Anxiety is a feeling of fear and worry about various life situations. It can become a disorder when you experience a never-ending sense of intense fear, which might get worse over time. Anxiety-based disorders can differ in intensity, symptoms, and triggers. Here are five types of anxiety disorders:
1. General Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
This disorder involves persistent, intense feelings of worry and mental discomfort. It is associated with different aspects of life, including relationships, careers, health, and security concerns. General anxiety disorder may cause a decline in performance at work or school. There is no single cause for GAD, but it can be a result of frequent exposure to stressful environments, dominant personality traits like emotional sensitivity, or genetics. GAD can be treated by cognitive behavioral therapy and prescription medicine.
2. Panic Disorders
A panic attack is a sudden, intense episode of irrepressible anxious thoughts that causes severe physical reactions without any real threat. This disorder is associated with frequent panic attacks over time due to periods of stress, physical changes, or significant life events. Symptoms of panic disorders usually include difficulty breathing, dizziness, weakness, increased heart rate, shaking, and sweating. These symptoms may last a few minutes after the attack before the body returns to normal.
3. Separation Anxiety Disorder
This disorder is associated with intense worry and discomfort when being separated from a person who offers comfort or security, such as a parent, sibling, or significant other. It is common among children but might also affect teenagers and adults. The disorder arises from the fear that something terrible might happen to the people you depend upon while you are separated. Symptoms of separation anxiety include difficulty sleeping, feeling physically ill, and extreme reactions after separation. It can be treated by group and family, dialectical behavioral, and cognitive behavioral therapies.
4. Social Anxiety Disorder
Social anxiety disorder is associated with extreme discomfort and persistent fear of social interactions. People with this disorder worry about being judged or discriminated against by others, mostly in public settings. Its symptoms include avoiding social situations and interactions, shyness, nervousness, and overthinking conversations. Social anxiety can cause antisocial behavior like truancy, absence from key social events, and solitude. It can often be treated by talk therapy, prescription medication, or a combination of the two.
5. Phobias
A phobia is an intense fear and discomfort associated with particular objects, animals, situations, or activities. This type of fear is often not equivalent to the danger posed by the feared object. People with phobias of particular objects usually avoid going near or associating with objects that cause anxious thoughts. Symptoms of phobias include difficulty breathing, increased heart rate, shaking, and sweating. Talk and exposure therapy can help treat phobias.
Get Help with Anxiety Disorder Today
Anxiety disorders hinder you from performing at the top of your game in any setting. Addressing the causes of your anxious thoughts can enhance your productivity and help you overcome the behavior patterns that disrupt daily life. Talk to a therapist today about an anxiety disorder diagnosis and treatment recommendations.
