by Mike Nichols on August 28, 2008 · 1 comment
Anxiety is the most common mental disorder experienced by older adults.
Anxiety Disorders affect over 18 percent of people over the age of 60. As many as 7 percent of this age group have Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), a disorder characterized by uncontrollable worries about everyday things.
Despite its prevalence, Anxiety Disorders remain one of the most undiagnosed and undertreated conditions in this age group. This is due to the failure of the current model of the primary care physician as gatekeeper model.
Eric J. Lenze, M.D., assistant professor of psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, says,
Studies have shown that generalized anxiety disorder is more common in the elderly … than depression, which affects about 3 percent of seniors. Surprisingly, there is little research that has been done on this disorder in the elderly.
Due to the lack of evidence, doctors often think that this disorder is rare in the elderly or that it is a normal part of aging, so they don’t diagnose or treat anxiety in their older patients, when, in fact, anxiety is quite common in the elderly and can have a serious impact on quality of life.
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Tagged as:
Agoraphobia,
Anxiety Disorder,
Elderly,
Elders,
GAD - General Anxiety Disorder,
OCD - Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder,
Panic Attacks,
Panic Disorder,
primary care physician,
Psychiatrist,
Psychologist,
PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,
SAD - Social Phobia,
Specific Phobias
Dogs! Mice! Needles! Insects! Cuts! Heights!
The list goes on and on. These are all known as Specific Phobias, and they are all the butt of many jokes.
But they are not a joke to many, many people. It is estimated by the National Institute of Mental Health that 19 million Americans have some sort of Specific Phobia.
A Specific Phobia is a type of Anxiety Disorder. It is a strong, irrational fear of something that poses little or no actual danger.
There are many Specific Phobias. Acrophobia is a fear of heights. You may be able to ski the world’s tallest mountains but not be able to go above the 3rd floor of an office building. You may be able to drive a car but be unable to enter an elevator. Other common phobias involve tunnels, highway driving, water, flying, animals and blood.
What exactly are Specific Phobias? What are the causes? How are they treated? Continue reading for answers to these and other questions (and a comic bonus!).
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Tagged as:
Agoraphobia,
Anxiety Disorder,
GAD - General Anxiety Disorder,
Panic Attacks,
SAD - Social Phobia,
Specific Phobias
Anxiety is a part of everyday life. We all worry. We all get anxious. And a little anxiety is natural, normal and even helpful.
Anxiety can act as a natural alarm system to an immediate threat. It can motivate you to foresee problems and figure out solutions. The physical symptoms of fear and anxiety can produce the adrenaline boost you need to confront real danger or a difficult situation. It can help you pass tests, be more productive and face the big challenges in your life.
Dr. Neil Rector, Head of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health’s Anxiety Disorders Clinic in Toronto, says,
It’s important to remember that anxiety is normal and is experienced by every living organism, right down to the sea slug. It is necessary in humans for survival and adaptation, and it is not in the least harmful or dangerous. Anxiety is typically short-lived, and in some cases moderate levels of anxiety actually enhance performance.
But when worry and anxiety will not go away, will not “switch off,” it can grow and grow until it becomes a real problem. If it leads to significant distress and impairment, it may signal the beginnings of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).
So, when are anxiety and worry normal? And when are they symptoms of GAD?
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Tagged as:
Anxiety,
Anxiety Disorder,
GAD - General Anxiety Disorder,
Worry
Anxiety Disorder sufferers have long known that they are more susceptible to physical diseases.
But now a study headed by Jitender Sareen of the University of Manitoba has detailed just what Anxiety Disorders can do to you physically.
It was proven several years ago that those with Anxiety Disorders are more prone to heart problems. This new study shows that people with Anxiety Disorders also have an increased risk of developing physical ailments, particularly thyroid diseases, respiratory diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, arthritis, allergies, and migraine diseases.
Early treatment of Anxiety Disorders is essential to warding off physical diseases caused by it. Sareen said,
Right now there is a long delay between someone developing an anxiety problem and seeking appropriate treatment — usually 10- 15 years. The hope is to get people with anxiety problems to go get help earlier. The treatments are quite effective if you get at it early before you get secondary [health conditions].
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Tagged as:
Agoraphobia,
Anxiety,
Anxiety Disorder,
GAD - General Anxiety Disorder,
OCD - Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder,
Panic Disorder,
PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,
Research,
SAD - Social Phobia
Up to 20 percent of the American public suffer from Anxiety, but only a small fraction seek treatment. That’s 60 million people in pain needlessly!
Why do so many people avoid treatment?
A man will think nothing about asking his doctor for a prescription for Viagra, but will often turn to alcohol or denial to deal with his Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
A woman will go in for her annual pap smear to guard against cancer, but refuses to acknowledge that her Social Anxiety Disorder is gradually shrinking her life into utter misery.
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Tagged as:
Agoraphobia,
Anxiety,
Denial,
GAD - General Anxiety Disorder,
Medical Health Professionals,
Panic Disorder,
PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,
SAD - Social Phobia
Anxiety Disorders are one of the most common psychiatric conditions. It is estimated that between 10 and 20 percent of the American people aged 18 and older suffer from some sort of Anxiety Disorder. That’s 30 to 60 million people!
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) of the American Psychiatric Association classifies nearly a dozen different Anxiety Disorders, from Acute Stress Disorder to Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder to Panic Attack to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
New research from the University of Illinois groups these dozen disorders into two different types based on brain activities:
- Anxious apprehension (verbal rumination and worry)
- Anxious arousal (intense fear, panic, or both)
These two kinds of Anxiety may occur alone or in combination, with potentially important implications for treatment. Previous studies and treatment have not always differentiated between these two types.
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Tagged as:
Anxiety,
Anxiety Disorder,
brain,
fMRI,
GAD - General Anxiety Disorder,
Panic Attacks,
Panic Disorder,
University of Illinois
Cookouts and parties on the Fourth of July are a long-standing tradition, something like apple pie, but this time you’re eating hamburgers and barbecue. You might be hosting the event yourself, or you may be going to a friend’s, as we are.
If you are going to a friend’s or a family member’s home, it might be an occasion for your Anxieties to act up, so it is prudent to prepare yourself in advance. Thinking through the event will give you a level of comfort you won’t have if you just wing it.
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Tagged as:
Anxiety,
GAD - General Anxiety Disorder,
Gatherings,
Panic,
Panic Attacks,
Parties,
SAD - Social Phobia,
Stress,
Tips
