Anxiety is one of the most distressing emotions that people feel. It is also referred to as fear or nervousness. Anxiety is also a term used to describe periods of nervousness or fear that people experience when they face difficult situations in life. Scope of the Problem Anxiety can be productive and stimulating, but when it is excessive, it is crippling. More than 23 million Americans suffer from anxiety so severe that it has impaired their ability to function and has developed into an anxiety disorder.
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illnesses in the United States today.
A new epidemiological study indicates that almost 25 percent of the American population will suffer from an anxiety disorder at some time in their life. Often people with anxiety disorders also suffer from depression. These data suggest that anxiety disorders are a significant problem. Fortunately, anxiety disorders are a highly treatable condition, and can be effectively controlled either by medication or cognitive-behavior therapies. Each type of anxiety disorder is treated differently, and it is therefore important to conduct a thorough evaluation in order to arrive at an accurate diagnosis.