| According to the Anxiety Disorders Association of | | | | virtually endless. Losing a job, serious debt, awaiting |
| America, anxiety is the most common mental illness in | | | | medical test results, the imminent death of a loved |
| America, with nearly 20% of the adult population | | | | one are just a few. All of these and more are |
| affected. Woman are twice as likely to experience | | | | legitimate causes for anxiety. It is only when the |
| life disrupting general anxiety disorder, GAD, and | | | | anxiety becomes the defining factor in a person's life, |
| specific phobias than men are, however the numbers | | | | dictating their every move in some cases, that it is |
| for those suffering with Obsessive Compulsive | | | | time to seek professional help. If the fears are no |
| Disorder are equal for the sexes. | | | | longer based in logic, if the affected person's daily life |
| It is interesting to note that approximately 1/3 of all | | | | is seriously diminished, and if no amount of |
| adult sufferers of anxiety disorders had experienced | | | | reassurance will ease their fears, it is time to obtain |
| some symptoms when they were children. Women | | | | an evaluation from a mental health professional. |
| also hold the dubious honor of being far more likely | | | | There should be no stigma associated with seeking |
| to experience Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and | | | | help with for mental health concerns. It is no different |
| twice as likely to suffer with Panic Disorders. In these | | | | than hypertension or diabetes, in that, left untreated |
| studies it is noted that childhood sexual abuse is | | | | will severely impact the suffering person's ability to |
| often a precursor for PTSD, and regardless of the | | | | interact with their family, friends and co workers, and |
| age of the attack, rape will trigger PTSD in 65% of | | | | possibly escalate to where the affected person is |
| the men and almost 46% of the woman who | | | | unable to even leave their home. |
| experienced it. | | | | When basic daily functioning is impacted by the |
| We all face anxiety producing events in our daily | | | | anxiety disorder, and the ability to enjoy life is |
| lives, beginning when we were an infant and we | | | | disrupted, a family member may need to seek advice |
| realized our mother had left the room. From that day | | | | on how to best encourage their loved one to obtain |
| on the stress in our lives continues to be | | | | necessary help. The need for this intervention is a |
| experienced, overcome, and the knowledge of our | | | | vital one. An anxiety disorder left untreated can easily |
| successes helps us move on to the next challenge. | | | | escalate to include other mental health concerns, |
| The child goes to school for the first day and both | | | | including depression and suicidal thoughts. |
| the parents and the child are anxious. The first | | | | As dismal as this may all sound, help is readily |
| sleepover, away camp, learning to drive, and going | | | | available, and cost or lack of insurance does not need |
| away to college are all important milestones that can | | | | to be a factor. Resources for help are as close as |
| cause normal anxiety in the parties involved, even | | | | the phone book or the computer, and many state |
| though there may well be an undercurrent of | | | | and county mental health clinics accept sliding |
| excitement, also. | | | | payments based on ability to pay. |
| For adults, the list for potentially stressful situations is | | | | |