• Anxiety

What are Anxiety Disorders? The Different Types, Symptoms, and Common Causes

Anxiety is a natural response to stress that everyone experiences from time to time. Mental health disorders affect 301 million people globally, often causing feelings of intense fear or dread that can feel uncontrollable.

Whether preparing for a big presentation at work or worrying about a loved one, experiencing nervousness or fear is a normal part of life.

But if anxiety becomes consistent in a person’s life and interrupts everyday tasks — they may have an anxiety disorder.

In this article, we’ll explore what anxiety disorders are, their symptoms, and how they differ from everyday worry and fear.

What are Anxiety Disorders?

Anxiety disorders are a group of mental health conditions that involve excessive or persistent feelings of fear, worry, or nervousness. 

Experiencing anxiety is a natural response to stress or danger. However, an anxiety disorder develops when these feelings become overwhelming or more intense than normal.

An anxiety disorder can interfere with daily activities, relationships, work, and overall quality of life.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety Disorders?

Anxiety can affect more than just a person’s emotional state — physical symptoms like an increased heart rate or nausea may also indicate an anxiety disorder.

Emotional symptoms

Emotional symptoms can be constant or come in waves, depending on the type of anxiety disorder a person has. Some emotional symptoms include:

• Excessive worrying: Intensely focusing on one specific topic or source of stress to the point that it interferes with everyday tasks

• Restlessness: Not being able to focus or get a good amount of rest because of anxiety

• Irritability: Feeling easily annoyed or frustrated, often over minor things, due to constant underlying stress and tension

• Intense fear: Having an intense feeling of uneasiness or worry that something bad will happen, even when there’s no immediate threat

• Catastrophizing: Imagining worst-case scenarios and anticipating disastrous outcomes, even for ordinary events or activities.

Physical symptoms

Anxiety doesn’t just affect the mind; it can also trigger the body’s fight-or-flight response and other physical symptoms. 

A fight-or-flight response is activated when the brain perceives danger, even if the threat isn’t real. The body releases stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol to signal to the body to protect itself. 

• Increased heart rate or palpitations: Anxiety can cause the heart to race or a pounding feeling in the chest.

• Shortness of breath or hyperventilation: During an anxiety attack, a person may feel like they’re struggling to breathe or have rapid, shallow breaths that can cause dizziness or lightheadedness.

• Sweating: Excessive sweating, particularly in the palms or underarms, is a common physical symptom of anxiety.

• Shaking or trembling: The body may experience jitters or slight muscle spasms as adrenaline increases.

• Muscle tension: Anxiety can cause muscles, especially those in the neck, shoulders, and back to be stiff; making it uncomfortable to move.

• Fatigue: Persistent anxiety can be physically exhausting. People with anxiety disorders may experience tiredness because of the physical and emotional toll of anxiety.

• Headaches: Tension and stress can cause a feeling of tenderness around the scalp and pain around the forehead or back of the head. Anxiety can also cause migraines, which may feel like a pulsing pain slightly different than tension headaches.

• Nausea or an upset stomach: Intense worry and feelings of dread can cause nausea, upset stomach, or gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhea or constipation.

Cognitive symptoms

Anxiety can significantly impact a person’s mindset and reasoning. It can cause cognitive impairments and make it more difficult to concentrate and make decisions.

• Racing thoughts: People with anxiety may have rapid, uncontrollable thoughts that quickly jump between multiple thoughts in a short amount of time.

• Difficulty concentrating: Anxiety can interfere with concentration, making it difficult to complete tasks or follow conversations. It is also possible to experience brain fog.

• Overthinking: A common cognitive symptom is excessive rumination, in which a person continuously replays situations in their mind and overanalyzes experiences and thoughts.

• Memory problems: Anxiety can impair short-term memory and make it difficult to retain new information or recall details.

• Hypervigilance: People with anxiety disorders may become overly aware of their surroundings, constantly scanning for potential threats or dangers, even in safe situations.

What Causes Anxiety Disorders?

There are several potential reasons someone may develop an anxiety disorder. Common causes of anxiety disorders include:

• Genetic factors: Anxiety disorders can be passed down through family genes.

• Brain chemistry and function: Anxiety is closely tied to the function of neurotransmitters, chemicals that send signals between nerve cells in the brain. Low levels of a neurotransmitter called serotonin can be a sign of anxiety and depression.

• Trauma: Stressful or traumatic life events often trigger anxiety disorders. Sources of trauma can include childhood abuse, family conflict, and the loss of a loved one.

• Chronic stress: Ongoing, consistent stress from work, financial problems, and other stressors in a person’s life can build up over time.

• Personality factors: People who are perfectionists, highly self-critical, or set unrealistic expectations for themselves are more prone to anxiety. The fear of making mistakes or not meeting certain standards can cause a harmful amount of constant worry and stress.

• Medical conditions: Uncertainty about managing or caring for a loved one with a chronic illness can cause an anxiety disorder.

• Hormonal imbalances: Hormonal changes can trigger or worsen anxiety symptoms, especially in women. A hormonal imbalance may also cause an inconsistent menstrual cycle.

• Alcohol and drug use: Excessive alcohol consumption or the use of stimulants like cocaine, amphetamines, or caffeine can increase anxiety. These substances can alter brain chemistry and trigger the release of stress hormones. 

• Medication side effects: Anxiety is a common side effect of medications like corticosteroids and some asthma treatments. Anxiety may also occur when someone abruptly stops taking a medication and experiences withdrawal.

What are the Different Types of Anxiety?

There are several different types of anxiety disorders that a healthcare provider may diagnose a person with, including:

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

GAD involves feeling persistent and excessive worry about various aspects of life, such as work, health, or relationships. Individuals with GAD often anticipate disaster even during the good times and find it difficult to control their anxiety.

Speak with a healthcare provider if you find yourself experiencing feelings of worry and concern more often than usual. If you have been feeling this way for six months or more, a healthcare provider may diagnose you with GAD.

Panic disorder (PD)

People with panic disorder may experience panic attacks. During a panic attack, a person has sudden and repeated episodes of intense fear.

These attacks can cause physical symptoms like heart palpitations, sweating, trembling, and shortness of breath. A person with panic disorder may also experience feelings of impending doom and a loss of control over their thoughts and decisions.

A panic attack typically peaks within 10 minutes and can last up to 20 to 30 minutes, but some symptoms can linger for hours or days.

Social anxiety disorder (social phobia)

Social anxiety disorder involves an intense fear of being judged, embarrassed, or humiliated in social or performance settings. People with this type of anxiety disorder may avoid social interaction in work settings and their romantic life.

Situations like public speaking, meeting new people, or eating in public places can be highly distressing for those with social anxiety.

Specific phobias

Phobias are extreme, irrational fears of certain objects, situations, or activities. Common phobias include having a fear of heights, flying, spiders, or enclosed spaces.

People with specific phobias often go to great lengths to avoid the object or situation they fear, which can interfere with their daily lives.

Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia is the fear of being in situations where escape might be difficult or help may be unavailable if something goes wrong, especially in public places. 

People with agoraphobia often avoid leaving home or being in crowded places, open spaces, or situations where they’d need to use public transportation for long hours.

Separation anxiety disorder (SAD)

Separation anxiety disorder is characterized by an excessive fear of being separated from loved ones, often a parent or partner. While commonly associated with children, adults can also suffer from this disorder. People with SAD may find it difficult to complete tasks or sleep at night while being separated from a parent or loved one.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

This disorder is characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts that lead to repetitive behaviors, also known as compulsions. For example, a person might have a fear of germs and excessively wash their hands.

Common compulsions include cleaning, counting, checking, or repeating actions to relieve the anxiety caused by the obsession. When a compulsion is not able to be completed in the same way every time, a person with OCD may experience distress and anxiety.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

PTSD develops after a person experiences or witnesses a traumatic event, such as a serious accident, natural disaster, combat, or assault. People with PTSD may experience:

• Flashbacks

• Nightmares

• Severe anxiety

• Uncontrollable thoughts

People with PTSD will often avoid situations, places, or people that remind them of the trauma. Be sure to speak with a healthcare provider if you find yourself dwelling extensively on a traumatic event in your life.

Selective mutism

Selective mutism is a rare anxiety disorder seen mostly in children. It can cause an inability to speak in certain settings — such as school — despite speaking comfortably to others at home. This may make it difficult to adapt to social situations in new environments.

When Should I See a Doctor for Anxiety?

You should consider seeing a doctor or mental health professional about your anxiety if feelings of worry or fear become overwhelming, persistent, or interfere with your daily life. Not seeing loved ones or avoiding participating in activities you love is also a reason to reach out for help.

If your anxiety lasts for several weeks or months, or if it causes symptoms like trouble sleeping, headaches, panic attacks, or heart palpitations, seek help right away.

A mental health provider can:

• Assess your health and determine what may be causing your anxiety

• Diagnose an anxiety disorder

• Give guidance on the next steps

• Recommend treatment options to help you manage your anxiety more effectively

Where Can I Learn More About Anxiety Disorders?  

Through LifeMD, you can consult a healthcare provider online from the comfort of your own home.

We can connect you with a team of healthcare professionals who can address your health concerns, recommend treatments, and prescribe medication to help you.

Visit our website to make your online appointment and get started.

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