This document discusses anxiety disorders and aims to reduce stigma through education. It defines anxiety disorders as involving excessive and disproportionate amounts of anxiety, fear, or worry that affect daily life. Some potential causes include genetics, gender, and life events. Physical symptoms of anxiety disorders can include rapid heart rate, rapid breathing, sweating, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, and tense muscles. The document seeks to address common questions about what characterizes an anxiety disorder, its potential physical manifestations, and ways of managing anxiety.

1. Eliminating Stigma Through Education

2. NOTE: It is common to feel occasional
anxiety during life events
 Before an exam
 During a job interview
 When making a difficult decision
Involve EXCESSIVE amounts of
anxiety, fear, nervousness, worry,
or dread
Occurs TOO OFTEN, is OUT OF
PROPORTION to the situation,
and AFFECTS a person’s daily
LIFE
ANXIETY DISORDER…

3. Personality
Genetics
Female Gender
Distressing Life
Events

4. Rapid Heart
Rate
Rapid
Breathing
Sweating
Excessive
Fatigue
Difficulty Sleeping
Feeling of
Impending Doom
RestlessnessTense Muscles
Inability to
Control Worry
Difficulty
Concentrating

6. I didn’t ask for
this, nor can I
control it
Anxiety can
cause physical
symptoms
I know my
thoughts
are
irrational My feelings
are real

8. What characterizes an
anxiety disorder?
What are some physical
manifestations?
What are some ways to
manage anxiety?

9. [AJ+]. (2015 November 11). What it’s like to live with anxiety. [Video File]. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4AHQPOIpIU
Mayo Clinic (2016). Generalized anxiety disorder. Retrieved from
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/generalized-anxiety-disorder/basics/risk-
factors/con-20024562
National Institute of Mental Health (March 2016). Anxiety disorders. Retrieved from
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders/index.shtml
The Nemours Foundation (2016). Anxiety disorders. Teens Health. Retrieved from
http://kidshealth.org/en/teens/anxiety.html#