An Anxiety Disorder is now a relatively common ailment in our society.  Over 14 Million people in our country are affected by significant problems with anxiety.   It is for this reason that a significant number of statistical as well as clinical studies are being done on this condition.

First, it is important to understand exactly what an anxiety disorder is and how it differs from common and non-problematic anxiety in our society.   We all have tension and stress in our lives and most of us deal with them adequately on a daily basis. So, what then is it that constitutes a level of anxiety which cannot be adequately controlled and which can actually cause us harm if not treated or brought under control?

An anxiety disorder is a condition wherein the sufferer sustains a level and severity of stress and panic, even regarding minor things with a limited probability of a serious outcome, that cannot be controlled and which often leads to an anxiety attack.   This condition, if not treated often leads to continued severity – and a full-fledged anxiety attack – until the individual is almost unable to function at work or even at home.

Anxiety Disorders can best be categorized by their relationship with that which is feared or the related condition which caused its onset.

A Generalized Anxiety Disorder, or GAD, is a condition in which stress or anxiety about ordinary events and minor problems are allowed to spiral out of control and generate severe trauma, even an actual panic attack.  This disorder typically starts with minor episodes and can quickly graduate into major levels of fear and panic attacks.   What were previously called phobia disorders, like fear of water, fear of flying, etc. are generally recognized now as closely enough related to GAD so as to be categorized with it.

A Social Anxiety Disorder, or SAD, is a condition in which the stress and anxiety is driven by a genuine fear of performance or judgment about one’s appearance or abilities when in public.  While not as severe as some other forms of the condition, it is the most common type of anxiety disorder in America.

A Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD,  is a conditioned reaction to prior events or experiences in the patient’s life which produce an associative fear or panic that the same event will occur with lethal results.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, OCD, while  typically categorized with other anxiety disorders is generally recognized now as being in a different category of psychopathic behavior.