What is Anxiety and the Anxiety Disorders?

The human experience of anxiety is normal and adaptive. We would not be adequately prepared for important challenges in life if we did not experience some anxiety and fear. Anxiety is not longer adaptive when it overpowers the person and creates obstacles and challenges that interfere with daily life. At this point, a diagnosable condition may have developed.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Generalized Anxiety Disorder is characterized by worries about "everyday" things like work, school, finances, family and friends, health, and world events. Some people worry about holding themselves to high standards and find that their worries about being perfect have a negative impact on completing their work, school or college assignments, or daily tasks on time. Worries, regardless of their topic, are excessive and difficult to control as they take up significant time from other activities. People with Generalized Anxiety Disorder often experience physical symptoms that can include headaches, sleeplessness, muscle tension, stomachaches, tiredness or fatigue, restlessness, or irritability. Someone living with Generalized Anxiety Disorder may also have another anxiety disorder or mood disorder.

Social Anxiety Disorder

People with social anxiety disorder worry that others will think poorly of them, that they will be rejected, or will experience humiliation or embarrassment. This leads to anxiety about and often avoidance of situations that involve social interaction, performance, or the potential for scrutiny such as going to parties, speaking in meetings, making a speech, or going on dates.

Panic Disorder

A panic attack is a cluster of physical symptoms, such as a racing heart, sweating, dizziness, and shaking, that occur unexpectedly. Because people who have a panic attack fear the consequences of the symptoms they are experiencing, panic attacks are often interpreted by the people having them as if they are having a heart attack, beginning fainting, going "crazy," or going to die. Panic disorder is diagnosed when a person has had at least two unexpected panic attacks.

Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia may occur on its own, although it accompanies panic disorder more commonly when people people who have panic attacks avoid situations they believe will trigger a panic attack because it will be difficult to escape. Common situations that are avoided include driving on busy roads, going to the movies or concerts, eating in restaurants, exercise, or traveling outside the bounds of a general "safe zone."

Specific Phobias

Excessive fear and/or avoidance of a certain object or situation characterizes specific phobias. A person with a specific phobia will also go through great lengths to avoid the feared object or situation or the phobia causes great interference in the person's daily life. Common fears include fears of insects/animals, flying, heights, vomiting, enclosed spaces like elevators, and needles or other medical procedures.