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 Anxiety Disorders July 20, 2006 12:09 PM

More than 19 million adult Americans ages 18 to 54 have anxiety disorders. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) supports research into the causes, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of anxiety disorders and other mental illnesses. This research is conducted both in the Institute's intramural laboratories and in biomedical research institutions across the country. Studies examine the genetic and environmental risks for major anxiety disorders, their course, both alone and when they co-occur with other illnesses such as heart disease or depression, and their treatment. Scientists seek to discover the basis of anxiety disorders in the brain and their effects on the functioning of the brain and other organs. The ultimate goal is to be able to cure, and perhaps even to prevent, anxiety disorders. Types of Anxiety Disorders The term anxiety disorders encompasses several clinical conditions: panic disorder, in which feelings of extreme fear and dread strike unexpectedly and repeatedly for no apparent reason, accompanied by intense physical symptoms obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), characterized by intrusive, unwanted, repetitive thoughts and rituals performed out of a feeling of urgent need post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a reaction to a terrifying event that keeps returning in the form of frightening, intrusive memories and brings on hypervigilance and deadening of normal emotions phobias, including specific phobia a fear of an object or situation and social phobia a fear of extreme embarrassment generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), exaggerated worry and tension over everyday events and decisions Research Progress NIMH research has led to advances in understanding the causes of these disorders and how to treat them. Today, the majority of people with panic disorder and OCD improve significantly within weeks or months of getting proper treatment. The same is true for people with phobias. And many people with PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder also make substantial improvement with treatment. As the search continues for better treatments, NIMH is harnessing the most sophisticated scientific tools available to determine the causes of anxiety disorders. Like heart disease and diabetes, these brain disorders are complex and probably result from the interplay of genetic, behavioral, developmental, and other factors. Scientists in a number of disciplines are trying to identify risk factors that make certain people prone to these conditions. Studies of the Brain and Anxiety Disorders Studies in animals and humans have focused on pinpointing the specific brain areas and circuits involved in anxiety and fear, which underlie anxiety disorders. Fear, an emotion that evolved to deal with danger, causes an automatic, rapid protective response that occurs without the need for conscious thought. It has been found that the body's fear response is coordinated by a small structure deep inside the brain, called the amygdala. Neuroscientists have shown that when confronted with danger, the body's senses launch two sets of signals to different parts of the brain. One set of signals, which takes a more roundabout route, relays information to the cerebral cortex, the cognitive part of the brain that explains in detail the threatening object or situation such as a big black car heading for you as you cross the street. The other set of signals shoots straight to the amygdala, which sets the fear response in motion, readying the body for quick action before the cognitive part of the brain comprehends just what is wrong. The heart starts to pound and diverts blood from the digestive system to the muscles for quick action. Stress hormones and glucose flood the blood stream to provide the energy to fight or flee. The immune system and the pain response are suppressed to prevent swelling and discomfort, which could interfere with a quick escape. And, as a preventive measure for similar confrontations in the future, the learned fear response is etched on the amygdala. What Are the Treatments for Anxiety Disorders? Treatments have been largely developed through research conducted by NIMH and other research institutions. They are extremely effective and often combine medication and specific types of psychotherapy. More medications are available than ever before to effectively treat anxiety disorders. These include antidepressants and benzodiazepines. If one medication is not effective, others can be tried. New medications are currently being tested or are under development to treat anxiety symptoms. The two most effective forms of psychotherapy used to treat anxiety disorders are behavioral therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy tries to change actions through techniques such as diaphragmatic breathing or through gradual exposure to what is frightening. In addition to these techniques, cognitive-behavioral therapy teaches patients to understand their thinking patterns so they can react differently to the situations that cause them anxiety. How Does this Learned Fear Response Turn into an Anxiety Disorder? One or more fearful experiences can prime a person to respond excessively to situations where most people would experience no fear—such as in the supermarket—or only moderate nervousnesss—such as giving a speech. In anxiety disorders, the deeply etched memory can result in hypervigilance, making it hard to focus on other things, and leading to feelings of anxiety in many situations. In people who have survived overwhelming trauma and developed PTSD, for example, even mild reminders of the trauma may initiate the fear response. People with specific or social phobia often completely avoid their feared situation. In panic disorder the chronic worry about having another attack may lead to stress-related conditions such as heart problems and irritable bowel syndrome. In people with generalized anxiety disorder, the chroni  [ send green star]
 
 December 21, 2006 3:45 PM

anxiety is a big issue... I know because I have it.. It really sucks, stressing out about things that are so small...I allways thought I was doing something wrong in everything I did... I think things through to the point where it is unessesary...

My friends used to make fun of me... Like the first time I whent to my first concert at Krockathon, I was afraid to go in the pits, because I was afraid of things that would go wrong... even when the pits where empty... my friend Will would say chill anxiety...

Anxiety ruined my childhood... I wet the bed till I was eleven, because I was so scared of my father, and I think that is the cause of my anxiety now, all the men that have literally put fear into my head... I got beat up alot in highschool, and that added to it.. I was afraid to make friends with girls...

That is why I am going to N.Y.. I want to break myself of my anxiety by facing all of my fears... It was not untill after my father tried to rape me did I realize this... I am done walking around like some invincible person... Its time to live... NYC is the way to do it...

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anonymous anxiety December 21, 2006 3:51 PM

anxiety I deal with it on a daily basis I always think im being fallowed or that people are staring at me when i get in large groups I just want to run , not to mention when someone touches my face i panic , Ive lived like that most of my life and never realized it untill about 3 years ago I just thought it was normal but I was told otherwise , Now that ive started a new medication it has curbed some of my anxiety not all but some some things are more bareable now  [report anonymous abuse]  [ accepted]
 
 December 21, 2006 3:51 PM

generalized anxiety disorder (GAD),   I swear I think I have that with a small portion of OCD. FOR REAL. I stress every day. Over nothing. I am moody, irritable, and just downright not nice at times. I also have extremely irregular sleep habits. But I haven't seen anyone about these things because I don't want to be on meds.  [ send green star]  [ accepted]
 
anonymous  December 21, 2006 4:03 PM

jessica I can relate to what you said that is the way I was before the put me on mood stabalizers I was to the point i wasnt sleeping I would get up in the morning mad at the world snapping peoples heads off and non stop worry I didnt know myself Now that ive started I am able to funtion without wondering if i was offending someone or creaming at them and sometime from what i found out from my therapist is OCD does accompany the anxiety.  [report anonymous abuse]  [ accepted]
 
 December 21, 2006 6:38 PM

hi everyone

i think i have anxiety, i well i know i do anyways i hate feelin helpless over that feeling and it makes me think is this how is life gonna be for me always scared or stressed and im only 21 i feel im always mad because of it. i really hate having anxiety ,i feel really helpless and sad ,i just want to cry ,run away do something and the sad part about it nobody understand what im going throw and no one around to talk to well i should go *****************

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 December 21, 2006 6:48 PM

Thank you Dawn! (my middle name is Dawn) I go thru some of that on a regular basis! The snapping at everyone when I wake up thing especially! And sometimes it goes away as the day progresses. I am an extremely polite person and even when I am PISSED... I usually try not to offend anyone too much. But the looks I give are enough! And as far as my sleeping goes, well, I usually go to bed around 5am every day. Once I get to sleep... there is no waking me up. I can sleep for extremely long periods of time. Longest I know of was 26 hours. NOT sick. But having to rely on meds everyday has never been something im good at. I never finish my antibiotics, they tried to put me on damn Prozac before... HATED it. But I really hate the feeling I have every day as it is... ugh.

 And Jenna... we understand here. Just look at me!! If you ever feel anyone doesn't understand what you are going thru, please feel free to come to this group. There are other support groups here as well. PLENTY of people are going thru it with u, hun. No need to feel as if you are going it alone! If you would like, add me as a friend and i'll invite you to some of the other groups as well.

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I too understand.... December 21, 2006 7:07 PM

My father raped me from the time I was 3 til my 13th birthday, I will never forget that birthday, it was Christmas Eve (my birthday) and of course he partied too  much, then came down to my room and raped me for the last time--this was the worst time of my life, he told me that I was a %#&!*% (sorry for the word) and a the "C"word, just like my mother and would never find love, no one would ever want me--I have been happily married (to an amazing man, with a bad background as well, tons of therapy) now for 20 years and I still feel like I don't deserve him, like I am a dirty person, and I have had years and years of therapy, but still I have no self esteen and the anxiety that I feel is something that just no one should have to go through!! I am on some good meds now though, I talk Celexa in the morning and it is an amazing drug, I did the Prozac and all the other ones, but this is a new one that only works with the serotonin and it is working really well!! I wish you all the best of luck out there and those that are just looking in and are still afraid, please come and talk, I know I was the one to just read and read, but wow what a relief to be able to just relate to others that understand!!

Hugs,

Suzanne

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anonymous  December 21, 2006 7:42 PM

jenna i do know what your going through and jessica I totaly understand what you are talking about (PROZAC) bad they have found extreme side affects for that medication people trying to commit suicide on it the medication they have me on is called LAMICTAL it for bipolar disorders and  epilepsy patients so you might want to talk to someone about bipolar after 6 years they have finally found a med that i can use that works in the last week i havent had any episodes of anger or anxiety  , but I also suffer from borderline personality disorder , OCD , and social phobia ,  [report anonymous abuse]  [ accepted]
 
 December 26, 2006 6:47 PM

Anxiety disorders or attacks are rough.  I've had the attacks.  I avoid the packed shopping malls and stores.  I'm on meds. and now only carry the meds with me just in case I start to have an attack.  [ send green star]  [ accepted]
 
 December 28, 2006 6:15 PM

I've been diagnosed with several anxiety disorders:  GAD, SAD, BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder), a tiny bit of OCD, and the one I suffer from the most - Social Anxiety/Social Phobia.  I get major panic attacks in social situations and it's nearly impossible for me to make a phone call, unless it's to my mom or my best friend.  I've lost a lot of friends because of it.   [ send green star]  [ accepted]
 
I have both Dyslexia and Anxiety... May 25, 2007 9:45 AM

My mind moves 100times faster than my body can so this creats a problem for my work, my schooling and my social life... I never know what to do about it... I just live with it... I wish I could get away from it...  [ send green star]
 
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