Panic
Anxiety Education
Management Services
History of Anxiety
Disorders
Anxiety Disorders were only recognized in 1980 by the American
Psychiatric Association. Before this recognition people experiencing
one of these Disorders usually received a generic diagnosis of
'stress' or 'nerves'. As there was no understanding of the Disorders
by the health professionals, very few people received effective
treatment. Since 1980, international research has shown the severe
disabilities associated with these Disorders. Most of these
disabilities can be prevented with early diagnosis and effective
treatment.
These disabilities include agoraphobia, drug and/or alcohol abuse
and major depression.
Recently, there has been more media on the prevalence of Anxiety,
panic attacks and Anxiety Disorders. As more people become aware of
the presence of anxiety disorders, there is more interest in the
appropriate treatment of these disorders. Anxiety Disorders carry
less stigma now as more-and-more people from all walks of life
report to their health professionals for treatment.
It was often thought that Anxiety Disorders and panic attacks
were a "women's problem." This is certainly untrue.
Although men are more hesitant to present for treatment, both women
and men are affected by these Disorders.
Although Anxiety Disorders have been on recently officially
recognized, they have existed throughout the history of mankind.
Many great and influential people in history have reported
experiencing panic attacks and Anxiety Disorders. (See Famous
People section to look at some of the influential people in our
history who have experienced an Anxiety Disorder.)
The various treatments that they received is diverse and
sometimes humorous. In many cases, the treatments offered were
ineffective, and sometimes quite dangerous to the person. Some
treatments that were used previously were various herbs and balms
(in the medieval/ ancient times), bathing in extremely cold rivers
and streams, hydropathy (applying extreme temperatures to the body),
health spas, blood letting (with the use of leeches). With the dawn
of psychoanalysis and Freud, many people turned to the therapist's
couch as a solution to their experience with an Anxiety Disorder.
With the advent of pharmaceuticals, drugs were prescribed heavily
for people presenting with an Anxiety Disorder (although it was not
called an Anxiety Disorder at this time).
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