Anxiety and physical illness.

The subjective experience of anxiety frequently signals a person's unfulfilled attempts to manage recent environmental or internal challenges. The consequences of stress-related anxiety can be found in most of the body systems: cardiovascular disorders, gastrointestinal ailments, problems with the reproductive system, dermatologic disorders, and autoimmune disturbances--all have been shown to be greatly influenced by anxiety. In addition, studies of hostages and prisoners of war indicate that a person's reactions to extreme stress are predictive of his or her future physical and mental health. Thus, extreme stress-related anxiety must be identified and treated early to protect the patient from a lifetime of chronic illness.