Varying Types of Anxiety Disorders and

Their Effects on People's Lives

CCBC Psychology 101

June 24, 2010

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Abstract

This paper explores the different types of Anxiety Disorders and how they can affect peoples' lives. Anxiety is important to understand in each of our lives, but abnormal anxiety and the feelings that are associated with it, can be so much more severe, frightening, and intense than that of normal anxiety. An "Anxiety Disorder" is a general term for several forms of abnormal and pathological fear and anxiety. In this paper, I will discuss the six main anxiety disorders and how they can affect each of their sufferers in different ways. Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, Specific Phobias, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorders. It is important to point out that anxiety disorders are not due to a lack of character or that of a bad decision, they, like diabetes and heart disease, are disorders and medical conditions and there should be no shame or guilt associated with them.

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Varying Types of Anxiety Disorders and Their Effects of People's Lives

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Generalized Anxiety Disorder, or GAD for short, is defined as an anxiety disorder in which excessive and uncontrolled worrying produces chronic anxiety and symptoms of increased muscle tension, sleep disturbance, fatigue and irritability. Discussions on GAD and all anxiety disorders can be seen as early as the 1920's with Freud's writings on "anxiety neurosis" to its present diagnostic system. Naturally, most people are all concerned at one point in life or another about their relationships, the growth and well being of their families, and our management and supply of money. But...