Monday, January 3, 2011

Day 3 - The Facts

The bad news: There are a surprising number of Americans who are burdened by anxiety each and every day.

The good news: No one has to deal with it alone! And, there is something you can do about it! Many things you can do actually and I will talk about some of them in upcoming posts.

But for today... let's learn more about the truth of anxiety in America. These figures come from the National Institute of Mental Health which as I mentioned yesterday is a great resource!


Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
  • Approx. 6.8 million adults ages 18 and older suffer from GAD.
  • Affects twice as many women as men.
Panic Disorder
  • Approx. 6 millions adults ages 18 and older suffer from panic disorder.
  • Twice as common in women as men.
  • Approx. one in three people with panic disorder end up with agoraphobia as well. I didn't mention agoraphobia yesterday but basically it is a fear of open spaces, typically causing people to be afraid to leave their homes. Agoraphobia often occurs after someone has had multiple panic attacks and then fears having another. This leads them to want to stay at home which feels a lot safer.  
  • Not everyone who experiences a panic attack will ever have another!
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
  • Approx 2.2 million adults ages 18 and older suffer from OCD. 
  • Tends to effect men and women equally.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Approx. 7.7 million adults ages 18 and older suffer from PTSD.
  • Symptoms often begin within three months of the traumatic event.
  • Tends to affect women more than men.
Specific Phobias
  • Approx. 19 million adults ages 18 and older suffer from specific phobias.
  • Often begins in late childhood or adolescence.
  • Twice as common in women as men.
Social Phobia
  • Approx. 15 million adults ages 18 and older suffer from Social Phobia.
  • Often begins in late childhood or adolescence.
  • Equally common in men and women.
 That's almost 40 million Americans suffering from anxiety! Too many if you ask me! Hopefully this information doesn't stress you out more! I am telling you the facts to get you to see, that you are not alone.

I will talk about some of the causes of anxiety tomorrow and some of the solutions after that. Stick with me 'cause the good stuff's coming!

See you for Day 4!

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