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Anxiety Disorders 3.
severe anxiety in response to minor or common problems, or when the anxiety never goes away,.
and actually interferes with our problem solving." ( Agras, 1985 ).
"Anxiety disorders have been found to be the most common of all disorders in the United.
States." ( Comer, 1998 ) "In any given year between 15 and 17 percent of the adult population -.
23 million people - suffer from one or another of the six anxiety disorders identified by the.
DSM-IV. The disorders cost society close to $50 billion each year in health care expenses, lost.
wages, and lost productivity." ( Comer, 1998 ).
This paper will discuss three of the six anxiety disorders that plague Americans. These.
disorders include: Generalized anxiety disorder: somewhat of a catchall group for individuals that.
experience persistent feelings of anxiety, panic disorder in which individuals experience recurrent.
panic attacks that are not expected; and finally social anxiety disorder also known as social.
phobia. While each one of these disorders have distinguishing characteristics of their own, they.
all stem from the simple response to fear most commonly referred to as anxiety.
Generalized anxiety disorder is a "disorder marked by persistent and excessive feelings of.
anxiety and worry about numerous events and activities." ( Comer 1998 ) Most people who.
suffer from this disorder are often accused of "looking for things to worry about". This could.
not be further from the truth. The anxiety felt by individuals is very great causing not only.
emotional problems but can and will lead to physical problems as well.
As I stated earlier, generalized anxiety disorder is somewhat of a catch all group, so it is.
not surprising that it is a common problem in the society we live in. "Surveys suggest that up to.
3.8 percent of the United States population has the diagnosis of this disorder in any given year. It.
may emerge at any age, but usually it first appears in childhood or adolescence.
