National Anxiety Disorders Screening Day: Facing Your Fear And Seeking Support

Anxiety disorders tend to be the most common type of mental health condition in the world today, affecting tens of millions of Americans. Many of those people may not realize that their persistent feelings of worry, pain, or panic could be symptoms of a mental health disorder. National Anxiety Disorders Screening Day, created to raise awareness and encourage people to pay attention to their mental health, can provide a reminder that talking with a professional can be the first step toward improved well-being.

Anxiety disorders are usually marked by disproportionate or unusually persistent feelings of worry and fear, sometimes (but not always) related to specific triggers or situations. They may also involve physical symptoms, such as muscle tension, headaches, and shortness of breath. Anxiety disorders may place you at risk for a variety of unwanted outcomes, including other types of mental health disorders. However, with diagnosis and proper treatment, recovery can be possible. Online or in-person therapy sessions with a licensed mental health professional can be an excellent place to start, helping you to acquire the techniques and support you need to reduce your stress and manage your condition.

How widespread are anxiety disorders?

According to the World Health Organization, anxiety disorders may affect more people than any other type of mental illness. While some feelings of worry or distress can be normal and even helpful at times, more than 300 million people worldwide are believed to experience disproportionate or persistent anxiety that interferes with their ability to function in day-to-day life. 

There are several types of clinically recognized anxiety disorders. The American Psychiatric Association estimates that they occur at the following rates among American adults:

• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD): 2.9%

• Social anxiety disorder (also known as social phobia): 7%

• Panic disorder: 2% to 3%

• Agoraphobia: 1% to 1.7%

• Specific phobia: 8 to 12%

In total, around 40 million adult Americans may meet the diagnostic criteria for an anxiety disorder at any given time. 

Researchers have found evidence that anxiety disorders may affect different segments of the population more strongly than others. For instance, women tend to be about twice as likely as men to develop anxiety disorders, and these conditions are often significantly more prevalent in certain geographic regions, such as North America and the Middle East.

A substantial proportion of people with anxiety disorders may also experience other kinds of psychiatric illness, especially depression. Estimates indicate that around 43% of people with generalized anxiety disorder will also experience a depressive disorder at some point in their lives. The diagnoses and numbers may be even higher for conditions like social anxiety disorder and panic disorder.

The importance of mental health services and screening for anxiety disorders

Without psychiatric help, people often see little to no improvement in their chronic anxiety symptoms. These symptoms may persist or even worsen over time. In some cases, prolonged and untreated anxiety disorders may lead to the development of other conditions, such as depression.

In contrast, those who get help often find considerable relief and can stop suffering relatively quickly. Studies of evidence-based methods like cognitive behavioral therapy generally find significant and sustained improvements in anxiety disorder symptoms. 

Delays in getting diagnosed and treated can lead to worse health outcomes in the long run. That’s why simple screening tools for anxiety disorders can be so helpful. They may help you recognize the warning signs and get the help you deserve before your condition becomes more difficult to manage. 

The mission of National Anxiety Disorders Screening Day

If anxiety screening is so helpful — and research suggests that it is — why do so few people receive it?

One major factor may be that many people aren’t well-informed about mental illness. They might not realize that their anxious feelings could be symptoms of a treatable condition.

Others might be reluctant to get evaluated because of the persistent stigma attached to mental health difficulties. They may fear that others will view them negatively or discriminate against them if they’re known to have a diagnosed mental illness. It’s also possible that they could have internalized negative ideas, such as a belief that anxiety disorders “aren’t real.” 

National Anxiety Disorders Screening Day was primarily created to tackle these interrelated problems and educate the public. Taking place on the first Wednesday in May, this day is largely dedicated to spreading awareness of the dangers of anxiety disorders and the value of professional mental health evaluations. Their work to bring awareness to people suffering from these symptoms is officially recognized by organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) that work to illuminate the matter and point people toward helpful resources.

How can you tell if you might have an anxiety disorder?

While an assessment from a mental health professional is required for a diagnosis, paying attention to possible warning signs may alert you that you should talk to a doctor. Here are a few common indicators of anxiety disorders as described by the National Institute of Mental Health.

• You often find yourself unable to stop thinking about how things could go wrong in your life.

• You have trouble physically relaxing or feeling calm.

• You frequently experience a pervasive sense of dread, as though something terrible could happen at any moment.

• Things seem to move too fast or too slow around you.

• You’re constantly worried about what other people will think of you.

• You sometimes sense that you’ve lost touch with your body.

• The world around you sometimes doesn’t seem quite real.

• You have trouble falling asleep, or you often wake up during the night.

• You find it hard to concentrate.

• Certain specific situations, such as heights, enclosed spaces, or social interactions, make you extremely nervous.

• You have specialized techniques to avoid things that would normally be enjoyable, interesting, or advantageous to you because you feel nervous.

• The symptoms described above interfere with your ability to manage your life or fulfill your responsibilities.

Anxiety disorders can also involve physical symptoms, such as the following:

• Muscle tension

• Headaches

• Excessive sweating or trembling

• Heart palpitations

• Light-headedness or dizziness

• A sensation of tingling on your skin

• Teeth grinding (sometimes while sleeping) and jaw aches

• Nausea or diarrhea

• Hot flashes

• Shortness of breath

In some cases, you may experience short episodes of extreme fear or panic, often accompanied by many of the physical signs described above. These are commonly known as panic attacks or anxiety attacks, and they can be symptoms of certain anxiety disorders.

Signs that someone else might have an anxiety disorder

What if you’re concerned that a friend or loved one could be living with anxiety? There’s generally no way to know for sure until they talk to a specialist. However, you may want to gently encourage them to get a mental health evaluation if they’re displaying several of the following signs:

• They’ve become socially isolated

• They seem unusually forgetful, distracted, or distant

• Their personal hygiene has noticeably deteriorated

• Their performance at work or school has had an abrupt and noticeable downturn

• They have trouble making decisions

• They’re no longer engaging in hobbies or activities they enjoy or constantly find excuses to refuse or cancel plans

• When you’re in social settings or unfamiliar places, they often abruptly want to leave and become distressed if they can’t

• They need an unusual amount of reassurance about your feelings or their choices

• They seem tense or “on edge” much of the time

How to get help for anxiety disorders

The simplest way to seek evaluation and treatment for anxiety may be to talk with your primary care doctor. A licensed physician can perform screenings and an initial assessment for anxiety and provide a referral to a mental health specialist with the appropriate treatment techniques if necessary. They may also prescribe medication to help you manage symptoms while awaiting treatment. 

You can also search for care providers through your health insurance provider. Many companies provide searchable databases that allow you to look for particular specialties. The advantage of this approach is generally that you can be sure that any provider you find this way will accept your insurance. 

Talking with trusted friends and family members may be another option. If you’re comfortable discussing your concerns about your mental wellness with others, they might be able to point you toward someone who’s helped them.

Clergy members may also have relationships with mental health specialists. You might want to try talking with them if it’s important to you to have a therapist who understands your religious beliefs. 

Treatment for anxiety disorders can be effective

While some individuals may respond better to some methods than others, evidence suggests that anxiety disorder treatment often provides major relief. Placebo-controlled trials have found support for treatment options like the following:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

• Mindfulness-based therapies

• Psychodynamic therapy (PDT)

• Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)

Some individuals may also benefit from medications like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Evidence suggests that these techniques and treatments can help reduce anxiety symptoms and improve daily functioning. Never start, stop, or change the way you take medication without consulting your doctor.

Just how well does anxiety treatment work? Many individual factors can affect the course of anxiety disorders, and effect sizes may differ considerably between studies. Still, some researchers have found that as many as 70% of people treated for anxiety disorders may ultimately achieve remission of their symptoms. 

Benefits of online therapy

Many people seek assistance through online therapy platforms like BetterHelp. These services can match you with a licensed mental health professional who’s currently accepting new clients within 48 hours. Scheduling and attending therapy remotely may be easier for many people, especially those with anxiety related to situations like travel and social encounters.

Effectiveness of online therapy

Online therapy can be an effective form of treatment for anxiety disorders. A 2015 meta-analysis found that internet-based psychotherapy for anxiety disorders usually had similar effectiveness to in-person treatment, producing significant and sustained reductions in symptoms for many participants.