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In general, stress responses are designed to be adaptive and help one cope. Manageable levels of stress help us deal with a challenging situation, improve performance, and keep focused. However, when anxiety becomes
an excessive, irrational fear of everyday situations, it is
disabling. “Anxiety disorders are
serious medical
illnesses that affect approximately 19 million American
adults” (National Institute of Mental Health epidemiology
study).
The fear associated with an
anxiety disorder can become chronic, unremitting, and can
worsen over
time. Depending on the type and severity of the anxiety
disorder people may experience uncomfortable, scary
physical symptoms, obsessive thoughts, flashbacks of
traumatic events, or nightmares. Some people find that
their fears interfere with work, school, and/or social
activities. Others start to avoid situations or places.
At
its most extreme people with anxiety disorders even become
housebound. Fortunately, there are effective
treatments that can help.
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