Scattered throughout this book are case examples and stories that illustrate important principles and techniques. Although these examples are based on composites of real people, they do not represent any actual person. Any similarities to actual cases or people are purely coincidental.
Foolish Assumptions
Who might pick up this book? We assume, probably foolishly, that you or someone you love suffers from some type of problem with anxiety or worry. But, it’s also possible that you simply find the topic of anxiety interesting. We imagine that you may be curious about a variety of helpful strategies to choose from that can fit your lifestyle and personality. Finally, you may be a mental health professional who’s interested in finding a friendly resource for your clients who suffer from anxiety or worry.
Icons Used in This Book
For Dummies books use little pictures, called icons, in the margins to get your attention. Here’s what they mean:
Beyond the Book
For quick tips about anxiety, go to www.dummies.com, and type “Anxiety For Dummies Cheat Sheet” in the search box. You can get information about how to identify anxious thoughts, behaviors, and feelings. In addition, there are some suggestions for dealing with your anxious symptoms.
Where to Go from Here
Anxiety For Dummies offers you the best, most up-to-date advice based on scientific research on anxiety disorders. If you want help controlling your negative thoughts, turn to Chapters 6 and 7. If you’re concerned about living well during a pandemic, check out Chapter 13. If you’re worried about your job and finances, in Chapter 14 we provide tips for finding your next job and pinching pennies. Chapter 16 is a new chapter about anxiety related to racism.
For some people, this book could be a complete guide to fighting frenzy and fear. However, some stubborn forms of anxiety need more care and attention. If your anxiety and worry significantly get in the way of work or play, get help. Start with your family doctor to rule out physical causes. Then, consult with a mental health professional. Anxiety can be conquered, so don’t give up.
Part 1
Detecting and Exposing Anxiety
IN THIS PART …
Understand the ins and outs of anxiety.
Find out what anxiety does to your body.
Discover when anxiety is good for you.
Take a closer look at the causes of anxiety.
Chapter 1
Analyzing and Attacking Anxiety
IN THIS CHAPTER
Stroll down the street and about one in four of the people you walk by has significant problems with anxiety. And almost half of the people you encounter will struggle with anxiety to one degree or another. The rate of anxiety across the world has climbed for many decades, and no end is in sight.
The whole world watches on edge as disasters, terrorism, financial collapse, pandemics, social unrest, crime, and war threaten the security of home and family. Anxiety creates havoc in the home, destroys relationships, erodes health, causes employees to lose time from work, and prevents people from living full, productive lives.
In this chapter, you find out how to recognize the signs and symptoms of anxiety. We clarify the costs of anxiety — both personal and societal. We provide a brief overview of the treatments presented in greater detail in later chapters. You also get a glimpse of how to help if someone you care about or your child has anxiety. If you worry too much, or care for someone who has serious problems with anxiety, this book is here to help!
Anxiety: Everybody’s Doing It
Anxiety involves feelings of uneasiness, worry, apprehension, and/or fear, and it’s the most common of all the emotional disorders. In other words, you definitely aren’t alone if you have unwanted anxiety. And the numbers have grown over the years. At no time in history has anxiety tormented more people than it does today. Why?
Life has always been menacing. But today people around the world are glued to screens watching the latest horrors in real time. News feeds, blogs, tweets, newsprint, and social media chronicle crime, war, disease, discrimination, and corruption. The media’s portrayal of these modern plagues includes full-color images with unprecedented, graphic clarity.
In addition, recurring financial crises rock the fragile stability of the poor as well as the middle class. The lack of basic necessities like food, shelter, education, healthcare, clean water, and sanitation endanger many lives throughout the world. No wonder anxiety is its own worldwide pandemic.
Unfortunately, as stressful and anxiety-arousing as the world is today, only a minority of those suffering from anxiety seek professional treatment. That’s a problem, because anxiety causes not only emotional pain and distress but also physical strain and even death, given that anxiety extracts a serious toll on the body and sometimes even contributes to suicide. Furthermore, anxiety costs society as a whole, to the tune of billions of dollars.
When