception, as men more commonly develop it. In addition, these disorders occur at a younger age in women, and will strike, if at all, between the age that puberty begins and by the time they hit fifty.
5. These disorders do not usually occur alone. The majority of individuals with anxiety disorders also have other related disorders, many of which exasperate the condition. Classic examples are GAD paired with bipolar disorder, depressive disorder, or substance abuse disorders. Studies show that those who are diagnosed with depression and anxiety disorder are much more likely to be hospitalized for psychiatric complications than those who do not have an anxiety disorder. Individuals with eating disorders or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder are also highly likely to have anxiety disorders additionally.
6. Anxiety can make a physical illness worse. Experts say that those who suffer seriously from anxiety may also develop chronic health conditions in addition to their discomfort associated with anxiety. This is in addition to the physically uncomfortable symptoms that are associated with anxiety. Those who suffer from anxiety disorders are at risk of developing heart disease, respiratory problems, and gastrointestinal ailments.
7. You may have inherited your anxiety through genetics. Those who have anxiety in a long line of family history feel that it is hereditary. Some individuals believe it has more to do with behavior. Overall, however, the evidence points that it is a result of environmental, biological, and psychological factors.
8. Anxiety is not uncontrollable. It is a disorder that can is manageable and treatable.   Some ways to treat anxiety include:

• Psychotherapy
• Learning new coping skills
• Medication (non-narcotic preferred)
• Use of Mindfulness techniques such as yoga and meditation

Some people find that excelling in one of these strategies helps, and some individuals need a combination of various treatments for anxiety. By everyone becoming more knowledgeable and aware about anxiety, everyone affected by these disorders can live healthy, happy, and fulfilling lives without the bothersome and overly debilitating anxiety.