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Anxiety is a normal part of living. It’s a biological reaction—the body’s way of telling us something isn’t right. It keeps us from harm’s way and prepares us to act quickly in the face of danger. But if your anxiety becomes overwhelming and persistent, or if it interferes with your regular daily activities, or even makes them impossible, you may have an anxiety disorder.

Researchers are learning that anxiety disorders run in families, and that they have a biological basis, much like allergies or diabetes and other disorders. Anxiety disorders may develop from a complex set of risk factors, including genetics, brain chemistry, personality, and life events. Find out more.

Anxiety disorders can be treated by a wide range of mental health professionals, including psychologists, psychiatrists, clinical social workers, and psychiatric nurses. Increasingly aware of the problems of anxiety disorders and depression, primary care physicians make frequent diagnoses, and they may prescribe medication or refer a patient to a mental health provider.

• Learn more about what to consider.
• Find a therapist.

No: Generalized anxiety disorder, also known as GAD, is characterized by persistent, excessive, and unrealistic worry about everyday things. People with this disorder experience exaggerated worry and tension, often expecting the worst, even when there is no apparent reason for concern. They anticipate disaster and are overly concerned about money, health, family, work, or other issues. Sometimes just the thought of getting through the day produces anxiety. They don’t know how to stop the worry cycle and feel it is beyond their control, even though they usually realize that their anxiety is more intense than the situation warrants.

Anxiety, or general anxiety, is a normal reaction to stressful and uncertain situations. It’s your body telling you to stay alert and protect yourself.

Learn the difference between general anxiety about your finances and generalized anxiety disorder, or GAD.

Success of treatment varies, but most people with an anxiety disorder can be helped with professional care. Benefits of CBT are usually seen in 12 to 16 weeks. Medication may be a short-term or long-term treatment option, depending on severity of symptoms, other medical conditions and individual circumstances. It often takes time and patience to find the drug that works best for you. Treatment may be complicated if you have more than one anxiety disorder or if they suffer from depression, substance abuse, or other co-existing conditions. This is why treatment must be tailored specifically for each person.

Treatments for anxiety disorders may include medication or therapy; both types have been found effective. A combination of medication and therapy may also be effective. The decision about treatment is based on your needs and preferences. Discuss your options with a professional who is familiar with your diagnosis and overall health. Scientific evidence is growing about complementary and alternative treatment, which is an approach to health care that exists outside conventional medicine practiced in the United States.

Consult a doctor or therapist to get a proper diagnosis and to learn about treatment options, length of treatment, side effects, time commitment, and other health issues to help you decide on the best treatment approach for you.

Four major classes of medications are used in the treatment of anxiety disorders:

1. SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)
2. SNRIs (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors)
3. benzodiazepines
4. tricyclic antidepressants

Find out more details about medications.

Contact your physician if you experience side effects, even if you are not sure a symptom is caused by a medication. Do not stop taking a medication without consulting with the prescribing physician; abrupt discontinuation may cause other health risks.

Medications will work only if they are taken according the explicit instructions of your physician, but they may not resolve all symptoms of an anxiety disorder. Find out more.

Any treatment plan has risks and benefits, and for pregnant women, the risks are of particular concern. The effectiveness and safety of treating symptoms for anxiety disorders and depression differs for every woman. Talk to your doctor before beginning or changing any treatment plan.

Find out more, including the recommendations of the American Psychiatric Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and medication are effective in treating children with anxiety disorders. Recent research found that a combination of CBT and an antidepressant worked better for children ages 7-17 than either treatment alone.

Because one child may respond better, or sooner, to a particular treatment than another child with the same diagnosis, it’s important to discuss with your doctor or therapist how to decide which treatment works best for your child and family lifestyle. Learn more.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning in October 2004 that antidepressant medications, including SSRIs, may increase suicidal thoughts and behavior in a small number of children and adolescents. However, the FDA has not prohibited or removed these medications, and no suicides were reported in the studies that led to the warning.

You should not necessarily refuse to give your child medication, but you should watch for signs of depression and talk to your child’s doctor or therapist about any concerns. Untreated anxiety disorders in children increases the risk for depression, social isolation, substance abuse, and suicide. Read more information about medications.

Find out about resources that offer assistance in paying for treatment. Family physicians also may have information about low-cost treatment resources.

Complete the downloadable form and email to [email protected] or mail with full payment to: Conference Registration, 8701 Georgia Ave., Suite 412, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. 

1. Participation in the 2021 Anxiety and Depression Virtual Conference is limited to registered attendees. 
2. All session and poster presenters must register to present and participate in the conference.
3. All participants must adhere to ADAA's Virtual Program Code of Conduct policy. 
4. ADAA is unable to offer military or government registration rates.
5. Sharing of log in information is prohibited and may result in removal from the virtual platform with no refund provided.
6. Registrations are nontransferable.
7. As attendees will have access to conference presentations for 60 days, ADAA 2021 Virtual Conference registration fees are nonrefundable.
             ADAA may consider offering a partial refund to individuals based on exigent circumstances. Emergency requests for refunds must be submitted in writing to [email protected]. Requests made by phone will not be considered. An $85 administrative fee will apply to all refunds.
8. Only registered professional attendees can receive CE or CME credits.
9. Nonmembers must pay for credits.

• There are several possible causes of depression, and they often interplay with each other. Generally, biological or genetic, psychological and/or environmental factors, or a combination of these, are thought to underlie depression.
• Depression can be a result of a primary psychiatric condition, or it can be secondary to a medical condition. Depression may be caused by use of certain substances, such as alcohol.
• Some of the medical conditions which can cause depression, are hypothyroidism, certain types of cancer such as pancreatic cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and others.

The most commonly diagnosed form of depression is Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). In 2017, around 17.3 million aged 18 years or older in the U.S. had experienced at least one major depressive episode in the last year, which represented 6.7 percent of all American adults. Depression is the leading cause of disability in the United States among people ages 15-44. ²

Major depression is characterized by an overwhelming feeling of sadness or a loss of interest and pleasure in most usual activities.  

The other symptoms that are associated with major depression include: 

• decrease or increase in appetite,  
• insomnia or hypersomnia,  
• psychomotor agitation or retardation,  
• constant fatigue,  
• feelings of worthlessness or excessive and inappropriate guilt,  
• recurrent thoughts of death and suicidal ideation with or without specific plans for committing suicide, and  
• cognitive difficulties, such as, diminished ability to think, concentrate and take decisions.  

The symptoms must persist for two weeks or longer and represent a significant change from previous functioning. Social, occupational, educational, or other important functioning are impacted by major depressive disorder. For instance, the person may start missing work or school, or stop going to classes or their usual social activities.  

Watch ADAA's Video - What is Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)?

• Depression can affect anyone.
• Females are more likely to suffer from depression than males, however, depression affects males as well.
• Some of the risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing depression:
  • Having a family member with depression
  • Stressful life events (Katon 2011)
  • Adverse childhood experiences (Katon 2011)
  • Certain medical conditions may increase risk for depression, for example, stroke, multiple sclerosis, HIV (NIMH)

Experiencing sadness at one time or another is part of the normal human experience. However, depression is more than the occasional sadness that people experience. When an individual suffers from depression, the sadness tends to be more pervasive or long lasting, and can be accompanied by one or more of the following: decreased interest in pleasurable activities, feelings of hopelessness, low self-worth, excessive guilt, decrease in energy, concentration difficulties, appetite changes, sleep difficulty or excessive sleep, headaches, body aches and pains, and/or thoughts of suicide.

• Mental health and physical health are closely inter-related. Depression is linked with changes in the brain. Additionally, depression can increase risk for medical conditions such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis, migraine (NIMH, Steffan et al 2020). Chronic depression can also increase the risk of obesity.
• Studies show that major depressive disorder may increase risk for cardiovascular disease (Van der Kooy et al 2007). On the other hand, depression may emerge after a myocardial infarction, as a first episode or as a recurrent one (Spijkerman et al 2005).
• Similarly, studies show that depression may increase risk for diabetes, and diabetes may increase the risk of depression (Mezuk et al 2008, Katon 2011, Oladeji and Gureje 2013). Depressive disorders in people who have diabetes, can lower adherence to diabetes treatment, and can increase the likelihood of ‘poor glycemic control’ and complications from diabetes (Oladeji and Gureje 2013).

Depression can affect the elderly as well. In fact, it is often missed in the elderly. Elderly with chronic health conditions and related impairment in functioning may be at greater risk of depression. According to the CDC, depression among elderly ranges from 1% to 5% for those living in the community, and is about 11.5% & 13.5% among elderly who are hospitalized and elderly requiring home healthcare respectively (CDC).

Just like adults, children can suffer from depression that significantly impairs their social, academic and/or other domains of functioning. For more information on childhood depression, check out this ADAA blog post

When feelings of sadness, low mood, or emptiness after the birth of the baby are significant and persists for 2 weeks or longer, postpartum depression may be present. It may be accompanied by hopelessness, crying spells, decrease in interest or motivation, worthlessness, decreased energy, thoughts of suicide, thoughts of hurting the baby, lack of interest in the baby, sleep difficulty or excessive sleep, appetite increase or decrease, and/or concentration, memory difficulties. Postpartum depression can affect both the mother and the baby in various, significant ways. Timely treatment is important.

There are effective treatments for depression which have been established through research; many treatments for depression have been around for years. Many people ignore signs of depression despite experiencing significant suffering. This may be due to stigma, lack of awareness, and/or barriers to accessing care. Untreated depression confers several risks. Discussing your concerns about depression with your doctor can often be the first step in getting professional help.

Untreated depression can increase risk of depressive episodes becoming more frequent, prolonged and/or severe over time and increase risk of suicide. It can significantly interfere with one’s functioning at work, school, and/or in interpersonal relationships. Depression can also increase risk of alcohol and/or substance use disorders. Additionally, depression can worsen the course and outcome of chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and others.

Psychotherapy and medications are the most commonly used treatments for depressive disorders. For mild to moderate depression, psychotherapy is generally thought to be the first line treatment. For moderate to severe depression, a combination of medications and psychotherapy is often considered. For severe depression that has not responded to multiple trials of medications and psychotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) may be some of the treatment options. The type of treatment hat is suitable for an individual depends on an individual’s specific clinical situation.

Anxiety disorders and substance use disorders are some of the psychiatric conditions commonly found co-existing with major depressive disorder (Hasin et al 2018, Steffan et al 2020). Other psychiatric conditions too, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), eating disorders, can co-occur with depression.