Anxiety disorders come in different forms, just as is the case with other illnesses. Below are listed most common types of anxiety disorders. However, within these types of anxiety there are variations in the number of symptoms, their severity, and persistence.
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Panic Disorder
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Social Phobias
- Specific Phobias
The Major Anxiety Disorders
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is usually the diagnosis if you experience six months or more of continual, extreme worry and tension that is not based on real concerns. Subjects include health, loved ones, finances, and jobs. Sometimes, the "worry" is nameless, taking the form of a constant feeling of dread.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is marked by obsessions - repeated, upsetting thoughts and images - that you cannot control by yourself. To combat these images and thoughts and ease anxiety, a person with OCD spends time in repetitive rituals (compulsions), such as hand washing, checking and re-checking, and following rigid procedures.
Panic Disorder is most often characterized by the presence of panic attacks, which are feelings and symptoms such as a pounding heart, chest pain, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, numbness and fear of dying. Panic attacks happen fast, appear out of the blue and take place over and over again. There is usually no physical cause for these attacks.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is the long-term, severe and continuing reaction a person may experience following a disaster (such as a fire or earthquake) or a very traumatic experience (war, rape, or sexual abuse). PTSD often occurs in people after they have experienced or witnessed one or more acts of violence. Symptoms include nightmares, loss of sleep, and flashbacks. PTSD interferes with concentration and the ability to enjoy life.
Phobias are deep-seated fears that are extreme, irrational and upsetting to a person's life. A person may experience a phobia to a specific object or situation that isn't usually harmful - such as claustrophobia (fear of confined spaces), and acrophobia (fear of heights). Social phobia is fear of being watched, embarrassed or humiliated while doing something in public, such as public speaking, eating, or writing. Agoraphobia is the fear of places or situations from which escape might be hard, like being in a crowd.
Specific phobias. People with specific phobias suffer from an intense fear reaction to a specific object or situation (such as spiders, dogs, or heights); the level of fear is usually inappropriate to the situation, and is recognized by the sufferer as being irrational. This inordinate fear can lead to the avoidance of common, everyday situations.
