Until recently, the belief was that anxiety disorders declined with age. However, experts now believe that aging and anxiety are not mutually axclusive. Most older adults with an anxiety disorder experienced anxiety when they were younger. Stresses and vulnerabilities unique to the aging process (eg, chronic physical problems, cognitive impairment, and significant emotional losses) contribute to the development of increased anxiety, possibly causing an exacerbation of a previous anxiety disorder (ADAA,2003).