by Bobby Watson

Created on: November 18, 2008   Last Updated: March 19, 2009

Many of us have trouble facing difficult situations or even thinking of the things that can cause us stress immediately. Have you experienced a higher than normal level of anxiety lately? You are not alone. These days mental health issues are on the rise in our country, due to the higher levels of stress many Americans are experiencing because of the current financial crisis. Nationwide, the number of college students reporting a change in their mental health is also skyrocketing. In this current atmosphere it is vital that people are aware of where they can get treatment to improve the quality of their lives.

Anxiety disorders are caused by chemical imbalances in the brain and are related to both genetic and environmental factors. There are several anxiety disorders that can greatly impact an individual's happiness and quality of life. The most common of these generalized anxiety disorder, but they can also include panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, various phobias, severe depression, and can often result in the abuse of drugs or alcohol.

Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive anxiety and worry about everyday life situations and events. People with symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder tend to always live in fear of a personal disaster and can't stop worrying about health, money, family, work or school. In people with an anxiety disorder, the worry often is imaginary and unrealistic, or out of proportion for the situation. Life becomes a constant state of worry. Eventually, the anxiety consumes the person's thinking and interferes with daily functioning - including work, school, social activities, and relationships.

It is important to mention that people with an anxiety disorder can also have other mental health issues. Often, failure to get treatment for an anxiety disorder can result in a greater chance of developing another mental health disorder.

I myself have severe depressive disorder and dysthymia. Not long ago I self-medicated my condition by using a great deal of drugs and alcohol. When I tried to quit, I grew even more depressed. I decided to get help for myself before I did something stupid. I now take 5 medications every day. In the beginning, this embarrassed me and I felt inferior to normal people. I realized that the quality of my life and happiness was more important than foolish pride.

Before, I had no ambition in life and lived each day as if I would just prefer to sleep than deal with the world. I now attend school full-time and am much better able to handle life on its own terms than ever before. As much as I would prefer to not take medication, I see it helping in more ways than it could ever hurt. Try and remember that these problems don't discriminate and can happen to anyone. Scientists now believe that many mental health problems can be genetic.

Other treatments that work for many are regular exercise, meditation, or a personal journey of spirituality. Doing any of those things can be a great addition to your treatment plan. But don't feel bad if your doctor thinks you would be helped by taking some form of medication. Your brain chemistry isn't normal and there's nothing wrong with trying to fix it. Your personal happiness is worth it, don't you think?

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