However, there are millions of people out there whose lives are disrupted from constant feelings of anxiety that never seem to go away.  Around 15% of the population suffers from an anxiety disorder that can be devastating to their daily lives, resulting in highly restricted lifestyle. Panic attacks, phobias, extreme shyness, and obsessive compulsive behaviors can end up becoming the dominating force in their lives making normal living impossible. Anxiety becomes more than just an occasional bout of apprehension, and things like going to work, driving, even going to the  store turn into impossible tasks.

Types of anxiety disorders

Social anxiety disorder:  also known as social phobia, this is the fear of being around other people. People who have social anxiety disorder always feel self conscious around others, and have the feeling that everyone is watching or staring at them in a critical manner. Since the feeling of anxiety is intense, these people tend to stay away from social situations and go to great lengths avoiding other people. Some even need to be alone at all times, in a room with the door closed, with the feelings of anxiety being pervasive, even keeping them from their close friends and family. People with social anxiety disorder know that their fears are irrational, that they are not being constantly scrutinized by others, yet knowing this does not seem to make the feeling go away.

Panic disorder: People with a panic disorder experience panic attacks without warning.

Symptoms of a panic attack include:

* Racing or pounding heart
* Trembling
* Sweaty palms
* Feeling terrified
* Chest pains or a heavy feeling in the chest
* Dizziness and lightheadedness
* Fears of Dying, going crazy or losing control
* Trouble breathing
* Tingling in the extremities

A panic attack will usually last a short period of time from several minutes to a few hours, and can be an extremely frightening episode leaving a person feeling depressed and helpless afterwards.  Many people who experience panic attacks live in constant fear of it happening to them again causing them further anxiety.  According to the National Institutes of Mental Health, around 5% of adults in America suffer from panic attacks, and some experts believe that that the number is higher with many people who experience them never seeking treatment.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder: people with generalized anxiety have trouble shutting their mind off to all the “what ifs” in a given situation, letting their life swell with worry, anxiety and fear.  The anxiety and worry turns into a vicious cycle and can lead to severe depression   since the person feels like they are unable to stop it. Generalized anxiety is quite common with 3 to 4% of the adult population suffering from it.

People who are diagnosed with generalized anxiety usually do not have panic attacks nor do they avoid situations. However, they can become incapacitated by the overwhelming feelings of worry, dread, fatigue and loss of interest in life along with their inability to shut their mind off. While they know that the feelings are irrational, they are also very real and hard to ignore. Generalized anxiety disorder can lead to severe mood swings on a daily or hourly basis, and the pattern of anxiety and changes in mood can be very disrupting to the quality of life.

Physical symptoms of generalized anxiety include headaches, irritability, frustration, trembling, trouble concentrating and trouble sleeping. Symptoms of social phobia and panic disorder may also be present.

Other types of anxiety disorders

Phobias: Fear of specific situations or things (i.e. spiders, closed spaces)

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD): Ritualized behaviors or obsessions driven by anxious thoughts.

Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): severe anxiety triggered by a past traumatic event.

The right kind of treatment can help bring relief to person who happens to suffer from an anxiety disorder. However, since the factors that cause anxiety are unique for each individual, finding the right kind treatment can be arduous time consuming task. If a treatment is not immediate or takes longer than previously thought, it could lead to frustration and despair for the individual. Some treatments may only take a few weeks or month to take hold and help a person cope, while others may need treatment for a year or longer. Anxiety disorders that are combined with other disorders like alcoholism or depression are more complicated to treat and may take even longer.

While treatments plans need to be tailored to each specific individual there are a number of standard approaches that can be used as a starting point. Most mental health professionals who specialize in the treatment of anxiety generally use a combination of the following treatments to help an individual. While there are general guidelines, it should be noted that there is no single approach that is correct.

Cognitive therapy

In cognitive therapy, a patient learns how to identify unproductive thought patterns through observation of their feelings. They are given tools to help them separate the realistic thoughts from the unrealistic, and how to change their thinking to be more productive.

Behavior Therapy

Behavior therapy’s aim is to alter and control unwanted behavior through a series of systematic steps. For example, a person with a phobia or obsessive compulsive disorder may be introduced to a type of behavior therapy called systematic desensitization. It this treatment the individual is  gradually exposed to the anxiety causing stimuli until they build up a tolerance to it.

Relaxation training

Many psychotherapists use relaxation training techniques such as self hypnosis, guided visualization and biofeedback to help their patients deal with their anxiety disorders.

Medication

Medications can help restore chemical imbalances that may cause symptoms of anxiety. Antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications combined with psychotherapy have proven to be very effective for many people suffering from anxiety.

A treatment plan for anxiety is dependent upon both the severity of the problem and time it takes the individual to overcome it. Another important factor is the patient’s willingness to seek and participate in a treatment plan. When a person with generalized anxiety is motivated to try to change their behavior and practice new skills, they can help change the way their brain reacts to the thoughts and feelings that once caused them anxiety.