WHAT IS ANXIETY?
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) defines anxiety disorders as involving more than temporary worry or fear. Anxiety is a normal and often healthy emotion. However, when a person regularly feels disproportionate levels of anxiety, it might become a medical disorder. Anxiety disorders form a category of mental health diagnoses that lead to excessive nervousness, fear, apprehension, and worry. These disorders alter how a person processes emotions and behave, also causing physical symptoms. Mild anxiety might be vague and unsettling, while severe anxiety may seriously affect day-to-day living. Fear, stress, and anxiety are "normal feelings and experiences" but they are completely different from suffering from any of the diagnosable disorders.
There are several different types of anxiety disorders. Examples include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety disorder.
SYMPTOMS OF ANXIETY
For a person with an anxiety disorder, the anxiety does not go away and can get worse over time. The symptoms can interfere with daily activities such as job performance, school work, and relationships.
GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER SYMPTOMS
Feeling restless, wound-up, or on-edge
Being easily fatigued
Having difficulty concentrating; mind going blank
Being irritable
Having muscle tension
Difficulty controlling feelings of worry
Having sleep problems, such as difficulty falling or staying asleep, restlessness, or unsatisfying sleep
PANIC DISORDER SYMPTOMS
Heart palpitations, a pounding heartbeat, or an accelerated heartrate
Sweating
Trembling or shaking
Sensations of shortness of breath, smothering, or choking
Feelings of impending doom
Feelings of being out of control
PHOBIA-RELATED DISORDERS SYMPTOMS
May have an irrational or excessive worry about encountering the feared object or situation
Take active steps to avoid the feared object or situation
Experience immediate intense anxiety upon encountering the feared object or situation
Endure unavoidable objects and situations with intense anxiety
Social anxiety disorder and general intense fear of, or anxiety toward, social or performance situations.
Specific phobia and intense fear of, or feel intense anxiety about, specific types of objects or situations.
Agoraphobia where often avoid situations that they think being able to leave might be difficult or impossible in the event they have panic-like reactions or other embarrassing symptoms.
Separation anxiety disorders have fears about being parted from people to whom they are attached.