What are anxiety disorders?
An anxiety disorder may be present when a person’s emotional reaction is out of proportion to the worry or the anticipated threat, and this anxiety causes a general problem with everyday functioning (including occupational, educational, social and other important areas)- People with anxiety disorders often have a tendency to expect negative outcomes or to feel a loss of control over upcoming feared situations
- There are six different types of anxiety disorders and people can have more than one anxiety disorder at any one time. They are: generalised anxiety disorder, panic disorder with or without agoraphobia, post traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, specific phobia and social anxiety disorder
Some facts about anxiety disorders
- Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health disorders, affecting nearly one in seven (14.4%) Australian adults over a 12-month period
- More women (17.9%) than men (10.8%) experience anxiety disorders
- It is common for a person with an anxiety disorder to also be experiencing another anxiety disorder, depression or substance abuse
