Five Types of Anxiety Disorders
Extreme Nervousness, Stress, Tension or Worry Can Signal a Problem
There are five distinct types of anxiety disorder. Each can interfere with a person's daily life and can have an impact on the people around them. Treatment is available.
Anxiety is a normal part of our everyday life. We feel anxious when we face starting a new job, when we are trying to pass an important test or when we are experiencing a tough situation at home or at work. For most of us, this anxious helps us through the situation and passes quickly. However, for 40 million Americans (Anxiety Disorders Association) that suffer from anxiety disorders, this feeling persists and can become excessive. They may become anxious without any apparent reason. They may begin to fear or dread even leaving the house in the morning.
There are five major types of anxiety disorders (National Institute of Mental Health):
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
People that suffer from Generalized Anxiety Disorder, or GAD, have chronic anxiety. They may constantly feel worry, even when their life is going well and there is no reason to feel stress.
Often, there are physical symptoms that accompany GAD including:
- Irritability
- Fatigue
- Sweating or Hot Flashes
- Muscle Aches or Muscle Tension
- Headaches
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Thoughts that continue to occur over and over are one characteristic of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, or OCD. An example would be when you know that you have turned off the stove but still worry about whether it is off. These thoughts can interfere with daily life. Additionally, behaviors that must be repeated are considered to be compulsions. Some examples would be washing hands over and over, checking to make sure the stove or iron has been turned off, continually cleaning. Sometimes the repetitive actions are a way to try to reduce the obsessive thoughts.
People with OCD often have the need for daily rituals. Some children with OCD may insist upon a certain bedtime ritual and will not be able to relax and go to sleep until the ritual has been completed. Other people may be obsessed with germs, thinking that they will become sick if they do not wash their hands every few minutes.
Panic Disorder
People with Panic Disorder experience intense fear that can occur without any warning. Physical symptoms that often accompany a panic attack include:
- Chest Pain
- Shortness of Breath
- Dizziness
- Nausea or Upset Stomach
- Heart Palpitations
Sometimes people experiencing a panic attack feel as if they are having a heart attack. They may have a sense that something terrible is going to happen, even if there is no basis for this feeling.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
This type of anxiety disorder occurs after some event. The event is often one where the person was in extreme danger, such as, natural disasters, assault, or accidents. People with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, relive the traumatic event over and over and may withdraw emotionally from other people, even those they shared a strong emotional bond with. Other symptoms of PTSD include:
- Problems sleeping
- Besing easily startled or scared
- Emotional detachment
- Feeling emotionally numb
Social Phobia or Social Anxiety Disorder
People that suffer from Social Phobia feel overwhelmed and self-conscious in normal social situations. For some, the symptoms may only occur during certain situations, such as public speaking, eating in a large group. Other people may experience symptoms in every day social situations, causing them to withdraw or avoid being around other people.
Symptoms of Social Phobia include an intense fear of being watched by others. For some, the fear is so intense that they avoid any activities that include other people and can interfere with school or work. Physical symptoms are also common, including:
- Sweating
- Nausea
- Shaking or trembling
- Blushing
- Difficulty talking or communicating
People with social phobia are not only affected during the social situation. They may spend hours before worrying about it, be nervous during it and spend hours after worrying about whether other people judged their behavior.
Treatment
There are treatment options available to those that suffer from anxiety disorders. A combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy with medication is often effective. If you feel that you have an anxiety disorder, you should speak with your family physician to rule out an illness. They will also be able to refer you to a mental health provider in your area that can help you develop an effective treatment plan.
Online screening for anxiety should not be used for diagnostic purposes, but can help you to understand symptoms and give you information to discuss with your physician.
