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Information on Mental Illness Index <
What are Anxiety Disorders?
What is anxiety?
Anxiety is a term which describes a normal feeling people experience
when faced with threat or danger, or when stressed.
When people become anxious, they typically feel upset, uncomfortable
and tense.
Feelings of anxiety are caused by experiences of life, such as job loss,
relationship breakdown, serious illness, major accident or the death of
someone close. Feeling anxious is appropriate in these situations and
usually we feel anxious for only a limited time. These feelings are not
regarded as clinical anxiety, but are a part of everyday life.
What are the anxiety disorders?
The anxiety disorders are a group of illnesses, each characterised by
persistent feelings of high anxiety. There are feelings of continual or
extreme discomfort and tension, with the fear of panic attacks, usually
without discernible cause.
People are likely to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder when their
level of anxiety and feelings of panic are so extreme that they significantly
interfere with daily life and stop them doing what they want to do. This
is what characterises an anxiety disorder as more than normal feelings
of anxiety.
Anxiety disorders affect the way the person thinks, feels and behaves
and, if not treated, cause considerable suffering and distress.
They often begin in early adulthood and are often triggered by a series
of significant life events.
Anxiety disorders are common and affect one in 20 people at any given
time.
What are the main types of anxiety disorders?
Most types of anxiety disorder are characterised by heightened anxiety
and fear of panic. Obsessive compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress
disorder are considered types of anxiety disorder, as both feature high
levels of anxiety, which people try to control.
Generalised anxiety disorder
People with this disorder worry constantly about harm affecting themselves
or loved ones, for example, financial disaster, their health, work or
personal relationships.
The irrational worry is accompanied by a feeling of constant apprehension.
Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia is a fear of being in places or situations from which it
may be difficult or embarrassing to get away, or the fear that help
might be unavailable if needed.
Agoraphobia is the most common anxiety disorder and constitutes about
half those with anxiety disorders who seek professional help.
People with agoraphobia most commonly experience fear in a cluster
of situations: in supermarkets and department stores, crowded places
of all kinds, confined spaces, public transport, lifts, freeways and
heights.
People experiencing agoraphobia may find comfort in the company of
a safe person or object. This may be a spouse, friend, pet or medicine
carried with them.
We do not understand why, but the onset of agoraphobia is common between
the ages of 15 and 20, or between 30 and 40. Many more women than men
seek treatment.
Panic disorder (with or without agoraphobia)
People with this disorder experience extreme panic attacks in situations
where most people would not be afraid.
The attacks are accompanied by all the unpleasant physical symptoms
of anxiety, with a fear that the attack will lead to death or a total
loss of control.
It is because of this that some people start to experience a fear of
going outside (agoraphobia) and being in places where help is not at
hand.
Specific phobia
Everyone has some irrational fears, but phobias are intense fears about
particular objects or situations which interfere in our lives. These
might include fear of heights, water, dogs, closed spaces, snakes or
spiders.
Someone with a specific phobia is fine when the feared object is not
present. However, when faced with the feared object or situation, the
person can become highly anxious and experience a panic attack.
People affected by phobias can go to great lengths to avoid situations
which would force them to confront the object or situation which they
fear.
Social phobia
People with social phobia fear that others will judge everything they
do in a negative way. They believe they are permanently flawed and worthless
if any sign of poor performance is detected.
They cope by either trying to do everything perfectly, limiting what
they do in front of others, especially eating, drinking, speaking or
writing, or they withdraw gradually from contact with others.
Obsessive compulsive disorder
This disorder involves constant unwanted thoughts, and often results
in the performance of elaborate rituals in an attempt to control or
banish the persistent thoughts.
The rituals are usually time consuming and seriously interfere with
everyday life. For example, people may be constantly driven to wash
their hands or continually return home to check that the door is locked
or the oven is turned off.
People with this disorder are often acutely embarrassed and keep it
a secret, even from their families.
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Many people who have experienced major traumas such as war, torture,
vehicle accidents, fires or personal violence continue to feel terror
long after the event is over.
They may experience nightmares or flashbacks for years. The flashbacks
are often brought about by triggers related to the experience, but not
necessarily central to it.
What causes
anxiety disorders?
The causes of each disorder may vary and it is not always easy to determine
the causes in every case.
Personality
People with certain characteristics are more prone to anxiety disorders.
Those who are easily aroused and upset, and are very sensitive and
emotional, are more likely to develop anxiety disorders.
People who, in childhood, were inhibited and shy may also be prone
to develop certain anxiety disorders, such as social phobia.
Learnt response
Some people exposed to situations, people or objects that are upsetting
or anxiety-arousing may develop an anxiety response when faced with
the same situation, person, or object again, or become anxious when
thinking about the situation, person, or object.
Heredity
The tendency to develop anxiety disorders may run in families or a
person may also 'learn' anxious responses from their family or parents.
Biochemical processes
Although there is no clear evidence, it is possible that some anxiety
disorders result from chemical processes in the brain.
In all cases, there is a need for a thorough examination of the person
to help determine the nature of the problem and how it may best be treated.
What treatment is available?
Anxiety disorders, if they are not managed, continue to interfere significantly
with the person's thinking and behaviour, causing considerable suffering
and distress.
Many professionals such as your general practitioner, psychologists,
social workers or counsellors can assist in the treatment of anxiety disorders.
Treatment will often include education and counselling, to help the person
understand their thoughts, emotions and behaviour.
- People develop new ways of thinking about their anxiety and how to
deal more effectively with feelings of anxiety.
Medication is sometimes used to help the person control their high anxiety
levels, panic attacks or depression.
- The benzodiazepines (e.g. diazapam and valium), are used for the
temporary relief of anxiety, but care has to be taken as these medications
may cause dependence. Anti-depressants play an important role in the
treatment of any associated or underlying depression. Contrary to common
belief, anti-depressants are not addictive.
Where to go for help
- Your general practitioner.
- Your community health centre.
- Your community mental health centre.
For information on services, check the Community Help and Welfare Services
and 24-hour emergency numbers in your local telephone directory.
For immediate counselling assistance, contact Lifeline on 13 1114.
Lifeline can also supply you with contacts, further information and help.
"Information on Mental Illness" brochures can also be mailed
out to you. They can be ordered from the Commonwealth
Mental Health Publications Online Ordering page.
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