The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimates 26% of American adults over age 18 suffer from some form of mental health disorder. That totals nearly 60 million people, or 1 in 4 adults.

1. Panic Attacks and Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder
(PTSD) is More Common Than
You Think

2. The National Institute of Mental Health
(NIMH) estimates 26% of American adults
over age 18 suffer from some form of
mental health disorder. That totals nearly
60 million people, or 1 in 4 adults. Of all
those with a diagnosable mental health
problem, those with anxiety disorders are
the most common.
Mental illness is the main cause of
permanent disability in the United States,
and nearly half of people with a mental
disorder diagnosis have more than one
disorder.

3. Anxiety disorders affect over 40 million
American adults, or about 18 percent of
the adult population.
Frequently people with anxiety disorders
also suffer from depression or substance
abuse. The average age of onset for
anxiety disorders is 21.5 years.

4. Anxiety disorders are very treatable with
therapy or medications, yet only 1/3 of
those suffering from anxiety diagnoses
seek treatment.
 The causes of anxiety disorders are
complex, but they include genetics, life
events, personality and brain chemistry.

5.  Panic disorders impact about 2.7% of
American adults, or approximately 6
million people. People can develop panic
attacks at any age, with the median age
of onset being 24 years.
Women are twice as likely as men to
suffer panic attacks, and the illness is
very often seen alongside depression.

6. Panic attacks occur out of the blue and
most people who experience a panic
attack become preoccupied with fear that
another one will happen. Some people
even get panic attacks while they are
asleep.
As with anxiety disorders, panic disorders
are treatable but many people are afraid
or ashamed to seek help. They may
distance themselves from family, friends
and other support systems.

7. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD,
affects close to 8 million American adults
or 3.5% of the adult population. It can
develop at any age and occurs as the
result of exposure to traumatic events
such as rape, assault, terrorism, war,
disasters and accidents. Some 19% of
Vietnam veterans experienced PTSD after
that war.

8. Statistically, rape is the most likely
trigger of PTSD, and 65% of men and
46% of women who are raped develop
the disorder. Sexual abuse as a child
makes a person much more likely to
develop PTSD during their lifetime. Many
soldiers returning from the wars in Iraq
and Afghanistan have been diagnosed
with PTSD, and the numbers are
challenging the military and Veteran’s
Administration mental health care
systems.

9. PTSD is closely associated with panic
attacks, which may occur suddenly or
when something reminds the person of the
traumatic event in their past. The
symptoms of PTSD include flashbacks,
recurring dreams about the event, panic
attacks and avoiding things that recall the
event. These experiences often severely
disrupt the lives of sufferers and their
families. Panic attacks often make the
person feel as if they are dying or losing
control, and they can last for a few
minutes to a few hours.

10. Anxiety and panic attacks along with
PTSD cause trouble sleeping, anger
outbursts, nightmares, unrelenting fear,
and preoccupation with threats or feeling
constantly insecure. People might have
trouble relating to others or feel hopeless
about the future.

11. They may even feel as if events in their
life are unreal or as if they are watching
events from outside their bodies. There
are effective treatment options for all
three disorders, including therapy,
medication, lifestyle changes and peer
supports.

12.  About The Author: Judie Keys CCH of
Panic & PTSD Hypnotherapy Center San
Diego,
1761 Hotel Circle South Suite 356, San
Diego, CA 92108 Phone (619) 961-7555
offers Drug Free Solutions to Panic and
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
from her San Diego office as well as over
the phone in private. Inquiries Welcome.
 Panic & PTSD Hypnotherapy Center San
Diego = http://thehealingtree.net/
