There's a major difference between the normal, explainable types of anxiety and intense, often crippling anxieties that aren't so easy to explain or understand. Doctors call these "anxiety disorders." It's estimated that 10 percent of North Americans will experience one of these disorders at some point in their lives. In the past doctors believed that these disorders were directly related to deep-seated psychological problems. Now researchers are finding that genetics and subtle imbalances in brain chemistry may play a significant role.

Anxiety And Depression

The link between anxiety and depression is well known. About 80 percent of people who have been diagnosed with major depression suffer from high levels of anxiety, and about 35 percent of those with anxiety disorders will develop depression. While most psychiatrists still believe that anxiety and depression are separate illnesses, the diseases often overlap, especially in older adults. Are Some People At Greater Risk For Anxiety And Anxiety Disorders?

While older people frequently report anxiety as a symptom, they are less likely to suffer from anxiety disorders than people under age 65. Certain negative experiences associated with aging may make you more vulnerable to anxiety. These include the loss of loved ones, the fear of increased dependency due to health problems, changes in economic or social status, loneliness and fear of isolation, and finally, the fear of dying.

Most people find they can recover from the effects of change and loss if they have enough time. But these stresses tend to pile up in the later years, and it's easy for you to become overwhelmed. Some experts think that the so-called "young old" people in their 60s and 70s are most vulnerable to anxiety because they are still adjusting to the realities of older age. Those in their 80s and 90s may actually be less prone to anxiety because longer exposure to loss and stress has given them a measure of resistance.

Women are more likely to experience certain anxiety disorders than men, but the reasons for this aren't clear. It may be that women, particularly older women who are widowed or divorced, are more likely to be exposed to poverty and powerlessness, which makes them vulnerable to anxiety. Another explanation may be that, in general, women are more likely than men to admit that they have a problem and to seek medical help. Some researchers believe that men also experience anxiety but are more likely to mask their symptoms with alcohol. Your risk for anxiety later in life seems to be greater if you are poor and if you live in a situation that makes you feel completely dependent on others. Common symptoms of Anxiety

• Physical symptoms trembling, twitching or feeling shaky, muscle tension, aches or soreness, pain or discomfort in the chest, shortness of breath, palpitations,sweating, cold or clammy hands, dry mouth, dizziness or lightheadedness, nausea, diarrhea or stomach complaints, flushes or chills, frequent urination, a lump in the throat.

• Emotional symptoms feeling edgy or nervous, easily fatigued, abnormally focused on surroundings or physical sensations, easily startled or upset, trouble concentrating, irritability.