Fear and anxiety are normal emotions that all people experience from time to time. In some cases, however, people experience anxiety to such a strong degree that it is considered a disorder. The term ‘anxiety disorder’ is used as a blanket term to apply to a number of different anxiety-related disorders. These disorders are serious mental illnesses and can create severe problems in daily life and personal relationships. In order to find the appropriate help, it is essential to first learn more about the characteristics of the different types of anxiety disorders.
Panic Disorder
Panic disorder is characterized by episodes of sudden, extreme terror that develop with little or no warning. Individuals suffering from this type of anxiety disorder may experience panic attacks with symptoms including chest pain, heart palpitations, sweating, shaking and choking sensations. Some panic attacks can be so severe that the sufferer may even believe that he or she is having a heart attack.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a type of anxiety disorder that can occur after a frightening event. People who have been subjected to violence, assault, war, crime, natural disasters or the deaths of loved ones may develop symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Such symptoms can include flashbacks of the traumatic event, exaggerated startle reflexes, nightmares, emotional numbness and a constant fear that the event may happen again.
Social Anxiety Disorder
Social anxiety disorder involves a strong fear of social situations. Common triggers of social anxiety can include public speaking or performance, but people who experience this disorder often feel extraordinarily self-conscious in normal social situations. People suffering from this type of anxiety disorder fear being the center of attention, often concerned that they will be judged or ridiculed.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
The key characteristic of generalized anxiety disorder is the presence of chronic, excessive worry, despite the fact that there is no specific trigger for this fear. While some worry is a normal part of life, this disorder causes people to worry about nearly everything. Being in a constant state of anxiety is detrimental to both psychological and physical health, leading to problems such as irritability, muscle aches and fatigue.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
People are often surprised to learn that obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is actually a type of anxiety disorder. OCD is characterized by obsessive and compulsive thoughts and behaviors. Individuals suffering from this disorder often fear that if they do not carry out their rituals, something terrible will happen.
Specific Phobias
Specific phobias are perhaps one of the most common types of mental illnesses among adults in the United States. These phobias involve an intense fear of a very specific situation or object, such as flying, heights or snakes. Generally, a person suffering from a specific phobia will avoid the things that trigger their fear. For example, a person afraid of bridges may take the long way to work each day simply to avoid travelling over a bridge.
Panic Disorder
Panic disorder is characterized by episodes of sudden, extreme terror that develop with little or no warning. Individuals suffering from this type of anxiety disorder may experience panic attacks with symptoms including chest pain, heart palpitations, sweating, shaking and choking sensations. Some panic attacks can be so severe that the sufferer may even believe that he or she is having a heart attack.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a type of anxiety disorder that can occur after a frightening event. People who have been subjected to violence, assault, war, crime, natural disasters or the deaths of loved ones may develop symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Such symptoms can include flashbacks of the traumatic event, exaggerated startle reflexes, nightmares, emotional numbness and a constant fear that the event may happen again.
Social Anxiety Disorder
Social anxiety disorder involves a strong fear of social situations. Common triggers of social anxiety can include public speaking or performance, but people who experience this disorder often feel extraordinarily self-conscious in normal social situations. People suffering from this type of anxiety disorder fear being the center of attention, often concerned that they will be judged or ridiculed.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
The key characteristic of generalized anxiety disorder is the presence of chronic, excessive worry, despite the fact that there is no specific trigger for this fear. While some worry is a normal part of life, this disorder causes people to worry about nearly everything. Being in a constant state of anxiety is detrimental to both psychological and physical health, leading to problems such as irritability, muscle aches and fatigue.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
People are often surprised to learn that obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is actually a type of anxiety disorder. OCD is characterized by obsessive and compulsive thoughts and behaviors. Individuals suffering from this disorder often fear that if they do not carry out their rituals, something terrible will happen.
Specific Phobias
Specific phobias are perhaps one of the most common types of mental illnesses among adults in the United States. These phobias involve an intense fear of a very specific situation or object, such as flying, heights or snakes. Generally, a person suffering from a specific phobia will avoid the things that trigger their fear. For example, a person afraid of bridges may take the long way to work each day simply to avoid travelling over a bridge.
