Anxiety and Panic Disorders
One in five U.S. adults have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Many are untreated, many are over-treated, and many are improperly treated. The cost of anxiety and depression on the U.S. economy is nearly $50 billion/year making it one of the costliest medical conditions in the country .
Anxiety and panic are the result of adrenaline, a hormone that has effects on heart rate, blood pressure, vision, bowel function, sweat glands, muscle function, etc. Unfortunately, the typical management of anxiety & panic disorders in the U.S. is pharmacologic sedatives—physiologically addictive drugs that can have grave consequence with use and with discontinuance.
Students should be taught the pathophysiology of anxiety, specifically that anxiety is the product of a hormonal 'flight-or-fight' response which has developed through millions of years of biological evolution to help us survive. It is a natural process that can go awry, but generally can be controlled—and cured—with an understanding of the cause, and equipped with simple techniques to alleviate attacks.
Action Plan:
Educational Institutions will need to undergo instructor training and provide student training to educate the pathophysiology of anxiety and panic. Students should be taught methods to effectively reduce anxiety and eliminate inappropriate panic.
Educational content providers will be expected to provide standardized training to both educators and to students that meet quality standards with the goal of instilling understanding and tools for managing anxiety and panic. Educational materials should be fairly priced and free from overt marketing bias.