- are extremely common

- affect 23 million Americans

- tend to go undetected & untreated

- are typically misunderstood

- are more than just normal "nerves"

- are not a sign of weakness

- are not controlled by willpower

- frequently run in families

- are treatable!

Anxiety Disorders:

Everyone experiences anxiety at one time or another. You are certainly not alone. Just because other people seem calm, cool and collected, IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY ARE. You would be surprised at how many seemingly "cool cucumbers" are actually quiteUncomfortable inside.

So, don't convince yourself that you are the only one who feels such discomfort. Everyone feels it. You may feel it more intensely or more often than most other people. But, rest assured, EVERYBODY feels it. If they didn't, THEY wouldn't be normal!

And, please understand that it is NORMAL to feel anxiety. And, having an anxiety disorder does not make you abnormal. Anxiety disorders are qualitatively different from psychotic disorders.

QUESTION: Is it "normal" to feel anxiety in the following situations?

-going on a date

-taking a test

-confronting someone

-asking for a favor

-meeting new people

-going to unfamiliar places

-being home alone

-driving in traffic

ANSWER: YES ... YES ... YES ... YES ... YES ... etc. etc. etc. ....
 
 

Anxiety is NORMAL. Should I say it again? Anxiety is NORMAL!!!!!!!
 
 

In fact, anxiety does serve a purpose for us. Anxiety helps us prepare for danger when it exists. It helps us to stay alert. It can motivate us to make changes.

There are people who should have MORE anxiety. For example, smokers should be more "concerned" about the health risks associated with smoking as should drunk drivers when it comes to deciding to drive. Anxiety can prevent them from engaging in such health risk behavior. Similarly, if more people had more anxiety about a lot of things, they might stop and think before doing some of the things that they do.

So, some is good, but too much is too much. Let's talk about those who have TOO MUCH anxiety.

This leads us to talking about ANXIETY DISORDERS, where you feel anxiety too often and too intensely. In other words, it is when you feel anxious without any apparent reason and are so uncomfortable that you become immobilized and start to avoid situations where you expect to feel anxiety. You actually become anxious about anxiety .... afraid of fear.

Remember FDR's famous line: "The only thing to fear is fear itself." Well, remember this line instead:
 
 

"anxiety is nothing to be afraid of."

You see, FDR was wrong. As you will see, fear need not be so scary.

Also remember:

"anxiety doesn't mean anything bad is going to happen"