It seems as though there is much to be anxious about in our present day world: natural disasters, a shaky economy, loss of jobs, and the persistence of the Iraq War (to name just a few). However, despite the constant presence of anxiety-provoking events, many people do not have a good understanding or awareness of anxiety. What is anxiety and why do we have it?

Anxiety can be a very unpleasant emotion. It is often associated with bodily sensations of increased heart rate, tightness in the chest, and shortness of breath. It can definitely be uncomfortable, and sometimes, it pops up out of the blue. For people with PTSD, anxiety may seem unpredictable, intense, and out-of-control, leading to attempts to try and avoid it (often through unhealthy coping strategies, such as substance use). Yet, anxiety is an emotion that we all have the capacity to experience from birth -- it serves a very important function, and we could not make it very far without it. Improving our understanding of anxiety and why we have it can make it feel less unpredictable and scary. It also can help us figure out healthy ways of coping it. You can learn more about the function of anxiety in this article. You can also learn more about healthy anxiety coping strategies here.

Last Tuesday at 5:00 P.M., Haiti was hit by a magnitude 7.0 earthquake. This earthquake caused a massive amount of destruction, death and injury. Since Tuesday, Haiti has continued to be hit by a number of strong aftershocks which have continued to cause damage, interfering with aid and support attempts. The most recent aftershock occurred Friday morning. This aftershock had a magnitude of 4.4 -- less than the original earthquake, but still strong enough to cause significant damage and further increase risk for traumatic exposure and PTSD. Research has shown that low support and exposure to multiple traumatic events can greatly increase the risk for developing PTSD. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, these aftershocks could continue for months and maybe even years. You can read more about these aftershocks and their potential impact at CNN.com.

At 5:00 P.M. on Tuesday, January 12th, Haiti was hit by a magnitude 7.0 earthquake. This earthquake caused a massive amount of destruction, destroying most of Haiti's capital city, Port-au-Prince. According to the Red Cross, approximately one-third of Haiti's population has been affected by the earthquake, and although it is too early to obtain an estimate on the number of lives lost, many are suggesting that the number lost will be great. CNN.com has continuing coverage on the earthquake. You can access these articles here.

Natural disasters as sudden and devastating as this earthquake have the high potential to result in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). You can read more about the effect of natural disasters on mental health in these articles:

The Effect of Hurricane Katrina on Children

The Psychological Effects of Hurricane Katrina and Other Natural Disasters

The Effect of Hurricane Katrina

The Psychological Impact of the 2004 Tsunami

PTSD and New Year resolutions might seem like a strange combination, but the New Year is a time when people often commit to making positive changes in their lives. This may be particularly important for the person with PTSD, especially given that it is often associated with a number of unhealthy behaviors. If you have PTSD, think about ways in which you may be able to improve your health or take control over your diagnosis. Some ideas are presented in this article.