Anxiety Awareness By: Melissa Mild

Anxiety Awareness By: Melissa Mild

Anxious Minds Melissa Mild P.O Box 510284 Saint Louis, MO 63151-0452 Copyright 2014 by Melissa Mild All right reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, in any form or by any means, without the permission in writing from the publisher except in the case of brief quotations. For information or request please be directed to the above address. Printed in the United States of America

This book is dedicated to the millions of people who suffer from anxiety and will suffer in the future. Also to all the family and friends that supported me in the creation of this book.

Table of
Generalized Anxiety Disorder Panic Anxiety Disorder Social Anxiety Disorder Specic Phobia Anxiety Disorder 8 12 16 20

Contents

What is
Anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome. When anxiety interferes with day-to-day activities, normal anxiety can become an anxiety disorder. Anxiety can develop from many complex risk factors that include genetics, brain chemistry, personality and life events.

Anxiety?

Generalized
Generalized anxiety disorder or GAD is the excessive and unrealistic worry about everyday things, such as money, health, family, work and other day-to-day issues. People with this disorder often experience worry and tension for no apparent reason. GAD is diagnosed when a person suffers from excessive worry and tension about many different everyday problems for a least 6 months. Sometimes the thought of just making it through the day can produce anxiety for

Anxiety Disorder
people who suffer from GAD. They dont know how to stop the worry cycle and feel that it is beyond their control. This disorder comes on gradually and can begin across the life cycle, however the risk is highest in childhood and middle age. The exact cause for this anxiety is unknown. However there is evidence that biological factors, family background and life experiences play a role in who suffers.

Symptoms
Muscle tension Fatigue Restlessness Difficulty Sleeping Nightmares Irritability Edginess

6.8 million
suffer from
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Daily Anxiety:
Family

Health

Gastrointestinal discomfort

My th #1
People with anxiety disorders are just worrywarts or neurotic and there is nothing that can make a difference in their life. Work

Money

at work also 72% say it interferes with

Who have anxiety

their lives moderately

IN

OUT

11 12 1 10 2 9 3 8 4 7 6 5

Panic

Anxiety Disorder
Panic anxiety disorder is diagnosed in people who experience spontaneous out-of-the-blue panic attacks. Many people with this disorder are preoccupied with the fear of a recurring attack. A panic attack or sudden burst of severe anxiety can last a couple of minutes to a half an hour or more. The average panic attack lasts 10 minutes. During a panic attack many experience thoughts such as: Im going mad, Im going to die, Im having a heart attack and Im losing control. Attacks are often linked to a specic place or activity. One in three adults that have panic anxiety disorder also suffer from Agoraphobia. Agoraphobia is when a person stops going to places in which they previously had a panic attack, in anticipation it will happen again. Many with the disorder avoid public places where they feel immediate escape is difcult.

12

Symptoms
Shortness of breath Heart palpitations Sweating Trembling Chest pain or discomfort Nausea and abdominal discomfort Dizziness or light-headedness Chills or heat flush

6 million
suffer from
During a Panic Attack:
Im going to die.

Panic Anxiety Disorder

Im having a heart attack.

My th #2
One way to get rid of bad or anxious thoughts is to snap a rubber band on your wrist every time you have the thought of worry.
Im going mad.

Im losing control.

13

Doctors Office

5x emergency room
more likely
to visit the
1

Social

Anxiety Disorder
Social anxiety disorder is the extreme fear of being scrutinized, watched and judged by others in social or performance situations. Social anxiety can be severely disabling and can interfere with daily routine activities. The anxiety can make it very difcult to complete school, interview for jobs and have a social life. Many people with this disorder have none or very few social and romantic relationships which makes them feel powerless, alone and ashamed. The majority of people with this disorder are also diagnosed with major depression. Social anxiety usually begins in childhood or adolescence, often after a humiliating experience. The average age of onset for social anxiety is age 13. However 36 percent of people with social anxiety report having symptoms for 10 or more years before seeking help.

16

Symptoms
Blushing Profuse Sweating Trembling Nausea Rapid heartbeat Shortness of breath Dizziness or light-headedness

15 million
suffer from
Social Anxiety Disorder
Interferes with:
Daily Routines

School

Headaches

My th #3
If you eat right, exercise, avoid caffeine and live a healthy lifestyle, your anxiety will just go away. Social Life

Interviews

17

EXIT

PUSH

PUSH

If untreated
50% never finish

high school

Specific Phobia
Anxiety Disorder
Specic phobia anxiety disorder is the uncontrollable and excessive fear in the presence or in anticipation of a specic object, place or situation. New places, high bridges, elevators, and spiders can make us all a little nervous. Most of us can manage to control our fears and carry out the day without incident. However if a person suffers from a specic phobia the excessive fear can make them feel powerless. Having a phobia can disrupt daily routines, limit work efciency, reduce self-esteem and place strain on relationships. Specic phobias commonly focus on animals, insects, germs, heights, thunder, driving, public transportation, ying, medical procedures and elevators. While some phobias develop in early childhood and adolescence, most seem to arise unexpectedly in life. The onset is sudden and may occur in situations that previously did not cause any anxiety.

20

Symptoms
Feeling of imminent danger Heart palpitations Shortness of breath Sweating Trembling Nausea or abdominal discomfort Chest pain or discomfort Tingling sensation

19 million
suffer from
Specic Phobia Anxiety Disorder Phobia Types:
Animal Type

Injection Type

My th #4
Causes of anxiety disorders are always rooted in your childhood, so effective therapy must focus on that time period. Nature Type

Situational Type

21

Stai rs

30% suffer from

Of people

Arachnophobia
or fear of spiders

Anxious Minds was designed by Melissa Mild and the information used in the creation of this book came from: Anxiety and Depression Association of America. 2013. www.adaa.org. Anxiety and Panic Disorders Health Center. 2013. www.webmd.com. Illuman, John. Beat Panic & Anxiety. Britain: Octopus Publishing Group Limited, 2004. National Institute of Mental Health. 2013. www.nimh.nih.gov.