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INFOBITS
40 million American adults age 18 years and older in a given year are affected by anxiety disorders.1
6.8 million American adults age 18 years and older are affected by general anxiety disorder (GAD)2 and approximately twice as many women as men.3 Onset is gradual and can start anytime across the life cycle, but risk is highest between childhood and middle.4
6 million American adults age 18 years and older are affected by panic disorder5 and is twice as common in women as men.6
2.2 million American adults age 18 years and older are affected by obsessive compulsive disorder7 and is about equally common in men and women.8 Onset is usually in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood.9
15 million American adults age 18 years and older are affected by social anxiety disorder or social phobia.10 and is about equally common in men and women.11 Onset is usually in childhood, or early adolescence.12
7.7 million American adults age 18 years and older are affected by post-traumatic stress disorder13 and women are more likely to develop PTSD than men.14 PTSD can occur at any age. |
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Panic Disorder
Sudden panic attacks characterized by feelings of overwhelming terror and impending doom, accompanied by physical symptoms including:
- Palpitations
- Sweatiness
- Weakness
- Faintness
- Dizziness
- Sense of choking
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea
- Chest Pain
- Sense of unreality
- Numbness or tingling
- Hot flushes or chills
The number of symptoms experienced and the severity of each will vary with individuals and varies over time.
Panic attacks can occur any time, even during sleep. An attack usually peaks within 10 minutes, but some symptoms may last longer. For some, they may just have one attack and have it not followed by another. Not everyone who experiences panic attacks will develop panic disorder.
Panic disorder is a mental health illness that can be successfully treated. If help is not sought, people’s lives can become so restricted they cease to enjoy normal activities, such as going out to restaurants, driving, or shopping for fear that they will have a panic attack. Those who have experienced a full-blown and debilitating episode need to seek treatment before they begin to avoid places or situations wherein an attack happened.
Panic disorder is often accompanied by other serious mental health illnesses such as depression and / or substance abuse, which must also be included in the treatment plan.
"For me, a panic attack is almost a violent experience. I feel disconnected from reality. I feel like I'm losing control in a very extreme way. My heart pounds really hard, I feel like I couldn’t breathe, and there's an overwhelming feeling that things are crashing in on me."
“You may genuinely believe you’re having a heart attack, losing your mind, or are on the verge of death. I really thought I was going to die, it was awful.”
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The most important thing to keep in mind is that you are not alone.
Getting treatment for mental health issues is a team effort. In most cases, anxiety disorders can be successfully treated with medication and certain kinds of psychotherapy. By working with your doctor and / or therapist, you can take control to find the approach that is the most appropriate for your needs. There are many avenues for treatment so if one does not work, you can try other methods. So do not lose hope.
Get help today, for tomorrow enjoy better living and brighter horizons.
Taking Medications
Here are a few things to remember if you are taking medications for your anxiety.
• If you are just starting to take medication, remember that they usually take effect 4 to 8 weeks to become fully effective. So be patient and don’t be discouraged.
• Work with your doctor for the right dosage and medication for your anxiety. If one medication does not work, you can try others. Don’t give up and continue to work with your doctor.
• Ask your doctor what the side effects are of the medication you are taking.
• There are medications that need to be tapered off so do not stop taking your medication abruptly. Ask your doctor how and when you will stop taking your medication.
Medications need to be taken regularly for the anxiety symptoms to be managed.
Although medications will not cure anxiety, they will help you manage the symptoms so you can lead a normal and productive life. Studies have shown that both medications and psychotherapy can successfully treat anxiety disorder. |
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