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What Anxiety Disorders Are and Where They Come From |
By Martin Reed
 Most people fail to understand that feelings of impending disaster, stress and gloom can be the sign of an anxiety disorder. This is something it is estimated over 40 million people in the US suffer from. Women are twice as likely to suffer from anxiety disorder than men. The disorder can be difficult to diagnose and detect due to the fact the symptoms are often very similar to depression, or even other physical illnesses.
Repeated visits to the doctor and test after test without finding any physical irregularities can lead to even more anxiety. The doctor may give you a clean bill of health but your symptoms have not disappeared. The symptoms can include chest pain, a noticeably strong heart beat, headaches, muscle tension and stomach aches. You may also find that you suffer from uncontrollable shaking. When you combine these physical symptoms with the emotional symptoms of depression, worry, sadness, fear and even dread then it is worth investigating whether there is a possibility you may be suffering from anxiety disorder.
As women, we are often taught to remain strong, to put
a tough face on our troubles. Fear or weakness may be seen as a flaw, and that is certainly not how we want to be seen. Unfortunately anxiety disorder often gives us little control over our emotions. It can affect how we think, how we feel and how we interact with others. It can even affect our careers. The anxiety can be heightened even further when we can see we are upsetting and worrying others. The temptation is to isolate ourselves and withdraw emotionally in order to prevent excessive worry.
There are a number of different types of anxiety disorder and General Anxiety Disorder is the most common type. They are often associated with depression and other mental issues. Often, anxiety disorder comes from a traumatic event in our lives. Although the common response from doctors was to prescribe anti-depressants or other anxiety medications, more women are seeking treatments for both their body and mind. In addition to, or as a replacement for, prescription medication, many women are seeking therapy and counselling. It is no longer enough to solely treat the body or solely treat the mind. They are both interlinked.
Regardless of whether you or someone you know suffers from anxiety disorders, the best thing to do is to get educated. The more you understand the symptoms and treatment options available, the more help you can be either to yourself or to the people you love. Support groups exist both online and offline and there is an increasing amount of research being done into anxiety disorder. Of course, the first step is correct diagnosis, but after this you need to ensure that you begin a comprehensive treatment plan, get educated, and get the support of the people around you.
Martin Reed is the developer and owner of Female Forum - an online community for women. He also blogs about how to develop successful online communities.
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