Girl Behind the Fence: Anxiety

Book excerpt: Finally take control of your anxiety without medication so your anxiety stops controlling you! Per the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), anxiety affects over 2 billion adults worldwide and over 97 million in the United States alone, of which an estimated 54% of these are women. ​ The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry stated that anxiety treatment costs are over $42 billion per year in the United States. Of this, $23 billion is for repetitive healthcare services due to symptoms which mimic physical illnesses, such as heart attacks. Compared to non-anxious individuals, those with an anxiety disorder are 5X more likely to go to the doctor, and 6X more likely to be hospitalized for psychiatric disorders. Currently, anxiety is the #1 mental health concern in North America. Each year, more than 4 billion prescriptions are filled in the United States alone, of which Paxil and Zoloft are two of the top prescribed medications. Due to lack of medical insurance or funds, many people self-medicate with street drugs and / or alcohol. In fact, 42% of those who struggle with anxiety use recreational drugs. There are many forms of anxiety, of which each affects millions of people:​ Generalized Anxiety Disorder: 6.8 million, in which women are 2X more likely to be afflicted with than men. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: 2.2 million, which is equally common in both men and women. Panic Disorder: 6 million, in which women are 2X more likely to be afflicted with than men. This often co-exists with depression. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): 7.7 million, in which women are more afflicted. Social Anxiety Disorder: 15 million, which is equally common in both men and women. If you answer "yes" to most items on the included questionnaire, it's likely you could be clinically-diagnosed with anxiety. ​ The bad news is that symptoms don't disappear when ignored. The good news is that with the right help you can regain control of your life, enjoy more fulfilling relationships, find your authenticity, reconnect with your passions, reach goals, express yourself more freely, experience more stable work environments, increase your academic success, break free from addictions, and even have strong spirituality. And that is why this book exists.