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Anya Davis

Instructor Blair

English 111

28 September 2018

The Miseducation of Anxiety

Anxiety is a prominent health issue of the citizens of today, but its effects are not taken as

seriously. It is often times overlooked and taken lightly. This is partially due to the fact that

anxiety is a mental illness and cannot be physically seen unless symptoms of the condition are

very severe. Another key factor that contributes to the overlook of anxiety is that most people

only scratch the surface of the condition. Most do not know that taking a deeper look into the

definition of anxiety will allow one to see that there are more diverse disorders included.

The anxiety disorder that is most prevalent amongst diagnosed U.S. adults is Phobia

Disorder. This condition affects 19 million adults or 8.7% of the U.S. Population (Anxiety and

Depression Association of America). Specific phobias are any irrational fears that can cause

severe involuntary reactions of angst and panic attacks when encountered. A specific phobia can

include the fear of flying, using public transportation, and riding in elevators. It is important to

know the difference between normal anxiety and a persistent phobia. Having a fear of drowning

is a normal anxiety but a specific phobia would be refusing to cross a bridge because it is built

over water. These phobias usually begin in childhood or can emerge unexpectedly throughout a

person’s life (Anxiety and Depression Association of America). Conditions that arise

unpredictably can come as a shock and lead to denial and hesitation to seek treatments.

The second most prevalent anxiety disorder amongst diagnosed U.S. adults is Social

Anxiety Disorder (Anxiety and Depression Association of America). This condition affects 15
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million adults or 6.8% of the U.S. population. A person who has been diagnosed with social

anxiety disorder has extreme anxiety and uneasiness when faced with social interactions such as

meeting new people or giving a cashier their order. Many may confuse this disorder with that of

being shy, but it is important to note that people who are affected by social anxiety disorder will

avoid most situations due to the fear that they may embarrass themselves. According to the

National Institute of Mental Health, “The fear that people with social anxiety disorder have in

social situations is so strong that they feel it is beyond their ability to control. As a result, it gets

in the way of going to work, attending school, or doing everyday things.” The pure thought of

humiliation, often manifested in the person's own mind, is enough to make a person completely

withdraw from their everyday activities.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder is the third most prevalent anxiety disorder amongst

diagnosed U.S. adults (Anxiety and Depression Association of America). This condition affects

6.8 million adults or 3.1% of the U.S. population. Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized

by feelings of extreme worry and nervousness. The disorder is persistent and not restricted to

certain circumstances (Lader). Those who are diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder show

serious symptoms including trembling and twitching, profuse sweating, lack of concentration,

feelings of restlessness, and being irritable (National Institute of Mental Health). Many of these

symptoms can get in the way of completing everyday tasks. This condition is known to

sometimes run in families, but it is uncertain why some family members have it while others do

not (National Institute of Mental Health). Since generalized anxiety disorder may only affect

certain family members, the condition will most likely be left undiagnosed, misunderstood, and

possibly lead to ridicule and a lack of seeking treatment.

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Being undiagnosed is one of the reasons why anxiety disorders are left untreated. Most

sufferers of the condition may not even realize that they have a disorder. Some may suspect that

they have a disorder but are unaware of how to seek treatment. Getting diagnosed is fairly easy

and can be done by a physician through a psychological questionnaire (Mayo clinic). Treatments

for anxiety disorders can include medications and various forms of therapy for patients who are

not comfortable with taking pharmaceuticals.

The most common misconception is that anxiety is one disorder characterized by having

the shakes, paranoia, or being nervous about public speaking. There is Generalized Anxiety

Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and many more that are

often not recognized as conditions of anxiety. Anxiety covers a wide range of disorders under its

umbrella. The truth is, anxiety is a general term that represents a broad spectrum of disorders. It

is important to know this information so that one can recognize the signs of anxiety and

potentially seek medical attention and help as needed.

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Works Cited

“Anxiety Disorders.” National Institute of Mental Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human

Services, www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders/index.shtml.

“Generalized Anxiety Disorder.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and

Research, 13 Oct. 2017, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/generalized-anxiety-

disorder/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20361045.

Lader, Malcolm. Encyclopedia of Psychopharmacology. Springer, 2015.

“Social Anxiety Disorder: More Than Just Shyness.” National Institute of Mental Health, U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services,

www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/social-anxiety-disorder-more-than-just-

shyness/index.shtml.

“Specific Phobias.” Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA,

adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/specific-phobias.