Anxiety Disorders and Gender

[Page 80]Anxiety can be broadly defined as the expectation of encountering a threatening object, situation, or sensation. Anxiety often elicits an emotional reaction known as fear and can be triggered by either an external event (e.g., going to a party, encountering a bear in the forest) or an internal event (e.g., a memory, thought, prediction, or physical sensation). Anxiety disorders include some of the most prevalent mental health disorders around the world (e.g., specific phobia, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder) and can cause a significant decrease in quality of life and impairment in functioning. Anxiety disorders can interfere in many aspects of an individual’s life, including academics, employment, and social functioning. The costs associated with anxiety disorders (e.g., psychotherapy, medication, hospitalization, work ...