Nowadays, billions of dollars are spent yearly in the treatment of anxiety. More funds are spent on the treatment of anxiety-related problems than in many other areas of healthcare. Accordingly, the anti-anxiety psychopharmacology business grew exponentially (and keeps on growing), to the point where these medications are the most widely prescribed in the world. Anxiety and stress are considered THE problem of the century.
However, it is important to point out that (regular) anxiety is a normal part of life. It most often serves as a protection of the individual, warning the body that the person is in a potentially dangerous situation. If there is danger around, you will want to be anxious enough to be ready to react. For many, even our ability to adapt and plan ahead depends on anxiety. A little anxiety is normal, even good... a lot of it is not, especially when it hinders everyday life.
So, what about the disorders? Anxiety disorders are diagnosed when the situation that causes the effect is not proportional to the level of anxiousness it originates. For people suffering from them, the anxiety felt is very real (even if they themselves recognize it is excessive) and should not be underestimated or ignored.
In cognitive-behavior methods (the most widely used), treatment often starts with a deeper understanding of the processes involved in the anxious response, followed by cognitive restructuring (altering the underlying thoughts and beliefs) with the support of behavioral techniques.
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