Generalized Anxiety Disorder Research Paper

Anxiety Disorder

Shelby N. Reuse

Miller-Motte Technical College

Do you know what it feels like to be anxious? Of course you do. We have all experienced the first date butterflies in our stomach, or the anticipation of waiting on a very important test grade. Anxiety is a common reaction to stressful situations, which aids in helping us cope with those situations. If you have an anxiety disorder, then you may find that your emotions will do just the opposite. Anxiety disorders can be so severe that if untreated, they can interfere with your daily lifestyle. There are numerous types of anxiety disorders, all with their own distinct features. Anxiety disorders are treatable and can have an overwhelming effect on the psychosocial quality of

Individuals who have been diagnosed with GAD may feel overwhelmed with day to day interactions such as work, family, and money. Generalized Anxiety Disorder affects 6.8 million adults in the United States alone, and is more common in women than in men. Although the cause of this disorder is still unknown, GAD shows evidence of traumatic encounters in one’s life, family history, and genetic factors.

Have you ever heard the saying “it feels like an elephant is sitting on my chest”? If so, that person has experienced a panic attack at some point in their life. Individuals who are diagnosed with panic disorder have unexpected and recurrent attacks of panic that can last for several minutes or longer. This is called a panic attack. Panic attacks are characterized by anxiety of losing control even when there is no potential danger. Panic attacks can appear at any time, and many people with panic disorder worry about and fear the possibility of having another attack. A person with panic disorder may become depressed and feel embarrassed because he or she cannot carry out daily activities like going to school or work, going to the gym, or driving a car. Panic disorder is most common in women than men and usually begins at an early

Social anxiety disorder (also known as social phobia) is a form of anxiety and just like any disorder, it has its own characteristics. It is extreme, persistent anxiety of being watched and judged by the people around you. I feel that social anxiety is one of the hardest forms of anxiety to cope with because a person can feel isolated. This disorder can make it very hard for one to go to school, grocery shop, work, or even have casual encounters with co-workers at an event. The slightest blush or wrong move this person makes, they feel ashamed and overwhelmed with stress as to what the people around them think. One may find that they avoid social situations all together due to the fear of being rejected or humiliated. What we may consider as “shy”, someone could be suffering from something much more severe than