subject: When You Worry Too Much - Chronic Anxiety Disorder [print this page] Author: Emma Hudson Author: Emma Hudson
We all worry - it is a natural process in the human psych. But some people worry too much. In fact, they worry all the time to the extent that their quality of life is affected. Either they are able to continue with their everyday tasks but under such a cloud that nothing is enjoyable or they become housebound and unable to carry out simple tasks like going to work or the shopping. For some, it becomes a trial to even get out of bed in the morning. These people have a chronic anxiety disorder. It is a condition that affects tens of millions worldwide and in the US alone costs the country over $42 billion dollars a year. According to a study in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, this is about a third of the countrys total mental health bill. In the UK, the cost of depression and chronic anxiety is about 12 billion a year; which totals 1% of their total national income. The statistics are staggering and yet this is a condition for which the health system is poorly equipped to handle. In the UK, only 1 in 4 diagnosed with an anxiety disorder is receiving treatment. In the US, only a quarter of those suffering from chronic anxiety seek treatment in the first place. Many people suffering from panic and anxiety disorders are ashamed that they cant cope with life. Its hard to admit that you feel afraid or that you dread the coming of day. The stigma attached to mental illness is such that no-one wants to admit that they feel out of control. As for why some people are affected in this way, there could be a number of reasons. Anxiety can run in families so there may be a genetic component or this may be due to upbringing and learnt behavior. A traumatic event may bring on an anxiety disorder or it may be due to unhealthy lifestyle choices. For chronic anxiety disorder to be diagnosed, a constant state of anxiety needs to have been experienced for over six months. A host of physical symptoms accompany the mental state such as stomach troubles, insomnia, irritable bowel syndrome, headaches and muscular pain. This is a condition which does respond well to treatment. It is not something that you have to put up with and try and get by as best you can. Join a support group, consult a doctor or health care provider, read up as much as you can and try some of the self-help advice. Life is for living - we only get one crack at it. About the Author:
