See the World Through Anxious Eyes - TestYourself.psychtests.com Releases Results of Their Research on Anxiety

TestYourself releases results from their study on people with anxiety, and reveals how the world looks through the eyes of anxiety-sufferers.

MONTREAL, CANADA (MARKETWIRE) -- May 31, 2011

TestYourself.psychtests.com, one of the web's foremost sources of personality, career, and IQ assessments, unveils some interesting results of their Anxiety Test. Their study results reveal gender and age differences in regards to different types of anxiety, and provides a glimpse into the mind of those who suffer from this often debilitating and very common disorder.

According to Wikipedia, every fifth American suffers from one of the anxiety disorders at some point in life. Many more experience major anxiety issues but the symptoms are not strong enough and/or don't last long enough to meet the diagnostic criteria. Anxiety is more than just worry - it's a constant preoccupation or dread. It's more than just nervousness - it's a sense of often inexplicable terror. It's the clammy hands, tension, lack of concentration, and the feeling of being constantly on edge. It's the sweating, palpitations, hypertension and headaches. Unfortunately, whether due to a lack of knowledge or a fear of stigma, many people who suffer from anxiety disorders don't seek help. But to live in a state of constant fear can bring a person's entire life to a screeching halt.

After assessing data from over 7,000 test-takers, TestYourself's data reveal that at least 30% of their sample have consulted a professional about anxiety problem, and that 20% have been diagnosed with an anxiety-related disorder. Eleven percent of TestYourself's test-takers were being treated for one of the anxiety disorders at the time they took the assessment. Anxiety is an ongoing problem for many people, and is not limited to those public-speaking jitters or fear of giant spiders.

"Anxiety issues, based on our sample, peak at a young age, generally before the age of 18," explains Dr. Jerabek, president of the company. "Generalized anxiety was highest in our youngest age group, and then became less prevalent in older groups. Mood instability and the tendency to ruminate on negative thoughts also tended to be highest in the 18-or-less group, and then dropped slowly with time - although it's important to point out that the majority of our sample scored somewhere in the middle on anxiety and the factors related to anxiety indicated that while this isn't a full-blown problem for most people, anxiety is really quite common and goes mostly untreated."

Gender comparisons reveal that women were slightly more likely to experience generalized anxiety, somatic manifestations of anxiety (i.e. tension, digestion problems), mood instability (in the form of psychological distress and mental agitation), and rumination. Rumination appeared to be one of the most common issues that the majority of the sample experienced.

"Incessant reflection on what's going wrong with your life and other distressing thoughts can deal some serious damage to your peace of mind," points out Dr. Jerabek. "The more you worry about a problem, even a minor one, the bigger it grows, and so too do the negative feelings associated with it. Individuals with anxiety over-think issues to such a large degree that they create their own waking nightmare."

Of the people in TestYourself's sample currently being treated for anxiety, the following is an example of the issues they face everyday:

  • 24% have nightmares.
  • 38% suffer from digestion problems.
  • 44% feel that the world is a "scary place".
  • 53% have difficulty relaxing.
  • 55% worry about their health or about dying.
  • 60% have trouble falling or staying asleep.
  • 61% said that they feel fearful for no apparent reason.
  • 61% often think about how unsatisfied they are with their life.
  • 66% often find themselves contemplating all the things in life they have yet to accomplish.
  • 68% are fearful of what awaits them in the future.
  • 73% tend to focus on upsetting situations or events happening in their life.
  • 73% stated that no matter what they do, they can't get their mind off their problems.

Those who wish to take the Anxiety Test can go to: https://testyourself.psychtests.com/testid/2076

About TestYourself.psychtests.com
TestYourself.psychtests.com is a subsidiary of PsychTests AIM Inc. TestYourself.psychtests.com is a site that creates an interactive venue for self-exploration with a healthy dose of fun. The site offers a full range of professional-quality, scientifically-validated psychological assessments that empower people to grow and reach their real potential through insightful feedback and detailed, custom-tailored analysis.

About Psychtests AIM Inc.
PsychTests AIM Inc. originally appeared on the internet scene in 1996. Since its inception, it has become a pre-eminent provider of psychological assessment products and services to human resource personnel, therapists, academics, researchers and a host of other professionals around the world. PsychTests AIM Inc. staff is comprised of a dedicated team of psychologists, test developers, researchers, statisticians, writers, and artificial intelligence experts. The company's research division, Plumeus Inc., is supported in part by Research and Development Tax Credit awarded by Industry Canada.

Contact:
Ilona Jerabek, Ph.D., President
Psychtests AIM Inc.
https://testyourself.psychtests.com/