Guest Author - Jim Lowrance

In this article I will be describing two more common anxiety disorders, known as; Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). I am including statistics from the National Institute of Mental Health, who permits reprint of them by the public, for education.

As I have stated in other articles on anxiety disorders, thyroid patients are commonly affected and medical research has concluded in a number of studies that the "autoimmune" aspect of thyroid disease (thyroid antibodies), may be the reason.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD):
This one, abbreviated "GAD", is the worry disorder and people who have it, are commonly accused of being "worry warts" however, it is not a condition they can simply snap-out of, just as it is not possible for anxiety sufferers to snap-out of any of these disorders. They are learned behaviors, many times with hormonal and medical conditions that also contribute to them and it takes specific therapies and treatments, to treat them successfully.

Approximately 6.8 million American adults, or about 3.1 percent of people age 18 and over, have GAD in a given year.

GAD can begin across the life cycle, though the median age of onset is 31 years old. One Anxiety Disorder that is more-so a mix of both anxiety and depression, than the other Anxiety Disorders, is "Generalized Anxiety Disorder". With this type, patients commonly experience a mix of both anxiety and depression. As with the other anxiety disorders, it presents with very concerning symptoms but is characterized with "worry" being a major feature of it. The type worry that is a tip-off for someone having GAD, is when it is chronic and excessive and lasts for months, rather than just being a worry-trend, due to extra stressful events that may be happening at a given time.

GAD sufferers find their selves worrying intensely about normal events, that do not worry your average person, to the same severe degree, such as health, finances, school, danger to self and loved ones, etc...

It commonly also manifests with co-existing depression. They may at times have stronger manifestations of depression and at other times, stronger manifestations of anxiety, while at other times, they are both about even in manifestation. Thankfully, there are treatments, that help both emotional disorders simultaneously, such as SSRI Antidepressants, that are designed to help patients with both anxiety and depression. There are also treatments, such as "Cognitive Behavioral Therapy", that offers coping and overcoming skills, for people suffering both anxiety and depression.

People experiencing these common emotional disorders and the family, friends and associates of these patients, should be aware of how commonly these disorders co-exist but should also learn about the major features, that help distinguish them.

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD):
Most people feel uncomfortable in certain social settings however, with Social Anxiety Disorder "SAD" (also called Social Phobia), the slight discomfort becomes a full blown phobia. Sufferers, will find themselves, having severe anxiety symptoms when around other people, that will also escalate into panic attacks. They will as a result, begin to avoid any types of social activities, in attempt to escape these anxiety responses.

Approximately 15 million American adults age 18 and over, or about 6.8 percent of people in this age group in a given year, have social phobia.

Social phobia begins in childhood or adolescence, typically around 13 years of age.

One famous sufferer (there are many), who has also been a spokesperson for patients with this disorder, is Donny Osmond. Can you imagine such a brilliant entertainer having social phobia? The fact is, even people who appear to be outgoing can suffer from social anxiety and anxiety disorders of any kind, in no way indicate a lack of character or intelligence in those who suffer them.

People with Social Anxiety Disorder, have strong anxiety responses to being in social settings. They feel panicky when around people, especially those they do not know well. They are constantly on guard around people, fearing they are being judged for their every move and their composure in front of others. They feel they must conduct their selves perfectly, around others, in order to be accepted by them.