Anxiety Symptoms, Causes and Treatments

Anxiety symptoms are on the rise. Studies show more people than ever are anxious. Every day we’re overly busy trying to keep up with our phones, social media and crazy news stories!

Plus anxiety isn’t just for adults. Children everywhere are dealing with anxiety. The media even called today’s millennials “The Anxious Generation.”

I’m determined to offer tools to help people relax – which is why I created my video course The Anxiety Cure.

I also connected with Everyday Health –  to learn more about anxiety symptoms, causes and treatments.

Below is an informative article – originally  published on Everyday Health – written by Lindsey Konkel and medically reviewed by Kathryn Keegan, MD

Anxiety is a feeling of nervousness, unease, or worry that typically occurs in the absence of an imminent threat. It differs from fear, which is the body’s natural response to immediate danger.

Anxiety is part of the body’s natural reaction to stress, so it can be helpful at times, making you more alert and ready for action.

Anxiety disorders and normal feelings of anxiousness are two different things. When feelings of fear or nervousness become excessive, difficult to control, or interfere with daily life, an anxiety disorder may be present. Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental disorders in the United States.

It’s common to think about anxiety in a way that may hinder our ability to overcome it. “The biggest misconception about anxiety is that it’s to be feared and avoided at all costs,” says Noah Clyman, a licensed clinical social worker and director of NYC Cognitive Therapy, a private psychotherapy practice in New York City.

“I teach my clients that negative emotions, such as sadness, anger, and fear, are important to our survival, and emotional discomfort is a very normal, universal human experience,” he says.

How Many People Have Anxiety Disorders?

Many people first develop symptoms of an anxiety disorder during childhood. Some anxiety disorders, such as specific phobias and social anxiety disorder, are more likely to develop in childhood or teenage years, while others, such as generalized anxiety disorder, are more likely to start in young adulthood.

According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 3.6 percent of the world’s population suffers from anxiety disorders. (1)

The National Institute of Mental Health reports that 19 percent of American adults are affected by an anxiety disorder each year. (2)

A review published in June 2016 in the journal Brain and Behavior of 48 studies noted that anxiety was more prevalent in women, in people under 35, and in those who live in North America or Western European countries. (3)

The review, conducted by researchers at Cambridge University in England, also found that people with chronic health conditions were more likely to experience anxiety. According to the review, almost 11 percent of people with heart disease in Western countries reported having generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). In addition, 32 percent of those with multiple sclerosis had some kind of anxiety disorder. (3)