This
is the old HealthyPlace.com NIMH Site homepage. Click here to
visit the NEW HEALTHYPLACE.COM NIMH SITE.
ANXIETY DISORDERS
Everybody knows what it's like to feel anxious—the butterflies in your
stomach before a first date, the tension you feel when your boss is angry, the
way your heart pounds if you're in danger. Anxiety rouses you to action. It
gears you up to face a threatening situation. It makes you study harder for
that exam, and keeps you on your toes when you're making a speech. In general,
it helps you cope.
But if you have an anxiety disorder, this normally helpful emotion can do
just the opposite—it can keep you from coping and can disrupt your daily
life. Anxiety disorders aren't just a case of "nerves." They are
illnesses, often related to the biological makeup and life experiences of the
individual, and they frequently run in families. There are several types of
anxiety disorders, each with its own distinct features.
Anxiety disorders are the most common of all the mental disorders. At the
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the Federal agency that conducts
and supports research related to mental disorders, mental health, and the
brain, scientists are learning more and more about the nature of anxiety
disorders, their causes, and how to alleviate them. NIMH also conducts
educational outreach activities about anxiety disorders and other mental
illnesses.
top
quick facts |
treatment | where to get
help
home |
panic disorder |
gad |
ocd |
ptsd | phobias |
news | library
|
