Anxiety disorders are some of the most common mental disorders in society today, but they are still very misunderstood even by mental health professionals. Modern society has solved many of the mysteries surrounding anxiety disorders because of technological advancement, and more people than ever are receiving treatment for their anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders are characterized by a long and dark history, complex causes, several distinct groups, and effective treatment with medication and therapy.
History of Anxiety Disorders Anxiety disorders have around throughout the history of mankind, but human understanding of the disorders have constantly changed throughout history. Societal values severely affected the treatment of people with …show more content…
Classical Greece shifted society towards empirical studies and logical understanding of the world from the superstitious views of the world from previous eras. The study of medicine was in its infancy, and mental illnesses were still greatly misunderstood. For example, men with anxiety disorders were considered to lack courage and were often ridiculed by society. Classical Greek men followed a code of honor and courage, and valued men who were not afraid to fight wars and risk their lives for honor. Anxiety disorders were seen as character flaws instead of illnesses that could be fixed through military training (Horwitz, 2013).
The Roman Empire saw the rise of faith based treatments for mental disorders. The main treatment for mental disorders were prayer and atonement for the sins that were believed to cause mental disorders. Mental illnesses were often mistaken for demonic possessions and were often treated through exorcisms or public miracles. People with mental illnesses were treated extremely poorly and were often shunned by their communities. It was common for the mentally ill to commit suicide instead of seeking ineffective treatment and living as outsiders (Iosif, …show more content…
Mental illnesses were considered a form of insanity, and asylums were created to prevent the mentally ill from harming themselves and others. The increased interest in treating mental illnesses led to overcrowding in asylums where resources were scarce and understanding of mental illness was in its infancy. The treatment of asylums patients were heavily controversial as patients were regularly put in straitjackets, restraints, and limb locks. Patients often lived in small rooms and the most extreme cases had patients restrained to their beds during the night. The asylums were a step forward in understanding mental illness despite the highly controversial treatment of the mentally ill (Colaizzi,
History of Anxiety Disorders Anxiety disorders have around throughout the history of mankind, but human understanding of the disorders have constantly changed throughout history. Societal values severely affected the treatment of people with …show more content…
Classical Greece shifted society towards empirical studies and logical understanding of the world from the superstitious views of the world from previous eras. The study of medicine was in its infancy, and mental illnesses were still greatly misunderstood. For example, men with anxiety disorders were considered to lack courage and were often ridiculed by society. Classical Greek men followed a code of honor and courage, and valued men who were not afraid to fight wars and risk their lives for honor. Anxiety disorders were seen as character flaws instead of illnesses that could be fixed through military training (Horwitz, 2013).
The Roman Empire saw the rise of faith based treatments for mental disorders. The main treatment for mental disorders were prayer and atonement for the sins that were believed to cause mental disorders. Mental illnesses were often mistaken for demonic possessions and were often treated through exorcisms or public miracles. People with mental illnesses were treated extremely poorly and were often shunned by their communities. It was common for the mentally ill to commit suicide instead of seeking ineffective treatment and living as outsiders (Iosif, …show more content…
Mental illnesses were considered a form of insanity, and asylums were created to prevent the mentally ill from harming themselves and others. The increased interest in treating mental illnesses led to overcrowding in asylums where resources were scarce and understanding of mental illness was in its infancy. The treatment of asylums patients were heavily controversial as patients were regularly put in straitjackets, restraints, and limb locks. Patients often lived in small rooms and the most extreme cases had patients restrained to their beds during the night. The asylums were a step forward in understanding mental illness despite the highly controversial treatment of the mentally ill (Colaizzi,