| Anxiety disorders affect millions of men and women | | | | Center at mentalhealth.samhsa.gov, anxiety disorders |
| every year, and most people experience a | | | | can cause people to become "trapped in a pattern of |
| combination of emotional and physical symptoms | | | | repeated thoughts and behaviors such as counting or |
| depending on the severity of their condition. Anxiety | | | | hand washing" just so they can reduce their feelings of |
| disorders range from generalized anxiety disorder, | | | | tension and anxiety. |
| obsessive compulsive disorder, phobias and social | | | | 4. Watching for signs of danger. People who are |
| anxiety disorder, but almost all have the same | | | | always on the edge are usually looking for signs of |
| spectrum of emotional symptoms that have significant | | | | danger, and may become preoccupied with risky |
| effects on the person's well-being and emotional | | | | situations or events. Most people who have anxiety |
| health. | | | | disorders will always be on the lookout for danger, and |
| The primary symptoms associated with all anxiety | | | | be very careful about where they go or what they do. |
| disorders is excessive, even irrational fear or worry | | | | 5. Difficulty concentrating. When most of the day is |
| about a particular situation, place or thing. However, the | | | | spent being preoccupied with worry, anxiety and fear, |
| following emotional symptoms can also be present, | | | | people with anxiety disorders can find it very difficult to |
| and can occur frequently, or become a part of the | | | | stay focused and concentrate. They may have |
| person's personality: | | | | difficulty sitting in one place for long periods of time to |
| 1. Anticipating the worst. Most people suffering from an | | | | perform tasks at a job, complete schoolwork, or finish |
| anxiety disorder are always preparing for the worst, | | | | a project. Symptoms may be recognized as ADD or |
| and expect negative things to happen. This can | | | | ADHD, but in many cases, the root cause is an anxiety |
| perpetuate a cycle of negative thinking, and may lead | | | | disorder. |
| to depression, more anxiety and other problems. | | | | 6. Irritability. Many people suffering from anxiety |
| 2. Agitation or restlessness. Anxiety disorders often | | | | disorders do not get enough rest or sleep, and this can |
| leave the person feeling uneasy or uncomfortable in | | | | make them especially irritable or aggravated |
| certain situations. In some cases, the sufferer may | | | | throughout the day. They may become irritated by |
| experience constant restlessness even when trying to | | | | slight changes in their schedule or routine, and can |
| relax at home. This is because they have gotten into | | | | become overly sensitive to everyday situations. This |
| the habit of maintaining a heightened sense of | | | | can be improved with adequate rest and stress relief |
| awareness, and may have become particularly | | | | methods, but these habits will take time to develop. |
| sensitive to even the slightest changes in their | | | | There are several emotional symptoms of anxiety |
| environment. | | | | disorders that can adversely affect the sufferer's life, |
| 3. Feeling jumpy or tense on a regular basis. Most | | | | and the lives of their friends and family. Recognizing |
| people who have even the mildest forms of anxiety | | | | these symptoms is the first step to addressing an |
| disorder will feel as though they are always on the | | | | anxiety disorder and finding the best course of |
| edge, or have to "walk on eggshells." According to the | | | | treatment. |
| United States National Mental Health Information | | | | |