10 Things You May Not Know About Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety disorders like social anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, agoraphobia, panic disorder and general anxiety are the most common forms of mental illness in the U.S. An estimated 18 percent of all American adults have an anxiety disorder, costing more than $42 billion a year.  America is unique in this regard, according to the largest ever global analysis. Some regions of the world, including the U.S. but also Western Europe, have higher rates of anxiety disorders in general. What's more, some groups within the U.S. have a higher risk of anxiety disorder diagnosis than others. Olivia Remes, lead author of the analysis and an anxiety researcher at the University of Cambridge, reviewed 48 of the best or most comprehensive studies on anxiety prevalence around the world and was able to pinpoint which cultures, genders and age groups are most likely to be affected. The results also revealed where there are gaps in understanding among some groups. “Much more research needs to be done on people identifying as lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB), because anxiety is an important issue in this group,” Remes said. "Also, Aboriginal people living in Canada, the U.S., New Zealand, and other parts of the world are at a significantly increased risk for poor health, yet we know so little about their mental health." Why anxiety disorders matter Despite how common they are, anxiety disorders continue to be belittled as mere worrying instead of debilitating, ...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - Category: Science Source Type: news