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Getting
Help > About Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety
Disorders
Most
people experience some anxiety and fear as a normal part of living.
But for
millions of Americans, their anxieties and fear are persistent
and overwhelming, and they can interfere with daily life. These people
suffer from anxiety disorders, a group of psychiatric disorders
that can be terrifying and disabling. Experts
believe that anxiety disorders are caused by a combination of biological
and environmental factors, similar to
heart disease, diabetes, or other physical disorders.
Anxiety disorders are real, serious,
and treatable. The vast majority of people with an anxiety disorder can be helped
with the appropriate professional care, although rates of success vary among patients. Alone or in combination, cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychotherapy,
and medication are effective
treatments. Some patients with an anxiety
disorder may also suffer from depression or substance
abuse, further complicating proper diagnosis and prolonging treatment.
Anxiety disorders are identified as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD),
obsessive-compulsive
disorder (OCD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder, social anxiety disorder (SAD; also called social phobia), and specific phobias. Click on the titles below for more information:
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