My husband and kids tell me that I worry too much. If we’re having company or guests, I panic over getting everything done in time. If someone gets sick, I fall apart. How do I know if these reactions are normal or really an over-reaction?

Fear and anxiety are a normal part of life, even adaptive in many conditions. Who among us has not studied for a test without some anxiety – and scored better for it? Who has not walked down a dark street in a high crime district without mounting fear? Normal anxiety keeps us alert; it makes us question whether we really have to walk down that street after all. Mental health professionals are not concerned with normal anxiety. Rather, they attend to fear and anxiety that has somehow gone awry; that inexplicably reaches overwhelming levels; that dramatically reduces or eliminates productivity and significantly intrudes on an individual’s quality of life; and for which friends, family, and even the patient, can find no obvious cause. Clinicians recognize about 12 relatively distinct subtypes of anxiety disorder: 

§         Panic disorder, with and without agoraphobia (abnormal fear of open spaces)

§         Agoraphobia without a history of panic disorder

§         Specific phobia

§         Social phobia

§         Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

§         Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

§         Acute stress disorder

§         Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

§         Anxiety disorder due to a general medical condition

§         Substance-Induced anxiety disorder

§         Anxiety disorder Not Otherwise Specified (NOS) 

Frequently, these disorders are made more complex and difficult to treat because they are accompanied by depression, substance abuse and suicidal thoughts. The prevalence of these disorders is startling. At sometime during their lives, nearly a quarter (24.9%) of the adult population in the United States will have an anxiety disorder. Only substance-related disorders are more common (26.6%).

It’s important that patients and clinicians recognize that effective treatments are available. Phobias can be treated by behavioral methods; panic disorder can be treated with medication, cognitive-behavioral therapy or both. Obsessive Compulsive and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders are difficult, but not impossible to treat, and the symptoms can be markedly reduced, if not eliminated. When the anxiety disorder is effectively dealt with, drug abuse and secondary depression will also usually decline.

Every year the National Institute of Mental Health spends millions of dollars to research the causes and treatments of anxiety disorders. As understanding of the causes has grown, effective treatments have been developed. Treatment allows individuals to return to relatively normal, productive lives. Recognition that something is wrong is what brings people to participate each year in National Anxiety Disorders Screening Day. Individuals need to know that once identified, anxiety disorders can be treated. This year, Christian Hospital will offer free, confidential screenings on Wednesday, May 4 at its north county and south county out-patient offices. Participants can view an educational video, take a confidential screening questionnaire, talk with a mental health professional, and, if necessary, receive referrals for follow-up visits. Call 314-362-9355 for more information. To find a mental health professional in any part of the country that offers year-round confidential screenings, visit www.freedomfromfear.org. Click on Finding Help/Resources; click on Referral Room. To take an on-line screening at the website, click on Finding Help/Resources; click on Screen Yourself. You can also call the Freedom From Fear organization at toll-free 1-888-442-2022.

Education Department
Mental Health Association of Greater St. Louis

Some information for this article excerpted from An Overview of Anxiety Disorders, Jack D. Maser, Ph.D., National Institute of Mental Health

 Want to see other Open Mind columns?  Click here for Archive Index.

Go to Current Open Mind Column