Frequently asked questions about anxiety and panic

What are anxiety/panic disorders?

Answer:

It is a normal human emotion for people to experience anxiety or nervousness when faced with a problem or making an important decision. Anxiety disorders and panic disorders, however, are different. They can cause such distress that it interferes with a person's ability to lead a normal life.

Anxiety disorders are quite common, with anxiety disorders affecting 15 percent of adults. For those affected, worry and fear are constant and overwhelming, and can be crippling.

Panic disorders affect 7 people in 1,000, and strike without reason or warning. During a panic attack, the fear response is out of proportion for the situation, which often is non-threatening. Over time, the person develops a constant fear of having another attack.

What are the different types of anxiety disorders?

Answer:

There are several recognised anxiety disorders, including:

• Panic disorder: People with this condition have feelings of terror, or panic attacks, that strike suddenly and repeatedly with no warning. Other symptoms of a panic attack include sweating, chest pain, palpitations (irregular heartbeats), and a feeling of choking, which may make the person feel like he or she is having a heart attack or losing control.
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): People with OCD are plagued by constant thoughts or fears that cause them to perform certain rituals or routines. The disturbing thoughts are called obsessions, and the rituals are called compulsions. An example is a person with an unreasonable fear of germs who constantly washes his or her hands.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): PTSD is a condition that can develop following a traumatic and/or terrifying event, such as a sexual or physical assault, the unexpected death of a loved one, or a natural disaster. People with PTSD often have lasting and frightening thoughts and memories of the event, and tend to be emotionally numb.
• Social anxiety disorder: Also called social phobia, social anxiety disorder involves overwhelming worry and self-consciousness about everyday social situations. The worry often centres on a fear of being judged by others, or behaving in a way that might cause embarrassment or lead to ridicule.
• Generalised anxiety disorder: This disorder involves excessive, unrealistic worry and tension, even if there is little or nothing to provoke the anxiety.
• Specific phobias: A specific phobia is an intense fear of a specific object or situation, such as snakes, heights, or flying. The level of fear usually is inappropriate to the situation and may cause the person to avoid common, everyday situations.

What causes anxiety disorders?

Answer:

Anxiety disorders are real illnesses with real causes and are not the result of personal weakness, a character flaw, or poor upbringing. Ongoing scientific research is making it clear that many of these disorders are caused by a combination of factors, including changes in the brain, environmental stresses, and genetics.