Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsGeneralized Anxiety DisorderPanic DisorderSocial Anxiety DisorderSeparation Anxiety DisorderPhobiasOCD and PTSD ClassificationLiving With Anxiety DisordersNext in Anxiety Disorder GuideCauses and Risk Factors of Anxiety
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Panic Disorder
Social Anxiety Disorder
Separation Anxiety Disorder
Phobias
OCD and PTSD Classification
Living With Anxiety Disorders
Next in Anxiety Disorder Guide
An anxiety disorder is a mental health condition that involves intense feelings of fear or worry. Different types of anxiety disorders affect millions of Americans. For example, 15 million U.S. adults experience social anxiety disorder, and 6 million experience panic disorder.
Anxiety disorderscan be challenging and may greatly impact daily life. Learn about the different types of anxiety disorders, their causes, treatment, coping, and more.
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Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
People withGADexperience intense feelings of worry or fear that occur most days for six months or longer. This anxiety is related to a variety of different areas of life, such as relationships, careers, health, and safety. GAD affects nearly 6% of adults at some point in their lives.
In addition to worry and fear that is difficult to control, symptoms of GAD may include:
While some people may be genetically prone to GAD, this condition may run in families partially because of life circumstances and the home environment.The specific causes are not fully understood.
Diagnosis involves an evaluation with a healthcare provider or mental health professional (such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, or social worker) who will ask questions and assesses the condition.
Treatment can include the following, which may be combined:
Panic disorderis a condition in which a person experiences many panic attacks over a long period of time. Thepanic attackscome on suddenly, without any known danger, and involve intense feelings of fear or feelings of losing control. This condition is more than twice as common among females than males.
Symptoms of a panic attack include:
A person with panic disorder is intensely fearful of experiencing another panic attack, and they often fear or avoid places where they have had a panic attack.
Like GAD, it is not entirely clear what causes panic disorder. People who experience traumatic events or loss are at an increased risk. Amental healthprofessional such as a psychiatrist can diagnose this condition with an evaluation that involves asking questions.
Panic disorder can be treated with talk therapy (psychotherapy) techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), coping techniques,relaxation exercises, support groups, lifestyle changes, and medications (antidepressants, antianxiety drugs,beta-blockers).
Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)
SADinvolves fear or worry related to social interactions. Women are more likely to experience SAD than men, especially among teens and young women. Additionally, their symptoms tend to be more severe.
Social anxiety disorder symptoms include:
The specific causes of social anxiety disorder are unclear. It may run in families, and stress and environmental factors also may play a role.
Separation anxiety disorderinvolves intense fear or reaction related to being apart from those to whom the individual is attached. These fears and reactions are normal for babies and young children but can become a concern if they do not grow out of it around school age.This condition may also affect teens and adults.
Symptoms of separation anxiety disorder include:
The causes of separation anxiety disorder are not fully known. Traumatic experiences, instability at home, and stressful situations can increase the risk of this condition.It can be diagnosed with an evaluation from a mental health professional.
This condition can be treated with talk therapy or play therapy for children and talk therapy or medications for adults.
Aphobiais a continuous, irrational, and intense fear of something that poses little or no actual danger. Most people who have a specific phobia have more than one.For example, a person may have a phobia of both spiders and heights.
Phobia symptoms include:
New Classifications for OCD and PTSD
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) used to be considered anxiety disorders, but are now classified independently.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
OCDinvolves repeated, unwanted thoughts or urges (obsessions) and feeling the need to do something repeatedly (compulsions). It affects up to 3 million American adults.
Symptoms of OCD include:
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
PTSDcan result from experiencing a traumatic event. It involves a nervous system response after the event has ended and the person is no longer in danger.
PTSD symptomsinclude:
Anxiety disordersare challenging, and often severe enough to impact daily life. They are also treatable. Up to 85% of people who receive treatment for anxiety disorders find it to be effective.Additionally, there are many ways tocope with anxietydisorders long term.
Coping methods include:
Summary
Anxiety disorders involve intense feelings of fear or worry that recur for six months or longer. There are different types of anxiety disorders, such as social anxiety disorder, which is an intense fear of social interactions that may be severe enough to interfere with daily life.
Panic disorder involves sudden episodes of intense fear called panic attacks. Separation anxiety disorder is when an older child, teen, or adult experiences an extreme reaction to being away from a primary caregiver or another loved one.
Generalized anxiety disorder is when anxiety is related to a variety of different areas of life rather than a specific object or situation.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder were once considered anxiety disorders, but they are now considered separate conditions.
Anxiety disorders are treatable. It is important to seek help for these conditions to get relief and prevent further complications. If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of an anxiety disorder, reach out to a primary care provider or mental health professional for support.
A Note on Gender and Sex TerminologyVerywell Health acknowledges thatsex and genderare related concepts, but they are not the same. To reflect our sources accurately, this article uses terms like “female,” “male,” “woman,” and “man” as the sources use them.
A Note on Gender and Sex Terminology
Verywell Health acknowledges thatsex and genderare related concepts, but they are not the same. To reflect our sources accurately, this article uses terms like “female,” “male,” “woman,” and “man” as the sources use them.
18 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Anxiety disorders - facts and statistics.National Institute of Mental Health.Generalized anxiety disorder.National Institute of Mental Health.Anxiety disorders.National Institute of Mental Health.Generalized anxiety disorder: when worry gets out of control.National Institute of Mental Health.Panic disorder.National Institute of Mental Health.Panic disorder: when fear overwhelms.Asher M, Asnaani A, Aderka IM.Gender differences in social anxiety disorder: a review.Clinical Psychology Review. 2017;56:1-12. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2017.05.004National Institute of Mental Health.Social anxiety disorder: more than just shyness.Laicher H, Int-Veen I, Torka F, et al.Trait rumination and social anxiety separately influence stress-induced rumination and hemodynamic responses.Sci Rep. 2022;12(1):5512. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-08579-1Nemours KidsHealth.Separation anxiety.Boston Children’s Hospital.Separation anxiety disorder.Wardenaar KJ, Lim CCW, Al-Hamzawi AO, et al.The cross-national epidemiology of specific phobia in the World Mental Health Surveys.Psychol Med. 2017;47(10):1744-1760. doi:10.1017/S0033291717000174MedlinePlus.Phobia—simple/specific.International OCD Foundation.Who gets OCD?National Institute of Mental Health.Obsessive-compulsive disorder.Department of Veteran Affairs.How common is PTSD in adults?American Psychiatric Association.What is post-traumatic stress disorder?Garakani A, Murrough JW, Freire RC, et al.Pharmacotherapy of anxiety disorders: current and emerging treatment options.Front Psychiatry. 2020;11:595584. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.595584
18 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Anxiety disorders - facts and statistics.National Institute of Mental Health.Generalized anxiety disorder.National Institute of Mental Health.Anxiety disorders.National Institute of Mental Health.Generalized anxiety disorder: when worry gets out of control.National Institute of Mental Health.Panic disorder.National Institute of Mental Health.Panic disorder: when fear overwhelms.Asher M, Asnaani A, Aderka IM.Gender differences in social anxiety disorder: a review.Clinical Psychology Review. 2017;56:1-12. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2017.05.004National Institute of Mental Health.Social anxiety disorder: more than just shyness.Laicher H, Int-Veen I, Torka F, et al.Trait rumination and social anxiety separately influence stress-induced rumination and hemodynamic responses.Sci Rep. 2022;12(1):5512. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-08579-1Nemours KidsHealth.Separation anxiety.Boston Children’s Hospital.Separation anxiety disorder.Wardenaar KJ, Lim CCW, Al-Hamzawi AO, et al.The cross-national epidemiology of specific phobia in the World Mental Health Surveys.Psychol Med. 2017;47(10):1744-1760. doi:10.1017/S0033291717000174MedlinePlus.Phobia—simple/specific.International OCD Foundation.Who gets OCD?National Institute of Mental Health.Obsessive-compulsive disorder.Department of Veteran Affairs.How common is PTSD in adults?American Psychiatric Association.What is post-traumatic stress disorder?Garakani A, Murrough JW, Freire RC, et al.Pharmacotherapy of anxiety disorders: current and emerging treatment options.Front Psychiatry. 2020;11:595584. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.595584
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Anxiety and Depression Association of America.Anxiety disorders - facts and statistics.National Institute of Mental Health.Generalized anxiety disorder.National Institute of Mental Health.Anxiety disorders.National Institute of Mental Health.Generalized anxiety disorder: when worry gets out of control.National Institute of Mental Health.Panic disorder.National Institute of Mental Health.Panic disorder: when fear overwhelms.Asher M, Asnaani A, Aderka IM.Gender differences in social anxiety disorder: a review.Clinical Psychology Review. 2017;56:1-12. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2017.05.004National Institute of Mental Health.Social anxiety disorder: more than just shyness.Laicher H, Int-Veen I, Torka F, et al.Trait rumination and social anxiety separately influence stress-induced rumination and hemodynamic responses.Sci Rep. 2022;12(1):5512. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-08579-1Nemours KidsHealth.Separation anxiety.Boston Children’s Hospital.Separation anxiety disorder.Wardenaar KJ, Lim CCW, Al-Hamzawi AO, et al.The cross-national epidemiology of specific phobia in the World Mental Health Surveys.Psychol Med. 2017;47(10):1744-1760. doi:10.1017/S0033291717000174MedlinePlus.Phobia—simple/specific.International OCD Foundation.Who gets OCD?National Institute of Mental Health.Obsessive-compulsive disorder.Department of Veteran Affairs.How common is PTSD in adults?American Psychiatric Association.What is post-traumatic stress disorder?Garakani A, Murrough JW, Freire RC, et al.Pharmacotherapy of anxiety disorders: current and emerging treatment options.Front Psychiatry. 2020;11:595584. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.595584
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National Institute of Mental Health.Social anxiety disorder: more than just shyness.
Laicher H, Int-Veen I, Torka F, et al.Trait rumination and social anxiety separately influence stress-induced rumination and hemodynamic responses.Sci Rep. 2022;12(1):5512. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-08579-1
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Boston Children’s Hospital.Separation anxiety disorder.
Wardenaar KJ, Lim CCW, Al-Hamzawi AO, et al.The cross-national epidemiology of specific phobia in the World Mental Health Surveys.Psychol Med. 2017;47(10):1744-1760. doi:10.1017/S0033291717000174
MedlinePlus.Phobia—simple/specific.
International OCD Foundation.Who gets OCD?
National Institute of Mental Health.Obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Department of Veteran Affairs.How common is PTSD in adults?
American Psychiatric Association.What is post-traumatic stress disorder?
Garakani A, Murrough JW, Freire RC, et al.Pharmacotherapy of anxiety disorders: current and emerging treatment options.Front Psychiatry. 2020;11:595584. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.595584
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