About Anxiety Disorders
An anxiety disorder is diagnosed when someone feels anxious all, or a lot of the time for no logical reason. They are some of the most common mental health problems, affecting 16% of people.
What is an Anxiety Disorder?
Anxiety, worry and fear are feelings that everyone experiences now and again. They can be useful emotions, helping us to be aware of risks and respond to challenging or dangerous situations. They prepare the body to take action to protect itself (the so-called 'fight or flight' response).
16% of adults suffer from some sort of anxiety disorder. This means that they experience anxiety, worry, fear or panic at a greater level than is normal. The anxiety can be caused by specific situations or it can be present constantly. Anxiety disorders are generally more common in women than in men, but this can vary depending on the type of condition
What are the symptoms of Anxiety Disorders?
The symptoms of anxiety can include:
- Feeling constantly irritable or worried
- Difficulties sleeping
- Difficulties concentrating
- Feelings of dread or impending doom
Feelings of dread and fear can also be experienced as physical symptoms including:
- Heart palpitations (irregular beat)
- Sweating
- Tension and pains
- Heavy and rapid breathing
- Dizziness
- Fainting
- Indigestion
- Diarrhoea
- Stomach aches and sickness (especially in young children)
Many people feel one or more of these at one time or another, but people with anxiety disorders experience them more frequently and to the extent that they interfere with their lives. Which symptoms and how severely they are experienced will be different for each disorder and person.
What causes anxiety?
The causes of anxiety are not fully known, but things to do with your family, your body and what has happened to you in the past are all believed to be involved.
Studies have shown that some people are born more likely to have high levels of anxiety. You are probably more likely to suffer from an anxiety disorder if someone in your family does.
Drug use and some physical conditions can also lead to increased anxiety as can one or more events that cause significant adjustments in everyday life (e.g. marriage, injury or retirement).
