Anxiety is something that a lot of people experience. In fact, it’s said that one in five people will experience anxiety at some point in their lives. But is anxiety really a mental illness? Or is it just something that everyone experiences from time to time? Keep reading to find out more about anxiety and whether or not it qualifies as a mental illness.
In psychiatry, mental illness is a psychiatric diagnosis which describes a condition where a person exhibits abnormal thoughts, emotions and behaviour. In order to be diagnosed as having a mental illness, a person must exhibit some combination of these symptoms for at least six months.
There are many different types of mental illnesses that exist including mood disorders such as depression or bipolar disorder , anxiety disorders , schizophrenia and personality disorders . In addition, many people who suffer from mental illness also suffer from more than one form. For example, someone may have both an anxiety disorder and a personality disorder .
According to the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders ( DSM -IV), anxiety is not considered a separate disorder by itself but can cause significant impairment to a person’s life. As such, it can be classified as part of another mental disorder where the anxiety is considered to be significant enough to interfere with day-to-day living. For example, someone who has panic disorder will experience significant anxiety that is also impairing their ability to function on a daily basis.
As far as whether or not anxiety qualifies as a mental illness or not, the DSM -IV criteria for an anxiety disorder are listed below:
- At least one month of either (or both) persistent and excessive worry about multiple events or activities
- Excessive fears related to at least two different objects or situations which cause considerable fear or avoidance of these situations
- The fear being excessive even though the situation has been experienced before without any significant reaction
- Difficulty controlling the worry and fear
- The anxiety significantly interfering with a person’s ability to function day-to-day
It is true that anxiety can be considered a mental illness when it causes significant impairment in a person’s life. However, mental illnesses are also diagnosed based on symptoms which must be experienced for at least six months. In addition, anxiety disorders often coexist with other forms of mental illness such as personality disorders or mood disorders.
As such, while someone may not technically have an official diagnosis of just an anxiety disorder , they may still suffer from the same symptoms and experience significant impairment in their day-to-day living. This is why it’s important you seek help and speak to your doctor if you feel you are struggling with anxiety or any other form of mental illness.
About the Authors
Transitions Center for Natural Mental Health Treatments for a variety of physical and mental dependency issues and conditions. Substance use disorders are difficult to understand for many people. The physical and mental aspects of any substance disorder are complicated and unique to the individual suffering. The differences between physical and psychological dependency vary but have some similarities. Transitions Center for Natural Mental Health Treatments help the public know what to look for as a means of helping a loved one cope with the challenges of mental health disorders.
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