Introduction
Anxiety and fear are emotions linked to the human evolution because they are essential for self-preservation, and consequentially, for the survival of the species. Feeling anxious and fearful occasionally is a normal part of life. However, people with anxiety disorders frequently have intense, excessive and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. Sometimes anxiety presents itself as episodes of intense and acute anxiety, as anxiety attacks or panic attacks. Many times people avoid places or situations because they anticipate it could cause anxiety or a panic attack. Obsessive thoughts and flashbacks can also cause avoidance in some people. Flashbacks and nightmares are common manifestations of posttraumatic stress disorder. Obsessions and compulsions are the core symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder.
These feelings of anxiety and panic interfere with daily activities, are difficult to control, are out of proportion to the actual danger and can last a long time. Avoidance restricts day-to-day life activities and has a significant impact on the person’s quality of life. In most cases, symptoms start during childhood or the teenage years and continue into adulthood. Sometimes anxiety disorders have a late onset.
Anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, specific phobias and separation anxiety disorder. Since the publication of DSM5 in 2013, obsessive-compulsive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder are not considered anxiety disorders anymore, but they share many features with the anxiety disorders. Someone can have more than one anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders are often associated with mood disorders, such as depressive disorders and bipolar disorder. Sometimes anxiety results from a medical condition that needs treatment.
Read more about anxiety disorders:
Read more about panic disorder and agoraphobia:
Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia
Panic disorder is characterized by repeated panic attacks, which are episodes of sudden feelings of intense anxiety and fear or terror that reach a peak within minutes. Someone may have feelings of impending doom, shortness of breath, chest pain, or a rapid, fluttering or pounding heart. Panic attacks may lead to worrying about them happening again or avoiding situations in which they’ve occurred. Agoraphobia is a type of anxiety disorder in which the person fear and often avoid places or situations that might cause them to panic and make them feel trapped, helpless or embarrassed.
Social anxiety disorder
Social anxiety disorder is characterized by high anxiety associated to social situations due to feelings of embarrassment, self-consciousness and concern about being judged or viewed negatively by others. Confronting social situations may trigger panic attacks sometimes. People with this disorder avoid social exposure because of the anticipated anxiety or panic attacks. This disorder used to be called social phobia.
Generalized anxiety disorder
The core feature of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is persistent and excessive anxiety and worry about ordinary activities or events. The worry is out of proportion to the actual circumstance, is difficult to control and affects how people feel physically. It often occurs along with other anxiety disorders or depression.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) features a pattern of intrusive thoughts (obsessions) that lead someone to do repetitive behaviors (compulsions). These obsessions and compulsions interfere with daily activities and cause significant distress. People may try to ignore or stop their obsessions, but that only increases your distress and anxiety. They feel driven to perform compulsive acts to get a relief from stress. Despite efforts to ignore or get rid of bothersome thoughts or urges, they keep coming back. Obsessions present in OCD are not worrying about ordinary day-to-day issues.
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that’s triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, avoidance, physiological arousal and severe anxiety, as well as intrusive thoughts about the event. Most people who go through traumatic events may have temporary difficulty adjusting and coping, but with time and good self-care, they are expected to get better. If the symptoms get worse, last for months or even years, and interfere with your day-to-day functioning, this is probably a sign of PTSD.
You should see a doctor if
- Anxiety, worrying, panic attacks, flashbacks, obsessions, compulsions, or avoidance are interfering with your work, relationships, or other parts of your life.
- Symptoms are difficult to control and impact your quality of life.
- You have suicidal thoughts or behaviors — if this is the case, seek emergency treatment immediately.