What Are Anxiety/Panic Disorders?
• Answer: It is a normal human emotion for people to experience anxiety or nervousness when faced with a problem or making an important decision. Anxiety disorders and panic disorders, however, are different. They can cause such distress that it interferes with a person’s ability to lead a normal life. Anxiety disorders are quite common, affecting more than 18% of all Americans. For those affected, worry and fear are constant and overwhelming, and can be crippling. Panic disorder is the most common of type of anxiety disorder and strikes without reason or warning. During a panic attack, the fear response is out of proportion for the situation, which often is nonthreatening. Over time, the person develops a constant fear of having another attack.
It is a normal human emotion for people to experience anxiety or nervousness when faced with a problem or making an important decision. Anxiety disorders and panic disorders, however, are different. They can cause such distress that it interferes with a person’s ability to lead a normal life. Anxiety disorders are quite common, affecting more than 18% of all Americans. For those affected, worry and fear are constant and overwhelming, and can be crippling. Panic disorder is the most common of anxiety disorders and strikes without reason or warning. During a panic attack, the fear response is out of proportion for the situation, which often is nonthreatening. Over time, the person develops a constant fear of having another attack. Are There Different Types? There are several recognized anxiety disorders, including: * Panic disorder: People with this condition have feelings of terror that strike suddenly and repeatedly with no warning. Other symptoms of a panic attack include sweating, ch
