Introduction: Our bodies react to danger by producing many different chemicals, including adrenaline. This is commonly known as the "fight or flight" response. By doing so, we become better able to fight off negative experiences or run from them. When the body constantly responds with fight or flight to normal everyday situations, or responds drastically to social situations, then we may be experiencing some kind of anxiety disorder.These may include anxiety, phobias or panic attacks. People with anxiety disorders feel extremely fearful and unsure. It is normal for most people to feel anxious about something for a short time now and again, but people with anxiety disorders feel this way most of the time. Their fears and worries make it hard for them to do everyday tasks.

Definition: Anxiety is defined as distress or uneasiness of mind caused by fear of danger or misfortune. Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress. It helps one deal with a tense situation in the office, study harder for an exam, and keep focused on an important speech. In general, it helps one cope.

Vital Statistics: Anxiety disorders affect about 40 million American adults age 18 years and older (about 18%) in a given year. The disorder develops gradually and can begin at any point in the life cycle, although the years of highest risk are between childhood and middle age.

Signs and Symptoms: People with anxiety disorders cannot seem to get rid of their concerns, even though they usually realize that their anxiety is more intense than the situation warrants. Symptoms that may occur include:

• can't relax
• startle easily
• difficulty concentrating
• trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
• fatigue
• headaches
• muscle aches or tension
• difficulty swallowing
• trembling, twitching
• irritability
• sweating
• nausea, lightheadedness
• fast breathing
• feeling out of breath
• hot flashes
• persistent tense feelings
• feelings of doom
• rapid heartbeat
• tremors
• perspiration

Risk Factors: Research suggests that environmental and genetic factors (eg, a family hisotry of GAD) may make a person more likely to develop the disorder. Anxiety symptoms often occur first during childhood or adolescence, but they can also begin in adulthood. Anxiety disorders affect people of all ages, and the disorder is twice as likely to affect women as men.

Types of Anxiety:

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by chronic anxiety, exaggerated worry and tension, even when there is little or nothing to provoke it. GAD is diagnosed when a person worries excessively about a variety of everyday problems for at least 6 months.

Social Phobia, also called social anxiety disorder, is diagnosed when people become overwhelmingly anxious and excessively self-conscious in everyday social situations.

Specific Phobia is an intense, irrational fear of something that poses little or no actual danger. Some of the more common specific phobias are centered around closed-in places, heights, escalators, tunnels, highway driving, water, flying, dogs, and injuries involving blood.

Treatment:If you think you have an anxiety disorder, the first person you should see is your family doctor. A physician can determine whether the symptoms that alarm you are due to an anxiety disorder, another medical condition, or both. If an anxiety disorder is diagnosed, the next step is usually seeing a mental health professional. The practitioners who are most helpful with anxiety disorders are those who have training in cognitive-behavioral therapy and/or behavioral therapy, and who are open to using medication if it is needed. Many people with anxiety disorders benefit from joining a self-help or support group and sharing their problems and achievements with others. Talking to a trusted friend or member of the clergy can also provide support, but it is not a substitute for care from a mental health professional.