Brentwood, CA 11/1/2012 8:08:25 AM
News / Health & Wellness

The Cost of Anxiety

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) affects more people than you’d think and costs the US billions per year.

As the election nears, there is plenty of talk about healthcare and the cost to Americans. This public debate usually focuses on physical health issues, but 40 million adults in the US struggle with anxiety disorders, at a cost of $42 billion a year according to a 1999 study commissioned by the Anxiety and Depression Association of American.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) can be detrimental to an individual’s well being, quality of life, level of education, employment status and financial independence according to OCDcenter.org. While anxiety disorders are highly treatable, only about one-third of those suffering receive treatment, possibly due to the stigma of mental illness or a misunderstanding of the symptoms.


Houston Rockets player Royce White recently spoke out publically about his battle with generalized anxiety disorder and how it is affecting his rookie season. This talented first-round draft pick recognizes that the resulting fear of flying and OCD could jeopardize his career in the NBA. He’s not the first professional athlete or celebrity to battle mental health issues. Nearly one in five individuals struggles with GAD or OCD, so these are a common mental health issues, but few sufferers go public. We have a long way to go in educating the public about these mental health issues. Early and effective treatment will save money and keep healthcare costs down, no matter who gets elected president.

 

Find Mental Health Help at The Canyon

If you or someone you love needs treatment for an addiction and co-occurring mental health disorder like GAD, call The Canyon at the toll-free number on our homepage. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.