What is an Anxiety Disorder?
Everyone experiences anxiety at some point in their life. People become anxious when they have to face a highly stressful situation like taking a test, going for a job interview or getting married. When one is anxious and under stress the body reacts; hands become clammy, the heart beats a little faster, one can even feel lightheaded or dizzy. Some people become preoccupied with fear and worry, and the intense feelings of anxiety continue. If this happens an individual may have an anxiety disorder.

One in six Canadians are affected by an anxiety disorder. Anxiety can take the form of panic disorder, phobia or obsessive-compulsive disorder. Without treatment an individuals' physical, mental and emotional health may be in jeopardy. Anxiety disorders can also lead to alcohol and/or drug abuse, family problems, depression and in some cases, suicide.

What is Panic Disorder?
On average, 1 out of 3 young adults report having had a panic attack in the last year. During a panic attack sensations such as sweating, nausea, trembling and numbness in the legs or hands, dizziness, hot or cold flashes, a feeling of tightness or pressure in the chest, hyperventilation, "jelly" legs or blurred vision can develop. Individuals may even feel like they are going to die of a heart attack or lose control of their body functions. These intense feelings of panic usually do not last for very long and most people brush off the episode as a momentary "freak out".

However some people become very agitated and develop a fear of it happening again. If an individual has more than four panic attacks within a month or a panic attack occurs when the individual is not in an anxious or stressful situation, it is probable that they have a panic disorder. Individuals who are susceptible to panic attacks are more likely to be concerned with illness, death or losing control. Panic disorders usually begin before the individual is 20 - 30 years old.

What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?
People with obsessive compulsive disorder experience unwanted thoughts that make no sense but nevertheless cause the individual to feel anxious. Irrational thoughts may concern contaminating themselves or others with dirt or germs, or they may be obsessed about their own safety or the safety of a loved one. In response to their obsessive thoughts the individual may need to think neutralizing thoughts or to perform certain compulsive rituals, including repetitive hand washing or counting. As with phobias a traumatic event can trigger obsessive thoughts or behavior, however people who are described as perfectionists seem more prone than others to develop obsessions. If untreated, this condition can result in severe impairment in many psychological areas - school, work, relationships.

What Are Phobias?
A phobia is an irrational and uncontrollable fear of an object or a situation. It is unclear how phobias start, however if an individual is prone to excessive anxiety and stress, they are more likely to be vulnerable to panic attacks and phobias. People with phobias experience feelings of intense panic when confronted by whatever it is that frightens them and go to considerable lengths to avoid the object or situation. An individual with a phobia may experience the physical feelings of panic when confronted with their feared situation. Types of phobias are:

Agoraphobia: Agoraphobia is fear of fear itself. Individuals develop agoraphobia out of the fear of a panic attack occurring in any situation where help is unavailable or escape difficult. People with agoraphobia associate places or feelings as the cause of their panic attacks so they try to avoid the place and/or situation which they think is the cause. People with agoraphobia become highly dependent, this can be exhausting and frustrating for family members and friends. People with agoraphobia may confine themselves to their homes, become very worried about their health, abuse alcohol or become suicidal. The rate of attempted suicide for people with agoraphobia is about 20%. Agoraphobia and depression are closely related.

Social Phobia: People with avoidance personalities are hypersensitive to criticism and rejection. Individuals with a social phobia have difficulty starting a conversation, asking questions, making friends or joining groups. The anxiety produced by a social phobia can be so intense that it provokes blushing, stammering, sweating, stomach upsets, a racing heart, trembling limbs or event a full scale panic attack. Social phobias are one of the most common psychiatric disorders, which may be associated with other conditions like depression, specific phobias (fear of spiders, heights, water, etc.) and agoraphobia. Social phobias closely resemble the personality disorder known as avoidance personality.

Specific Phobia: People with a specific phobia only experience anxiety when confronted with the thing they most fear. Common fears are thunderstorms, heights and certain animals like snakes and spiders. Of all the anxiety disorders, specific phobias are the most responsive to therapy.

Other Forms of Anxiety Disorders

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: PTSD is an anxiety reaction to a real or life threatening traumatic event (ie. a car accident, rape or war). Individuals with PTSD may also suffer from nightmares and insomnia.
Generalized Anxiety: People with generalized anxiety disorder often worry excessively about things that they know are not real issues or are illogical. Physical problems might include general symptoms of anxiety -- body tension, lack of concentration, shakiness, insomnia, irritability and irritable feelings.

What Are the Treatments For Anxiety Disorders and Phobias?
There has been a lot of progress in the understanding and diagnosis of the various forms of anxiety disorders. Treatment is specific to the severity of the disorder. The most effective forms of therapy are based on cognitive and behavioral approaches. Individuals may also learn calming techniques and meditative therapy and antidepressant medication can be prescribed to help their anxiety. In most cases therapy will help the individual get better and lead a productive life.