The Many Faces of Anxiety Disorder

While for some people anxiety is simply a natural part of everyday life, for others anxiety is a mental illness, an over-reaction to the stressors of life which can eventually become debilitating. The emotion of anxiety is a necessary one, helping evolving humans to evade danger and stay safe, thus perpetuating the species. However, in overabundance or as a reaction out of proportion to the stressor being experienced, anxiety can turn into a serious mental illness that is in no way a healthy part of human development. Research indicates that as many as 15 to 18 percent of Americans may suffer from some type of anxiety disorder; many of these people do not have a name to go with their symptoms, as anxiety can take on many different faces.

Generalized Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety disorder is a mental illness that has psychological, emotional, physical and behavioral symptoms. Psychologically, the mental illness of anxiety can cause paranoia and hysteria. Emotionally, severe anxiety can cause excessive fear, introversion, agoraphobia and other phobic-related issues. Physically, anxiety is a mental illness that can cause bodily symptoms such as increased respiration and heart rate, sweating, shaking and sleeplessness. Severe anxiety can eventually contribute to behavioral problems which can result in loss of friends, disruption of family life and loss of jobs.

Various Types of Anxiety Disorder

There are numerous sub-types of anxiety disorder; some genetic and others resulting from experience. Following are some of the most common forms of this mental illness.One common form of anxiety disorder is a mental illness called simply Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). This disorder is characterized by a general, chronic feeling of pressure and stress, even when life situations do not warrant excessive concern.

1. Panic Disorder is a type of anxiety mental illness where sudden physical attacks occur, often without notice or instigation. These physical attacks are called “panic attacks,” and they can be completely debilitating physically and emotionally. A person in the throes of a panic attack experiences shortness of breath and chest pains, often feeling as though they are having a heart attack.
   
2. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental illness that develops as a result of some severe emotional trauma. Common to people who have been in severe situations, such as war veterans or abuse survivors, PTSD are often haunted by the memories of their past events. These memories leave them emotionally anxious and sometimes feeling numb, as though unable to feel any emotions.
   
3. Phobias are a class of anxiety disorder characterized by excessive fear of a particular object, situation or experience. Common phobias include fear of snakes, spiders, heights, enclosed spaces and crowds. While many healthy people fear some such objects, people with a phobic mental illness take this fear to a new level, often experiencing panic attacks at the mere thought of the object or situation. For some people, these phobias can cause them to separate from natural life in an effort to avoid feared things, such as crowds.