Everybody knows what it's like to feel anxious—the butterflies in your stomach before a first date, the tension you feel when your boss is angry, the way your heart pounds if you're in danger. Anxiety rouses you to action. It gears you up to face a threatening situation. It makes you study harder for that exam, and keeps you on your toes when you're making a speech. In general, it helps you cope.

But if you have an anxiety disorder, this normally helpful emotion can do just the opposite—it can keep you from coping and can disrupt your daily life. Anxiety disorders aren't just a case of "nerves." They are illnesses, often related to the biological makeup and life experiences of the individual, and they frequently run in families. There are several types of anxiety disorders, each with its own distinct features.

Anxiety disorders are the most common of all the mental disorders.

This Web site is designed to provide information on anxiety disorders, panic disorder (which is sometimes accompanied by agoraphobia), obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, phobias, and generalized anxiety disorder. Detailed information is available throughout the site.