Anxiety: a Beast Many Have to Face

            Is clinical anxiety common? Who has to worry about it? What are the psychological disorders associated with anxiety? These are some questions perhaps many of us ask ourselves. In his seminar about developmental risk for anxiety and depression, Dr. Ned H. Kalin spoke of anxiety and its interaction with other psychiatric problems. According to studies, about 20% of all adults will at some point in their life experience an anxiety problem. Dr. Kalin specifically addressed a disorder called Anxious Temperament (AT). He described it as extreme behavioral inhibition to novel situations or strangers. It is said to predict the development of other anxiety disorders, depression, and even co-morbid drug abuse. The, so-to-speak, positive side of AT is that it can be identified early in life and treatment can be administered.

 20% is an incredibly high proportion of the adult population. If so many people will indeed develop an anxiety disorder, such as AT, how could it be interrelated with another, possibly pre-existing, psychological disorder a person is already afflicted with? Research conducted at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania has revealed a new possible relationship between anxiety and how it affects neurotic people and their decision-making process (or lack thereof). Neuroticism can be defined as “the experience of chronic negative affect”. It is hard to control as well as quite easily triggered. Many negative feelings, such as anxiety and depression, are an integral part of and deepen neuroticism in afflicted individuals. Anxiety in neurotics then not only deepens the problem and is related to its causes, but it is also a gateway for more anxiety disorders to come. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania now think that neurotic people are prone to avoiding taking action of any kind when faced with a difficulty or major life change or decision, which can have potentially disastrous effects. People who are anxious and neurotic seem to view action as a negative step and inaction as a positive one. Their view is reversed as compared to people who are considered emotionally stable. This anxiety-influenced attitude can be extremely damaging and hold people back from achieving a state of happiness.

            Since anxiety is such a common issue and it statistically affects about 1in 5 people, it is important to be mindful of one’s attitudes and control one’s anxiety as much as possible because, if uncontrolled, it can spill over into all aspects of a person’s life and invite in many other anxiety-related disorders, such as neuroticism or depression.

Source: McNamee, David. "Anxiety Makes Neurotic People 'afraid of Action'" Medical News           Today. MediLexicon International, 27 Apr. 2014. Web. 29 Apr. 2014. <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/276018.php>.