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Anxiety

Anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric illnesses affecting both children and adults. In the United States, over 19 million people suffer from an anxiety disorder. While anxiety disorders are highly treatable, approximately only one-third of people suffering from an anxiety disorder seek help.

What is anxiety?
Anxiety can be a normal response to a dangerous situation. For example, if you were to find a burglar in your home, the normal response would be a faster heart rate, sweaty palms and racing thoughts. Such a response is meant to keep you out of danger. Anxiety can also give you the energy to accomplish tasks and goals. For instance, during midterms or finals, you may feel anxious about a paper or an exam, but you are able to use that anxiety positively in that you will set aside the necessary time to study or to write. When anxiety does not serve either of the previous two purposes, anxiety is no longer a positive matter. Instead, it negatively affects your life because you may feel a sense of dread or fear for no apparent reason and may become unable to react to situations normally.

What are the risk factors for an anxiety disorder?
It is believed that anxiety disorders develop from a complex set of risk factors including genetics, brain chemistry, personality and life events.

What are anxiety disorders?
Anxiety disorders are illnesses that fill people's lives with overwhelming anxiety and fear that is chronic, unremitting and can become increasingly worse. Some categories of anxiety disorders include:

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterized by excessive, unrealistic worry that lasts for six months or more. Physical symptoms can included trembling, muscular aches, insomnia, upset stomach, dizziness and irritability.
  
  
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterized by persistent, recurring thoughts (obsessions) that reflect exaggerated anxiety or fears. The obsessions may lead to ritualistic or routine actions (compulsions) in an attempt to alleviate the anxiety caused by the obsessions.
  
  
• Panic Disorder causes severe panic attacks and usually has more severe physical symptoms than GAD. These symptoms include: heart palpitations, chest pain or discomfort, sweating, trembling, tingling sensations, feeling as though you are choking, fear of dying, fear of losing control and feelings of unreality. Panic disorders are often accompanied by agoraphobia, a phobia in which people are afraid of having a panic attack in a place from which escape would be difficult.
  
  
• Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) usually follows a traumatic event such as a sexual or physical assault, witnessing a death, the unexpected death of a loved one or a natural disaster. There are three main symptoms: reliving the traumatic event (often through flashbacks or nightmares), avoidance behaviors (avoiding places related to or similar to the trauma) and emotional numbing (detachment from others) and physiological symptoms such as difficulty sleeping, irritability or poor concentration.
  
  
• Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia) is characterized by an extreme anxiety about being judged by others or a fear of behaving in manners that could cause embarassment or ridicule. This disorder can lead to avoidance behaviors and is often accompanied by the physical symptoms of heart palpitations, faintness, blushing and profuse sweating.
  
  
• Specific Phobias are intense, fearful reactions to a specific object or situation (spiders or heights, for instance). Usually, the level of fear is inappropiate to the situation and is recognized by the sufferer as being irrational. Phobias can also lead to avoidance behaviors.

When should I seek help?
If you experience any of the following symptoms and they are not warranted by the situation, you should speak with a medical provider.

• Feeling as though you are choking
  
  
• Chest pressure or chest pain
  
  
• Pounding heart
  
  
• Racing pulse
  
  
• Dizziness or lightheadness
  
  
• Shortness of breath or tightness in the throat
  
  
• Sweating
  
  
• Trembling or shaking
  
  
• Nausea
  
  
• Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
  
  
• Hot flashes or chills
  
  
• Sense of unreality or dreamlike sensations
  
  
• Fear of losing control, of doing something embarrassing of going "crazy" or dying

How do I help a friend with an anxiety disorder?
Just as with other physical or mental illnesses, sufferers need your support. Listed below are several ways you can support a friend who has an anxiety disorder.

• Learn about the disorder
  
  
• Recognize and praise small accomplishments
  
  
• Modify expectations during stressful periods
  
  
• Measure progress on the basis of individual improvement and not against some absolute standard
  
  
• Be flexible
  
  
• Try to maintain a normal routine
  
  
• Find a support network of family and friends for yourself

How are anxiety disorders treated?
Anxiety disorders require an individualized treatment and the success of treatment varies with the individual. This means that some people will respond to the treatment within a few months while others may improve after a year or more. In addition, treatment can be complicated by the fact that sufferers of anxiety disorders may have more than one disorder and may be dealing with depression or substance abuse. However, there are several standard approaches that have proven effective. These include:

• Behavior Therapy
  The patient learns to modify and gain control over unwanted behavior, often through controlled exposure to situations with which they struggle. This sort of therapy gives the individual a sense of having control over their life.
  
  
• Cognitive Therapy
  This therapy teaches the patient to change unproductive or harmful thought patterns. The individual examines their feelings and learns to separate realistic from unrealistic thoughts. As with Behavior Therapy, the individual is actively involved in their recovery allowing for a sense of control over their lives.
  
  
• Cognitive-Behavior Therapy (CBT)
  This therapy is what it sounds like - a combination of the first two therapies. The largest benefit to this therapy is that the patient learns recovery skills useful for a lifetime.
  
  
• Relaxation Techniques
  Relaxation techniques help to develop the ability to more effectively cope with the stressors that contribute to anxiety as well as some of the physical symptoms of anxiety.
  
  
• Medication
  Medication can be useful and is usually used in conjunction with one of the above therapies. Anti-depressants or anxiolytics (anti-anxiety medications) are prescribed for severe symptoms so that therapy can move forward. Medication can either be a short-term or long-term treatment, depending on the individual.

The most important thing is to take action by finding help. Any step you take to overcome anxiety will help you to gain a sense of control.

Resources at Texas State
Health Education Resource Center (512) 245-2309
Walk-ins and appointments are welcome to obtain confidential answers to health questions. Located in suite 201 of the Student Health Center at the corner of Sessom and Tomas Rivera Drive.

Student Health Center (512) 245-2167
Located at the corner of Sessom and Tomas Rivera Streets.
Confidential information and care is available by appointment with a physician or nurse. There are no fees for medical care at the Student Health Center. However, there may be fees incurred if laboratory tests, medications, specialist or emergency hospital care is needed.

Counseling Center (512) 245-2208
Located on the fifth floor of the LBJ Student Center.
Confidential counseling appointments are available for students. Services include crisis intervention, short-term psychotherapy and referrals. There are no fees for appointments.

Links you can use
Intelihealth's Stress Reduction Techniques
Learn the top 13 ways to reduce your stress, including breathing exercises, visualization and using a journal.

Canyon Ranch
Give yourself an excuse to take a break. Visit Canyon Ranch's online Meditation Room and choose from a variety of guided breathing exercises, meditations and visualizations. Plug in your head phones, sit back and relax!

Anxiety Disorders Association of America
This site offers information about anxiety, self-tests, resources and an online bookstore.

National Institute of Mental Health
This site has information about anxiety, current research and studies as well as additional resources.

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Last Modified: September 7, 2006