Medical Facts About Anxiety You Need To Know

Anxiety Is Highly Treatable

Many individuals suffer with their anxiety in silence because they don't realize it's a medical condition. This is why it's important for everyone to know anxiety is highly treatable. Feelings of persistent anxiety can be caused by a number of different disorders. There are disorders like generalized anxiety, which makes the patient feel general anxiety in a number of life areas for an extended period. Some disorders are more specific, like social anxiety, which manifests when the individual is anxious in social situations.

Personality disorders like avoidant personality disorder are considered anxiety disorders because their symptoms involve avoiding conflict at all costs since it causes heightened anxiety. No matter what the cause of an individual's anxiety is, it can be treated. There are anti-anxiety medications that can help balance brain chemistry, and many behavioral therapy methods can be used to address anxiety and lessen fear.

Affected Individuals Are More Likely To Go To A Doctor

Individuals with anxiety have more documented medical issues or fears than those without anxiety, making them more likely to go to a doctor. This statistic remains fairly consistent whether an individual's diagnosis is generalized anxiety or another kind of anxiety disorder. Research shows patients with anxiety disorders have a three to five times higher likelihood of going to the doctor's office when compared to those without anxiety disorders. Some of this may be because heightened anxiety makes individuals more worried about their health.

It may also be due to the physical symptoms anxiety causes like shortness of breath, a racing heart, and nausea. In addition, those with anxiety disorders are hospitalized for psychiatric issues at a rate six times higher than those without anxiety disorders. Sometimes this is due to the anxiety itself, and sometimes it's because of comorbid conditions.