• A feeling of apprehension, uncertainty, and fear in anticipation of or in response to some real or perceived danger.
• Anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder, phobias, panic disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorders.

What are the Symptoms of Anxiety?

• 12% of Americans suffer from phobias
• 1.5 million Americans suffer from panic disorders during any six-month period
• 2.4 million Americans suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorders

• Physical and environmental triggers may combine to create a particular anxiety illness.
• Psychoanalytic theory suggests that it stems from unconscious conflict that arose from discomfort during infancy or childhood.
• Learning theory suggests that anxiety is a learned behavior that can be unlearned.
• A biochemical imbalance is another possible cause of anxiety. Complex electrochemical interactions in the central nervous system lead to anxious feelings.

  How to Treat Anxiety?

• Chronic, generalized anxiety can be treated through a combination of psychotherapy and medication.

• Medication is used to control the symptoms of anxiety, and should be accompanied by some form of behavioral therapy or other psychotherapy technique.

• Psychoanalytic theory suggests that treatment should include identifying and resolving the unconscious conflict in order to stop the symptoms of anxiety.

• Community Mental Health Centers
• General Hospitals
• Psychiatric Care Facilities
• Mental Health Clinics
• Family Service Agencies
• Self-help Groups
• Schools and Employers