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Types of Anxiety Disorders

Everyone experiences anxiety and fears at times, but when these feelings are severe or persistent and disrupt daily life, they could indicate an anxiety disorder. Treatments include medication and talk therapy or psychotherapy.

First, see your doctor to determine if there are any physical issues that could be causing your symptoms. Then, a psychiatrist or other mental health specialist can determine the type of anxiety disorder that you are suffering from.

Generalized anxiety disorder

Everyone is anxious at times and there are many valid reasons to be worried about things like job obligations and financial obligations, as well as health. But if your anxieties become constant and take over your life, you could be suffering from a more serious disorder called generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). People suffering from GAD experience fears that influence their lives for the rest of their lives and can be difficult to control. They tend to anticipate the worst and assume that minor issues will turn into major problems. GAD can be a problem for anyone. It typically begins in adolescence or childhood, but can occur at any point. It is twice as prevalent for women and in those who are born female.

GAD can lead to physical discomforts such as headaches or stomachaches. It can make it difficult to sleep. It can cause people to withdraw and lose confidence in themselves. It can interfere with social and work activities. People with severe, chronic GAD are at a higher risk of developing depression. However, treatment can help manage the two conditions.

While the exact cause of anxiety disorders is unknown, they appear to be related to genes and changes in brain structure that alter the way your body responds to stress. Some experts believe that an imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain is involved as well.

Although there is no cure for GAD, the condition can be controlled by psychotherapy (talk therapy) and medication. Psychotherapy or talk therapy comprises various treatments that help you identify and change unhealthy thoughts, emotions, and behavior. Cognitive behavior therapy is a form of talk therapy which can help you manage your distorted thoughts and reduce your anxiety by confronting them. Certain physical symptoms like heart palpitations or dizziness could be alleviated by medication. They include antidepressants, benzodiazepines as well as certain medications used to treat seizures, such as hydroxyzine.

GAD can be difficult to recognize and is therefore important to seek assistance if you begin to notice worrying or other signs of the disorder. Early treatment is more effective, because it helps you reduce the physical and mental symptoms before they take over your life.

Panic disorder

This kind of anxiety disorder is marked by repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense fear and terror that peak within minutes (panic attacks). This disorder can also cause chest pain, shortness of breath or the feeling that your heart is racing or beating (heart palpitations). They worry that the symptoms they're experiencing are signs of heart attacks. People suffering from panic disorder could also be at risk of developing other anxiety disorders, as well as depression and other health issues such asthma or hyperthyroidism.

Researchers believe that anxiety disorders are caused by a combination factors. Certain studies suggest that they could be due to brain circuits that control emotions and fear. Other studies suggest that life experiences, genetics such as childhood abuse or traumatic events are the most common causes of anxiety disorders. Many people suffering from anxiety issues have a first degree relative who has the condition.

Anxiety disorders can cause people to feel constantly stressed, even when they realize their fears are irrational. This can lead to difficulties in social situations, at work or in school. In addition, some people with anxiety disorders have difficulty sleeping or eating properly. They may also have muscle tension, irritability and trouble getting their attention.





A person suffering from generalized anxiety disorder is likely to have a variety of worries about everyday tasks, such as work responsibilities or family issues. They may also feel restless or easily fatigued and have difficulty concentrating. They also often worry about the safety of themselves or others.

There are effective treatments available for anxiety disorders. The treatments include medicine psychotherapy, psychotherapy, and other complementary health techniques. A mental health professional can help you determine what disorder is causing your symptoms and recommend the right treatment. Psychotherapy, or talk therapy can help you understand how to manage your worries and reduce the amount of panic attacks you experience. Different types of psychotherapy are available, including cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure response prevention. These treatments can be carried out in groups or individually.

Social anxiety disorder

Social anxiety disorder is a serious condition that can interfere with everyday life. It causes intense anxiety, fear and avoidance of social situations. It usually begins in the early years of childhood, but it can also appear in early adulthood. It usually manifests as anxiety over specific social situations, such as having a conversation in class or going on dates, or it could be more generalized and include the avoidance of situations that could cause being judged by other people.

While the person with SAD realizes that their fear is unfounded, they feel helpless to overcome it. They try to manage their symptoms by avoiding anxiety-provoking situations, but this makes them more anxious in the long term. They may also adopt "safety behaviors" to try to reduce anxiety, like drinking alcohol, staying silent and avoiding eye contact.

In addition to the psychological treatments, some patients suffering from SAD benefit from medication. anxiety disorder physical symptoms can help balance certain neurotransmitters inside the brain. Some examples of these medications are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).

If you or someone you know has social anxiety disorder, it's essential to get treatment. The condition can be debilitating if not treated and may cause mental health issues, such as depression and substance misuse. If you or someone you know has suicidal feelings, call 911, your local crisis line or text TALK (741741) to speak with a crisis counselor.

Only 1 in 4 people with anxiety disorders receive treatment. Treatment is impeded by a lack of awareness about anxiety disorders, a lack of funding for mental health services and stigma. It is essential that your healthcare provider understands the various forms of anxiety disorders to ensure you get the right diagnosis and treatment. If you're unsure if you have an anxiety disorder, ask your doctor to refer you to an expert in mental health or make use of an online tool to screen.

Specific fears

A person who is afflicted with a particular phobia experiences persistent and a heightened fear of one or more things, situations, animals, or other people. These fears may be unrelated to the risk that the object or circumstance, but they cause marked anxiety and can hinder functioning in daily life. Specific phobias are different from other anxiety disorders because they cause anxiety around only one stimulus, instead of multiple stimuli. The feared object or situation may include anything from heights to dogs to flying, injections, or even crowds. The condition is widespread and occurs more often for women than men, and tends to begin in childhood or adolescence. People who suffer from specific phobias are aware that their fears are unfounded but this does not diminish the severity of their symptoms.

Children who suffer from specific phobias typically outgrow them, but if a fear persists in adults, it can be extremely difficult to treat. Doctors diagnose the disorder based on the symptoms reported and their impact on everyday functioning. They rule out other conditions that could be similar like agoraphobia and social anxiety disorder prior to diagnosing the phobia. In earlier editions of the DSM adults were required to recognize their fears that were irrational as part of the diagnostic process. However the 2013 edition states that this requirement is no longer required for adults.

There are two types of treatment for specific phobias: cognitive behavior therapy and exposure therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy is focused on changing the way people respond to their fears and helps them develop healthier ways to cope. Exposure-based therapy involves gradual and constant exposure to the object or situation. Patients may begin by thinking about the object or event and then move to looking at photos of the subject, taking a step toward it (such as walking past an elevator) or holding an imaginary snake, going to a zoo for a look at real snakes, and then taking a ride in an elevator that is crowded. Although this type of therapy is not able to alleviate phobias but it can dramatically reduce the severity of its symptoms.

Psychotherapy and medicines like antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications are also options to treat specific fears. People suffering from specific phobias who try these therapies frequently have better results.