Anxiety Disorder

Millions of people experience the feeling of anxiety when they are put in uncomfortable situations or fearful of a future event, but some experience these feelings when there is nothing to worry about. These people may be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders are mental illnesses that are can cause feelings of anxiety, nervousness, and panic more often than usual (Barrios). There are many different types of these disorders, including general anxiety disorder (GAD), agoraphobia, and panic disorder. Some common symptoms of these disorders are frequent panic attacks, which can involve hyperventilation, shaking, and derealization (disconnection from reality), and nervous feelings when there seems to be no imminent danger. In some
In the ABC News article “What Are Benzodiazepines (Such As Valium, Xanax), How Do They Work, And How Are They Used To Treat Anxiety Disorders?”, Dr. Brian Brennan tells us that benzodiazepines “work by binding to a receptor which is located on neurons in the brain called the (GABA) receptor (see Figure 3).” The GABA receptor, as explained before, stops certain impulses in the brain that can lead to anxiety attacks. Benzodiazepines help the GABA receptor to work properly and prevent symptoms of anxiety disorders by allowing even more chloride ions into the neuron, which makes it even more resistant to
Knowing that there are many ways to treat anxiety disorders is, to many, very comforting, as they know that they do not have to constantly suffer from the effects of their disorder. As the last song in “Next to Normal” states, “There will be light,” and shedding light on the science as to why anxiety disorders can be developed, and the science behind the medications that are used to treat these disorders helps us all understand them. Learning how anxiety disorders, such as general anxiety disorder and panic disorder, are developed, and how the medication used to treat these disorders work may bring new understanding for those who struggle with anxiety disorders