Did you know that 40 million adults in America will be diagnosed with an Anxiety Disorder this year?

Sometimes anxiety shows itself as a physical symptom, i.e. headaches, stomachaches, and insomnia. Have you experienced a physical symptom that you thought was a medical issue but turned out to be from fear and worry?

Anxiety Disorder

Hi Dr. Ilyssa. It was nice meeting you in the editors' chat.

Many of my family members suffered from anxiety but I never realized that it could be a serious disorder. I attributed all of their worrisome behavior as a symptom of obsessive thinking because mild OCD ran in the family.

My mother and grandmother were hypochondriacs. But the anxiety would cause problems so it became a matter of self-fulfilling prophecies.

I wanted to add that, as a child, I suffered from chronic anxiety. Looking back, I see how I was developing mild OCD. Thankfully, I was able to move beyond it.

Lori,
It was nice meeting you as well!
Anxiety as a symptom is part of many different mental health issues. OCD is actually one of the major Anxiety Disorders.
It only becomes serious when it interferes with a persons day to day life. There are many techniques one can use to minimize it if it is not at such a severe level. If severe one should seek the help of a therapist.
I am glad you were able to move beyond it...sometimes the anxiety or OCD is a manifestation of a specific acute situation and when that situation passes so does the fear and worry.
To your mental health!

How much of this is genetic?

The research does not give a specific number/percentage. The studies will only state with certainty that it is from a combination of genetic, environmental, psychological, and developmental factors.

Some of the research show that genetics play a role in the development of some anxiety disorders. For example, PTSD is triggered by trauma but genetics can help explain why some people exposed to trauma develop PTSD and others do not. If you have a first degree family member with an anxiety disorder that would increase your likelihood of also having one......

The other risk factors are stress, illness, personality, being female*, childhood trauma. *Twice as many women are diagnosed with an anxiety disorder but that could be because more women seek help than men.

I just had an anxiety panic attack.

It was onset by the necessity of paying sales tax.

Although the mortgage on the house has been dissolved...

(See New Topic Post in Mental Health "Magical Thinking Revisited").

I still have terrible money management skills.

Dad's little motel business is in a special needs trust, so it has to continue to run.

The buspirone 30mg under the tongue worked well.

I had Tardive Dyskinesia -- a neurological condition which made my tongue stuck out involuntarily when I was treated with Navane in 1977.

It really is a life-long journey, so don't give up and do the best you can until the proper medical combination is found.

My grandmother suffered from severe depression, so did my mom and my aunt on my father's side.

So, to all you gals out there:

Keep persevering.

You might want to read the accounts of famous public figures who have had these difficulties.

Some names that come to mind are Carrie Fisher and Rosemary Clooney.

It is interesting to note that her son George, choose not to have children as did I.

I guess we didn't want to pass it down.

-- Burt B.