MONEY, DEATH OF FAMILY MEMBER
TOP LIST OF AMERICA'S BIGGEST WORRIES

Survey Finds Women Worry More Often And Longer Than Men

WASHINGTON, August 13, 2003-Worries about finances and the death of loved ones are the leading causes of anxiety for Americans, according to a new survey conducted by the Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA). Thirty-six percent of people are "very" or "extremely" worried about their financial status; 31 percent are anxious about a loved one dying. Only 10 percent of Americans worry about their own death.
Women report slightly higher average levels of anxiety or worry than men (5.5 vs. 5.1, respectively), though nearly twice as many women as men say their feelings of worry last one week or longer (25 percent versus 13 percent, respectively). Women are also almost three times more likely than men to worry about their own death (14 percent vs. 5 percent, respectively).
"Anxiety is a normal response to situations of uncertainty especially if there is a possibility of a bad outcome," says Jerilyn Ross, MA, LICSW, ADAA's President and CEO. "But for many, severe and unprovoked anxiety affects their daily lives."
The survey finds that people use a variety of avoidance measures as a result of their worries or anxiety. Almost half (49 percent) of Americans have avoided people when feeling worried or anxious, and more than two in five (41 percent) have avoided answering their phones. For one in seven people, their worries have prevented them from leaving their homes.
"It's these avoidance behaviors and disruptions of our daily lives, like being unable to talk on the phone or leave home, that raises concern about whether a person has normal anxiety versus an anxiety disorder," says Ross. "For 19 million men and women, anxiety is so frequent, intense, and uncontrollable that it hinders the way they lead their lives."

Anxiety disorders are the most common psychiatric illnesses in the U.S. The term "anxiety disorder" refers to five psychiatric disorders that involve extreme fear or worry including: generalized anxiety disorder; panic disorder; obsessive-compulsive disorder; phobias; and posttraumatic stress disorder (a complete list of symptoms for each individual anxiety disorder is available on www.adaa.org).
Ross says that constant, chronic, and unsubstantiated worry or anxiety lasting for longer than a six month period may be a sign of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), a highly treatable anxiety disorder that affects four million Americans. Physical symptoms of GAD may include:
• Muscle tension
• Sweating
• Nausea
• Gastrointestinal discomfort or diarrhea
• Cold, clammy hands
• Difficulty swallowing
• Jumpiness
• Insomnia
• Excessive irritability

Ross recommends to people who have experienced these symptoms that they talk to their health professional or visit www.adaa.org for more information or to find a professional in their area.

Methodology
The survey was conducted by Harris Interactive for the ADAA. Online interviews with 1006 U.S. residents age 18 and older were conducted among respondents from the Harris Interactive online database in February 2003. Margin of error is plus or minus 3.1 percent.

About ADAA
ADAA is the only national, non-profit membership organization solely dedicated to promoting the prevention, treatment, and cure of anxiety disorders. The ADAA's Women's Initiative has created special materials for women of all ages that provide information on anxiety disorders, self-tests, finding a provider and self-help groups, treatment options, and questions to ask a therapist. People may visit the Women's Initiative section on www.adaa.org or call 1-800-922-8947 for more information.