AnxietyDisorders

AnxietyDisorders affect about 40 millionAmerican adults age 18
years and older (about 18%) in a given year,1 causing them to be filled
with fearfulness and uncertainty. Unlike the relatively mild, brief anxi
ety caused by a stressful event (such as speaking in public or a first
date), anxiety disorders last at least 6 months and can get worse if
they are not treated.Anxiety disorders commonly occur along with
other mental or physical illnesses, including alcohol or substance abuse,
which may mask anxiety symptoms or make them worse. In some
cases, these other illnesses need to be treated before a person will
respond to treatment for the anxiety disorder.
Effective therapies for anxiety disorders are available, and research
is uncovering new treatments that can help most people with anxiety
disorders lead productive, fulfilling lives. If you think you have an anxiety
disorder, you should seek information and treatment right away.