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Excessive Anxiety Research Paper

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Most people experience some form of anxiety in their lives. In most cases, anxiety is a normal human response to stressful situations. Periods of anxiety can help people suppress pain and often acts as signal that danger is near. However, excessive anxiety can lead to an unhealthy response that turns into a disorder.

For some people, anxiety interferes with their ability to function on a day-to-day basis. Daily routines that were once normal now feel like a heavy burden that takes an enormous amount of effort to complete. Excessive anxiety puts an immense amount of strain on a person's body and some studies indicate it can lead to an increased risk of stroke, cardiac arrest or heart disease. When struggling with anxiety, people suffer from …show more content…

What mental health professionals do know is warning signs exist that often signal a person's excessive anxiety is in fact a disorder. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services classifies five major types of anxiety disorders:

• General Anxiety Disorder- Classified as chronic anxiety, the characteristics of this disorder include exaggerated worry and extreme tension with no clear reason provoking the anxiety.
Panic Disorder- People who suffer from panic disorders feel immediate and intense fear followed by physical ailments such as chest pain, excessive sweating and shortness of breath.
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder- Known as OCD, the symptoms of this disorder include repetitive, unhealthy behaviors couples with recurrent, unwanted thoughts. Many people who suffer from OCD will excessively wash their hands or clean their houses.
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder- Commonly referred to as PTSD, this disorder normally occurs after a person suffered a traumatic event causing grave danger or physical harm. PTSD warning signs include angry outbursts, difficulty sleeping and constantly feeling "on edge."
• Social Anxiety Disorder- Also known as social phobia, this anxiety disorder causes people to feel an overwhelming feeling of self-consciousness during social

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