Some people try to cope with severe anxiety by repeatedly doing something that may calm their fears. Individuals obsessively worried about contamination, for example, may wash their hands repeatedly. People who fear causing harm may check something such as whether the gas is turned off, over and over. People who behave in these ways are usually aware their behavior is unnecessary or extreme, but they feel unable to stop. Fears of flying, illness, heights, small spaces, or certain animals are all examples.
Specific phobias are common.
Most people, in fact, will tell you they have at least one phobia or one thing that makes them nervous. Not everyone, however, needs treatment. When a phobia interferes with normal life, professional help may be needed-when fear of flying, for example, makes it impossible to visit relatives or conduct business. Some individuals have an unhealthy tendency to worry. While the name, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, may sound imposing, GAD is simply an unhealthy tendency to worry.