Anxiety is a state of worry, nervousness and apprehension. Physical symptoms include sweating, difficulty breathing, chest pain and increased heart rate. When symptoms of anxiety persist for a long period of time, this may be due to an anxiety-related disorder. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), approximately 18% of Americans aged 18 and over are affected by an anxiety disorder each year. Without treatment, symptoms worsen and other illnesses may develop.
Depression
According to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America, many people with depression have had an anxiety disorder in the past. Although many of the symptoms of depression are similar to those of anxiety, such as irritability, fatigue and difficulty sleeping, anxiety and depression are distinct mental disorders. These disorders frequently coexist, but there is no evidence of a causal relationship. For example, severely anxious individuals may avoid places and limit communication with others, which may result in feelings of depression. On the other hand, depressed individuals may become anxious about obligations that they are unable to fulfill due to their physical and emotional fatigue.
Substance Abuse
Like depression, substance abuse is more common in individuals with anxiety disorders than in the general population. Dr. Kathleen T. Brady suggests that this relationship may develop as a result of attempts by those with anxiety disorders to self-medicate. In other words, instead of seeking professional help for unrelenting anxiety, some people choose to seek temporary relief from their symptoms by using drugs or alcohol. This can worsen one's anxiety and lead to the development of a substance disorder.
Physical Illness
According to Harvard Medical School, an estimated 30% of people with anxiety disorders go through life with this condition left untreated, despite evidence that anxiety has an adverse effect on physical health and can lead to chronic physical illnesses such as irritable bowel syndrome and heart disease. Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is a digestive disorder associated with high levels of anxiety. Symptoms of IBS include abdominal pain and constipation. Heart attacks may also be linked to anxiety disorders, especially in people with a history of panic attacks.
Suicide
In the November 2005 issue of the "Archives of General Psychiatry," the results of a study of the relationship between anxiety and suicide revealed that people with an anxiety disorder are at an increased risk for both suicide ideation (thoughts about suicide) and suicide attempts. In fact, this relationship was demonstrated independent of other mental disorders associated with suicide, such as depression and substance abuse. This finding suggests that severe anxiety can result in suicide if left untreated.
References
- National Institute of Mental Health: Anxiety Disorders
- Anxiety Disorders Association of America: Depression
- "Anxiety Disorders"; Anxiety and Substance Abuse; Kathleen T. Brady, MD, Ph.D; June 2001
- Harvard Medical School: The Link Between Anxiety and Physical Illness
- "Archives of General Psychiatry"; Anxiety Disorders and Risk for Suicidal Ideation and Suicide Attempts; Jitender Sareen, MD, FRCPC; Brian J. Cox, Ph.D; Tracie O. Afifi, MSc; Ron de Graaf, Ph.D; Gordon J. G. Asmundson, Ph.D; Margreet ten Have, Ph.D; Murray B. Stein, MD, MPH; Nov 2005
