Sarah Moore
The short answer is YES, anxiety is that common. This is a good thing because you are not alone. Now let me give you some interesting statistics.
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States. It affects over 40 million adults 18 and over which accounts for over 18% of the population.
A lot of people suffer from anxiety disorder and never get treated, only 37% of Americans each year get treated for their anxiety. That means that nearly 25 million Americans get left untreated and have to deal with the mental anguish of dealing with an anxiety disorder.
Take the anxiety quiz to see if you have a disorder. If you already know that you have anxiety then get treated online now.
How does anxiety disorder develop?
The causes of anxiety are still not understood but can be narrowed down to many factors in our life. It is a mix of genetics and life events that can contribute to anxiety.
The most common ways anxiety develops are:
- Traumatic events in our childhood. e.g., trauma, abuse, neglect.
- Stress because of a physical illness. e.g., cancer, chronic illness.
- Everyday stress. e.g., finances, relationships, a death of a loved one.
- Personality. e.g., some personalities are more susceptible, possible personality disorder.
- Relatives with anxiety. e.g., father, mother, brother, sister.
- Substance abuse. e.g., drugs and alcohol.
More women are diagnosed with more anxiety disorders than men throughout their lifetime. 33% of women will be diagnosed with some sort of anxiety during their life versus 22% of men. The reason for this percentage difference is attributed to the fluctuation in women’s hormonal system.
Take the anxiety quiz to see if you have a disorder. If you already know that you have anxiety then get treated online now.