Running Head: MAIN ASPECTS OF ANXIETY DISORDERS 1
Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatments of Anxiety Disorders
Kailey Marty
Smithville High School
MAIN ASPECTS OF ANXIETY DISORDERS
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Introduction to Anxiety Disorders
Nearly 40 million people, above the age of 18, are affected by anxiety disorders in the
U.S. (“Facts and Statistics”, 2014). Anxiety disorders are among the most common of mental
disorders. There are five types of anxiety disorders; generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder,
post-traumatic stress disorder, phobias, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. After discussing the
different types of anxiety disorders, I will talk about the causes, diagnosis, treatments, and
therapies.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is characterized by excessive or unrealistic worry
over everything or feeling that something bad is about to happen (Plotnik & Kouyoumdjian,
2013, p. 566). This is the most common anxiety disorder, as it affects 6.8 million adults in the
U.S. (“Generalized Anxiety Disorder”, 2015). You most likely have GAD if you feel anxious
feelings on a majority of days over a period of six months (Plotnik & Kouyoumdjian, 2013, p.
566). GAD is most common in the ages ten to thirteen since this age is most associated with
fears about death or dying (Jarrett, Black, Rapport, Grills-Taquechel, Ollendick, 2014, 02). Also,
women are twice as likely to have GAD over men (“Generalized Anxiety Disorder”, 2015).
There are two types of symptoms, psychosocial, meaning the interrelation of social
factors and individual thought and behavior, and physical. The former symptom is characterized
by irritability, having difficulty concentrating, and not being able to control one’s
worries (Plotnik & Kouyoumdjian, 2013, p. 566). Physical symptoms include restlessness,
fatigue, sweating, flushing, pounding heart, insomnia, headaches, and muscle tension or aches.
(Plotnik & Kouyoumdjian, 2013, p. 566). Several areas of personal or social life are often
MAIN ASPECTS OF ANXIETY DISORDERS
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affected due to the constant worry caused by significant distress or impaired function. (Plotnik &
Kouyoumdjian, 2013, p. 566).
Panic Disorder
As opposed to GAD, panic disorder is generally presented as recurring and unexpected
panic attacks. Panic attacks are periods of intense fear or discomfort in which four or more of the
following symptoms occur: sweating, pounding heart, trembling, shortness of breath, chest pain,
feelings of choking, nausea, feeling dizzy, or fear of losing control (Plotnik & Kouyoumdjian,
2013, p. 567). According to Plotnik and Kouyoumdjian, people with panic disorder become so
worried about having another panic attack that this interferes with normal psychological
functioning (2013, p. 567). This is an excerpt from a personal account from a woman named
Karen who suffered from panic disorder, she talks about her situation and how she felt when her
