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Q: I think I might have an anxiety disorder. How can I tell for sure?
A: Just because you feel anxious or worry about certain things doesn't mean you have an anxiety disorder. Anxiety is a normal, healthy emotion that helps us deal with stress. Ever felt a little nervous before a test or had butterflies in your stomach when you kissed a guy or girl for the first time? That's normal anxiety and it's nothing to worry about.
You should probably only be concerned if you experience anxious symptoms (next question) and start to go out of your way to avoid the things (or people!) that cause those symptoms.
Q: I don't know what symptoms of an anxiety disorder are...Help!
A: Symptoms are different for different types of anxiety disorders, and the intensity and frequency of those symptoms depends on the person.
Possible symptoms include:
- Heart palpitations and/or chest pains
- Nausea
- Difficulty breathing
- Dizziness and/or feeling faint
- Weakness in the legs
- Intense sweating and/or dry throat
- Fuzzy vision and/or hearing
But again, this doesn't mean that someone with an anxiety disorder will have all or even one of these symptoms.
Q: How can I tell if I'm having an anxiety attack?
A: Anxiety attacks are similar to panic attacks in that they both arise suddenly and can both result in near-fainting or a total loss of consciousness. That said, indicators for an anxiety attack are pretty much the same as the symptoms listed in the previous question, the main difference being the intensity and sudden onset of symptoms.
Interestingly, you don't have to suffer from an anxiety disorder to have an anxiety attack. Recent studies have found that one out of every 75 people worldwide will have one at some point in their lives. That's a ton of anxiety!
Q: So how can I avoid getting an anxiety disorder?
A: It's almost impossible to keep yourself from developing an anxiety disorder because they're not caused by one thing. Both genetics and environment play a crucial role in how we respond to situations and other things that can stimulate anxiety.
The experiences we live through also contribute to whether or not we end up with a disorder--for example, you're probably not going to be afraid of spiders if you've played with your older brother's tarantula since you were a baby.
A quick note. Most anxiety disorders spring up during childhood or adolescence. It's much less common for them to surface in adulthood.
Q: I've never heard of an anxiety disorder. Who can get one?
A: Anyone can develop an anxiety disorder at any point in their life, but it's much more common for them to spring up during childhood and adolescence (Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, which appears mostly in adults, is an exception).
Though race and gender are not a factor in whether or not someone can get an anxiety disorder, twice as many women experience Social Anxiety Disorder than men. Another interesting stat--men are more likely to seek treatment for all anxiety disorders than women.
Q: I've heard there's a relationship between anxiety disorders and depression? Is that true?
A: Most definitely. It's pretty common for people with anxiety disorders to feel depressed and have lower self-esteem. Why? Well, it makes sense that someone living with constant worry and anxiety, who can't go out in public or constantly relives traumatic events, is likely to feel badly about themselves. Obviously, this doesn't mean that everyone with an anxiety disorder is depressed.
Research also shows that a link exists between anxiety disorders and alcoholism.
Q: Do treatments for anxiety disorders work?
A: Well, like the disorders themselves, success rates depend on the individual. But the goal in treating anxiety disorders is the same--to be able to live a full, productive life without avoiding whatever triggers anxiety.
When medication is necessary, treatment usually lasts longer than when the disorder is treated with therapy alone. Even with all the variables, up to 90 percent of anxiety sufferers can be effectively treated. Yay!
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