Situational Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety disorders occur when the body's natural reaction to dangerous situations, the fight or flight response, is triggered in everyday situations that pose no threat. Situational anxiety disorder is one kind of anxiety disorder that is characterized by intense and debilitating fear in a specific situation.

Significance

• According to the National Institute of Mental Health, anxiety disorders are the No. 1 mental health problem among American women and are the second most common mental health problem for American men.

Features

• A person with situational anxiety disorder experiences intense fear and worry when in a specific situation, such as when speaking in front of a group, riding on an elevator or shopping at a crowded store.

Identification

• Unlike general anxiety disorder, situational anxiety only occurs in specific situations and is otherwise not present. When it does occur, it may lead to panic attacks or avoidance of the feared situation.

Considerations

• Situational disorder is also sometimes referred to as having a phobia, which is characterized by an exaggerated fear of a specific situation or object.

Prevention/Solution

• The most effective method of fighting situational anxiety disorder is to seek counseling. Sometimes medication is prescribed to reduce intense anxiety. Therapists use methods such as relaxation techniques, desensitization, group therapy and cognitive therapy to treat situational anxiety disorder.