| Anxiety problems, and mental health problems | | | | And then there are anxiety problems that are |
| in general, seem to be on the increase in our | | | | not specifically defined and are known as |
| fast paced modern day society. More and more | | | | generalized anxiety disorders. They are |
| anxiety and related disorders seem to be in | | | | characterised by a constant and persistent |
| the news. | | | | fear of or worry about ordinary things. |
| | | | |
| Anxiety and its associated disorders are the | | | | Of course there are always situations where |
| most common of all the mental illnesses that | | | | almost everyone would be anxious, these |
| afflict us. It is estimated that around 20% | | | | happen to all of us in our lives and it is |
| of the adult population will be affected by | | | | normal to be anxious when encountering |
| some form of anxiety disorder at some stage | | | | situations such as these. The mere fact that |
| in their lives. For a population as large as | | | | an individual is suffering from some form of |
| ours that is a large number of people indeed. | | | | worry or fear is not of itself evidence of an |
| | | | anxiety disorder. |
| People with some form of anxiety disorder are | | | | |
| more likely to use scarce health care | | | | But people who suffer from generalized |
| resources. They go to the doctor more often | | | | anxiety disorders suffer from a continuing |
| than average, and are more likely to end up | | | | fear or worry when there is no reason to fear |
| in hospital than the average. | | | | or worry. That is the important distinction, |
| | | | there is no need to be scared or worried, but |
| This of course places a large burden on our | | | | they continue to be. |
| health care system and the amounts of money | | | | |
| spent on combating anxiety and its related | | | | This condition can take over their lives to |
| disorders is massive. It is estimated at over | | | | the point where they feel they cannot control |
| $40 billion dollars a year. | | | | it and it is manifestly excessive. That is |
| | | | where there may well be a problem for the |
| There are a range of anxiety problems that | | | | individual, and the continuous worry can |
| people encounter, some well known and some | | | | seriously interfere with their life. |
| not so well known. Post traumatic stress | | | | |
| disorder is well documented as it is | | | | If you feel that you are becoming more and |
| experienced by so many of our soldiers who | | | | more anxious about things which shouldnt |
| have seen active duty, but some of the other | | | | really be a cause of such anxiety, or that |
| forms are less well known. | | | | your anxiety is out of control, it is well |
| | | | worth investigating further. It is not |
| Some types of specifically recognised | | | | helpful to attempt to ignore the situation |
| disorders are specific anxiety phobias, such | | | | and hope it will go away, it may not, and may |
| as fear of spiders or heights, panic | | | | well get worse. |
| disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder and | | | | |
| social anxiety problems. | | | | Seeking help is the most important thing you |
| | | | can do in this situation. |