Between 20 and 30 million Americans suffer from anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders, in which people are plagued by persistent feelings of threat and of anxiety about everyday problems of living, are characterized by fatigue, back pains, headaches, feelings of unreality, a sensation of weakness in the legs, and fear of losing control. Generalized anxiety disorders can last for more than six months and typically result in excessive worry about two or more personal problems. Three major types of anxiety disorders are phobias, panic attacks, and posttraumatic stress disorder.
Phobias A phobia is a deep and persistent fear of a specific object, activity, or situation, and results in a compelling desire to avoid the source of fear. Experts estimate that one of eight American adults suffers from phobias. Phobias are also thought to be more prevalent in women than in men. Simple phobias, such as fear of spiders, fear of flying, and fear of heights, can be treated successfully with behavioral therapy. Social phobias(fears that are related to interaction with others), such as fear of public speaking, fear of inadequate sexual performance, and fear of eating in public places, require more extensive therapy.
