| Anxiety Disorders affect about 40 million American | | | | or make them worse. In some cases, these other |
| adults age 18 years and older (about 18%) in a given | | | | illnesses need to be treated before a person will |
| year,1causing them to be filled with fearfulness and | | | | respond to treatment for the anxiety disorder. |
| uncertainty. Unlike the relatively mild, brief anxiety | | | | Effective therapies for anxiety disorders are available, |
| caused by a stressful event (such as speaking in | | | | and research is uncovering new treatments that can |
| public or a first date), anxiety disorders last at least 6 | | | | help most people with anxiety disorders lead |
| months and can get worse if they are not treated. | | | | productive, fulfilling lives. If you think you have an |
| Anxiety disorders commonly occur along with other | | | | anxiety disorder, you should seek information and |
| mental or physical illnesses, including alcohol or | | | | treatment right away. |
| substance abuse, which may mask anxiety symptoms | | | | |