What are the different types, causes, and symptoms of anxiety?
Learn about different kinds of anxiety disorders and how they affect individuals.
Anxiety is something we all feel now and then—it’s our body’s response to stress. However, for a few, anxiety might be more than a passing worry. It might become a constant, crippling sensation that gets in the way of day-to-day living. Knowing the various forms, causes, and symptoms of anxiety can empower us to take charge and identify the best methods to combat it.
It isn’t all alike. Some of us worry constantly about everything. Others are intense in specific circumstances. Let’s divide it:
1. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Do you worry about nearly everything—your job, your health, your family, even trivial things such as what you will have for supper? If so, you may be suffering from Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Individuals with GAD experience persistent worry that is not only difficult to control but also interferes with their ability to relax, concentrate, or even sleep. This is just one of the many kinds of anxiety disorders.
2. Panic Disorder
Picture this: you’re fine one second, and the next, your heart is racing, your chest feels constricted, and you have the feeling that something awful is going to happen. That’s a panic attack. Panic disorder is characterized by sudden and frequent panic attacks with no apparent cause. These attacks are frightening and sometimes confused with a heart attack.
3. Social Anxiety Disorder
Ever felt so anxious about giving a speech or going to a social gathering? Social anxiety disorder is an overwhelming fear of being judged or humiliated in public. It can make ordinary interactions, such as ordering at a restaurant or even making a phone call, seem impossible.
4. Phobias
Everyone fears something, but if the fear is extreme enough that it disrupts your life, it’s a phobia. From fear of flying, spiders, or even heights, phobias create anxiety that is almost unbearable at just the thought of the feared item or experience.
5. Agoraphobia
This one’s a little tricky—agoraphobia is fear of being in places where escape may be difficult. Individuals with agoraphobia may avoid public places, buses or trains, or even go outside their home because they are afraid of having a panic attack in a place where they would be trapped.
6. Separation Anxiety Disorder
While it’s usually linked to children, separation anxiety can affect adults as well. The disorder entails intense distress when separated from loved ones, tending to cause clinginess or avoidance of separation, and it’s another kind of anxiety disorder that can affect individuals.
Anxiety doesn’t come out of thin air—it’s usually the product of a mix of things. These are some of the largest factors:
Genetics: If your family has anxiety, you’re more likely to have it as well.
Brain Chemistry: Imbalances of brain chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine can be involved with anxiety disorders.
Stressful Life Events: Dramatic changes—such as job loss, breaking up, or trauma—can cause anxiety.
Medical Conditions: Certain health conditions, such as heart disease or thyroid disease, can lead to or exacerbate anxiety.
Personality Traits: Individuals who are more naturally sensitive or perfectionistic are at higher risk for anxiety.
Substance Use: Caffeine, alcohol, or drug consumption (including withdrawal) can increase anxiety symptoms.
So, how do you know whether what you’re experiencing is normal anxiety or something else? Anxiety impacts people differently, but some common symptoms are:
Emotional Symptoms:
Worrying or fear, even when there’s no obvious reason
Being irritable or on edge
Trouble concentrating
Feeling like something terrible is going to happen
Physical Symptoms:
Fast pulse or palpitations
Difficulty in breathing
Sweating, trembling, or light-headedness
Tummy problems, nausea, or headache
Sleep disturbance or insomnia
Behavioral Symptoms:
Shying away from things that trigger the anxiety
Obsessively checking for things (e.g., ensuring that the door is closed a few times)
Being agitated and having trouble relaxing
It’s natural to feel nervous at times, but when anxiety begins to control your life—impacting your job, relationships, or enjoyment—it may be time to seek the assistance of a professional. Therapists, counselors, and physicians can prescribe treatments such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), medication, or lifestyle changes that could be the world of difference. There are many kinds of anxiety disorders, but help is available.
Anxiety isn’t simply “being worried.” It’s a medical condition that anyone can experience, but here’s the great news: it is treatable. Whether your anxiety is minor or more pronounced, knowing your symptoms and their triggers is the initial step in a path of feeling better.
If you or someone around you is battling anxiety, don’t be afraid to seek help. You are not alone, and with proper guidance and the right tools, you can get a grip on your anxiety and live a more joyful, peaceful life.
