HERIBERTO SEDENO, M.D. LECTURE ON ANXIETY

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HERIBERTO SEDENO, M.D. LECTURE ON ANXIETY
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It's normal to feel anxious once in a while.
Certain events and experiences can cause anxiety.
Very common is worry about the futureif you'll
get a promotion, if you're raising your children
correctly, if you'll get the loan from the bank
to start your own business. However, if those
feelings of worry, nervousness, or unease happen
on a seemingly regular basis, and they are
brought on by daily stress, you may be part of
the estimated 18 percent of the U.S. population
with an anxiety disorder. While some people have
the capability to calmly surf through life's
worst storms, others react to stress with
episodes of anxiety.
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Anxiety can be hard to describe. It can feel like
standing in the middle of a crumbling building
with nothing but an umbrella to protect you. It
can also feel like you're holding onto a
merry-go-round going 65 mph and you can't do
anything to slow it down. Anxiety often manifests
as an apprehension about daily life, including
finances, job responsibilities, health of loved
ones, and so on. Anxiety triggers can be as minor
as being late for appointments, car repair
responsibilities, or household chores. People
with anxiety can also worry about their
performance in work or schoolthis is a common
symptom in children with anxiety.
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The key to distinguishing anxious feelings from
legitimate fear is that the frequency, duration,
and intensity of the anxiety greatly outweigh the
likelihood of the feared event. The most common
type of anxiety is generalized anxiety disorder.
This involves frequent anxiety, worry, and
apprehension about different activities,
including the daily tasks already
mentioned. Other types of anxiety are related to
specific stressors, and include Panic disorder
this type of anxiety is characterized by panic
attacks, or bouts of intense fear or terror that
develop quickly and unexpectedly. Social phobia
a fear of being embarrassed in public situations.
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Obsessive-compulsive disorder this is an anxiety
disorder in which people have unwanted and
repeated thoughts, feelings, ideas, sensations
(obsessions), or behaviors that make them feel
driven to do something specific
(compulsions). Separation anxiety disorder fear
of being away from home or loved ones. Anorexia
nervosa the fear of gaining weight. Somatization
disorder complaining of multiple physical
problems when there is no evidence of physical
illness. Hypochondriasis anxiety over having a
serious illness. Posttraumatic stress disorder
anxiety following a traumatic event, such as
death of a loved one, war, or being the victim of
a crime.