Anxiety is a normal human emotion that everyone experiences. In everyday life, people must navigate a multitude of stressful circumstances. Many people feel anxious when making important life decisions, before a performance or test, or in various social situations. In some instances, stress can be a positive motivator for optimal performance. Anxiety disorders are different and can cause such distress that it interferes with an individual’s ability to effectively function. Significant anxiety can also cause erratic sleep; lack of energy and fatigue, and concentration difficulties. At times, the physiological reactions to stress can make it exceedingly difficult to attend to daily responsibilities. Stressful life events such as medical illness, trauma, grief and loss, divorce or separation, work responsibilities, caring for children and aging parents, abuse, and/or financial difficulties may trigger an anxiety disorder. Research indicates that anxiety disorders affect 1 out of every 5 adults in a given year (approximately 40 million Americans annually). Common anxiety disorders include Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Phobia, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Panic Disorder, and Specific Phobias. Although each anxiety disorder has unique symptoms, anxiety disorders as a whole are characterized by excessive worry, irrational fears, and physiological/psychological tension. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is an empirically validated treatment for anxiety disorders. Cognitive restructuring helps people change maladaptive thinking patterns that maintain their fears, and behavioral modification helps people change the way they react to anxiety-provoking situations. Psychotherapy can help individuals facing situational stressors to develop realistic expectations and effective coping strategies to manage daily challenges and regain control of life.
