As a television performer, he would spend hours showering and cleaning up. Yet medication quickly helped him. The NIMH said it was launching the campaign to educate the ignorant and to stop people from trivializing the problems. Outside influences are important, Hyman said, but that does not make anxiety disorders any less a medical problem. Hyman said more research was needed.
Many sufferers also are alcoholics, are depressed or abuse drugs.
But because of the stigma surrounding such disorders, many do not seek treatment.