Understanding Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders are mental illnesses that cause excessive, uncontrollable worry. They are the most common mental illnesses in the United States, affecting nearly 40 million people. Anxiety disorders can begin at any age and last for a lifetime if left untreated. It can be difficult for loved ones to understand what someone with anxiety is going through, but by learning more about the specific disorder, you can ensure you are not inhibiting treatment.

Types of anxiety disorders

Anxiety is a normal human emotion. It is the feeling of worry and fear which can result from external factors, such as the stress of new life changes or deeper traumas stemming from past experiences. Anxiety disorders occur when anxiety becomes excessive, uncontrollable, and causes significant distress. Common anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, panic disorder, phobias, and separation anxiety.

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

GAD is a chronic anxiety disorder that causes excessive worry about everyday life. The individual often feels tense and restless, may have trouble concentrating, or may have disturbed sleep patterns. They may also experience physical symptoms like muscle tension, frequent headaches, and fatigue.

Left untreated, GAD can be debilitating and interfere with personal relationships, school and work performance, and leisure activities such as hobbies or spending time with family and friends.

Social anxiety disorder (SAD)

Social anxiety is the fear of being judged by others, making it hard to deal with everyday life. Some refer to the condition as social phobia. People with SAD feel they are not good enough or worry about what others think of them. These feelings make them avoid simple activities like going out to eat, speaking up in class, or even going on dates.

Panic disorder

Panic disorder, also known as panic attacks, is an anxiety disorder in which people experience sudden and repeated periods of intense fear and discomfort that peak within minutes. A psychiatrist may characterize panic attacks as intense feelings of impending “doom” accompanied by physical symptoms such as chest pain, heart palpitations (heart pounding), shortness of breath, or dizziness.

Phobias

A phobia is an intense fear or dread of a specific object or situation. Phobias may develop when one experiences something that triggers their “fight or flight” response, creating a negative association with it.

Separation anxiety

Separation anxiety disorder is when a person, most commonly a child, displays an excessive and persistent fear of being alone or separated from a loved one, such as a parent or sibling. The person may feel anxious or panic when separated from their loved one, even if only for a short period.

Separation anxiety can result from past trauma, codependency, or temperament. This disorder can make it difficult for the client to function normally and have healthy relationships with those around them.

Disorders often misdiagnosed as anxiety

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

While no longer classified as an anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is often misdiagnosed as GAD. OCD is a mental health condition that causes obsessions and compulsions. The core of OCD is a difficulty accepting uncertainty, which causes high levels of anxiety. Obsessions are unwanted, intrusive thoughts or images that reoccur. Compulsions are urges to do something (often repetitively) in response to an intrusive thought in order to eliminate or neutralize it. Consult a psychiatrist for help determining whether the issue is an anxiety disorder or OCD.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Similar to OCD, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is no longer classified as an anxiety disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), although it used to be considered one previously. This is because PTSD causes high levels of anxiety, as it develops after exposure to a traumatic event.

PTSD symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety that cause physical symptoms. These can seem to arise randomly, making people avoid everyday situations or activities with loved ones in fear of being triggered. Again, a psychiatrist can determine whether a client is struggling with anxiety or PTSD.