Anxiety Disorder of Celebrities and Media Speculation

By Alexandra Williams


Anxiety disorder affects many people around the world and is particularly common in Western and other industrialized countries like the United States, United Kingdom, and Europe. In the US, anxiety disorders rank highly in the long list of mental health problems experienced by many individuals on a daily basis. Medical studies show that there are about 28 million persons who suffer from anxiety disorder every year. This condition may interfere with an individual's work, studies, or family life. In America, these mental health conditions have been closely linked to high rates of alcohol and substance abuse.

This can be triggered off due to a number of reasons such as one's circumstances, certain traumatic experiences or anything perceived by the person as traumatic. When this anxiety extends for a prolonged period it is time to be warned and seek professional help. This condition of the person is known as anxiety disorder.

However, according to the American Psychoanalytic Association, this act of "armchair psychoanalysis" may do more harm than good for Britney Spears, or pretty much anyone that is subjected to the same treatment.

Anxiety disorders are of different types. People develop anxiety disorders for various reasons and under various circumstances. One should understand the reasons thoroughly to be able to treat the patient. A good talk with the patient along with a standard questionnaire which could include questions about the family, friends, likes and dislikes of the patients would help in finding out the root cause which has led to the anxiety disorder and thus, would help in the treatment.

The various kinds of anxiety disorders include panic disorders, kinds of phobias like agoraphobia (which is the fear of being in a social setting), stress disorder, social anxiety to name a few.

Anxiety disorder symptoms would vary depending upon the individual and also with the kind of disorder that the patient is suffering from.

The good thing is that there is treatment for this condition. When in the pursuit of anxiety help, it would be better to know the kind of anxiety that is the cause of trouble. One should also find out the situations which cause the condition to aggravate.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). This condition is characterized by irrational worry about everyday, normal things like work, health, money, and other daily concerns. People who suffer from GAD are often irritable and suffer from fatigue, headaches, and muscle tension.

Anxiety disorder due to physical causes. These include general medical conditions or developed because of substance abuse.

Another problem that worries the ASA is the possibility that these diagnoses will be taken by the general public as fact. This stems from the fact that Britney Spears' celebrity status, combined with the incorrect diagnoses and outright "labeling" by the tabloids, can give the general public drastic misconceptions on the nature of mood and anxiety disorders. It might also cause people to mistakenly attempt to "self-diagnose" their problems and attribute them to one disorder or another.

One can take prescription drugs from the doctor to treat the problem and if not suitably convinced can opt for alternative treatments for anxiety disorders such as ayurveda, acupuncture , acupressure, aroma therapy, yoga and the like. Many people do try alternative treatment for anxiety disorders even though they are not endorsed by any legal authority.

Many health professionals encourage individuals affected with anxiety disorder to engage in physical activities like weight training, cardiovascular exercises, yoga, and other physical activities. These activities may help relieve anxiety and emotional tensions. In addition, these activities promote the release of endorphins, the body's natural pain killers. These substances are produced by the brain and may help promote a state of bliss and relaxation. Individuals who are affected by anxiety disorders should seek the help of health professionals so that they can develop a treatment plan for their condition.




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