Anxiety Disorders:
Types, Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

Anxiety is a normal human response to changes in our lives, especially when the changes are stressful.

In the past few years, our society has been a regular source of stressful changes: a pandemic, an uncertain economy, extreme weather, etc. 

Most of us experience our own personal stress, too. It’s often caused by things like job changes, grief, an unexpected expense, or a change in an important relationship.

More than ever, many of us are feeling waves of anxiety and learning healthy ways to acknowledge and deal with these feelings.

But what if our anxious feelings never subside? What if anxiety turns into a permanent way of life? 

Anxiety disorders occur in many different forms. Some of the most common anxiety disorders include:

Generalized anxiety disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder symptoms vary, but many people with this condition worry excessively about events that have not happened yet and may never happen. They imagine worst-case scenarios and begin to expect them.

Someone with this condition often fears making the wrong decisions — decisions that will bring about the worst-case scenario. They have trouble setting aside their anxiety about anything that’s uncertain.

Understandably, they can become overwhelmed by having to think about so much so often. This can lead to detachment or an ongoing lack of focus.

Phobias

Generalized anxiety makes people feel paralyzed by their fears about the future in general, but someone with a phobia feels intense fear and anxiety about something in particular.

This intense fear can be connected to just about anything. It could be:  

• Heights, or airplanes
• Enclosed spaces
• Spiders, dogs, bees, or other animals
• Medical procedures, or hospitals in general
• Car crashes
• Clowns
• Extreme weather

The list could go on and on, and some people with phobias have more than one object of anxiety. But to qualify as an anxiety disorder, the phobia exceeds a normal fleeting response or a preference to avoid a particular object.

For example, feeling wary around a neighbor’s aggressive dog isn’t necessarily a phobia — it’s a healthy fear. People with phobias go to great lengths to avoid the object of their anxiety because they will experience severe anxiety symptoms, or even a panic attack, if they have to face their fear.

Someone with claustrophobia, for example, would turn down a job on the 22nd floor of an office building because getting to the office would require an elevator ride. Standing in a small, enclosed space for several minutes each day would be out of the question. 

Social anxiety disorder

We all feel different levels of comfort in social situations based on our personalities and life experiences. Any new social experience can cause normal anxiety at first.

Someone with a social anxiety disorder experiences regular fear and anxiety about everyday social interactions. These feelings interrupt their normal relationships, job duties, school attendance, or any other routine.

 People with a social anxiety disorder may: 

• Experience an intense fear of social humiliation
• Fear becoming the center of attention
• Perceive regular, negative judgments from others
• Fear their anxiety itself: Looking nervous or sweaty in public, for example
• Overanalyze their own social performance after the fact
• Expect the worst-case scenario in a social situation

Some people with social anxiety disorders experience symptoms in large social gatherings but not small groups — or vice versa.

Panic disorder

Anyone could have a panic attack. They occur when the mental stress of anxiety manifests itself in physical symptoms like a fast heart rate or difficulty breathing. Some people who experience a panic attack for the first time confuse the symptoms with those of a heart attack.

Having one or two panic attacks in a lifetime isn’t too far out of the ordinary. But regular panic attacks are a sign of a panic disorder, a medical condition that should be treated.

Some people with panic disorders become anxious about the disorder itself. They worry incessantly about the possibility of having another panic attack.

As a result, driving a car, taking care of a child, eating at a restaurant — these sorts of normal activities will feel impossible because they could be interrupted by an incapacitating panic attack at any moment.

Separation anxiety disorder

Separation anxiety is a normal phase of child development. Since children depend, almost fully, on their parents or guardians, it’s normal for them to feel anxious when separated.

If separation anxiety continues beyond the time when it’s developmentally appropriate, it may be a sign of a separation anxiety disorder. 

Adults can suffer from this kind of disorder as well. Someone with this condition might worry, incessantly, about their friends and family members getting injured or killed.

A separation anxiety disorder interferes with normal relationships. An adult with this condition, for example, may not want their young adult child going away to college or moving to a different city. This fear puts an unnatural strain on the relationship.  

Primary care physicians can provide some guidance for people who are experiencing severe anxiety symptoms, but a mental health specialist is better equipped to diagnose a specific kind of anxiety disorder. 

When you seek help from a mental health care clinic, a psychologist or another mental health care specialist may conduct a psychological exam. During this exam, which will seem like a normal conversation to the patient, the mental health care provider will take note of symptoms and possible diagnoses.

Treatment can include:

• Psychotherapy: Also known as counseling, psychotherapy can treat anxiety disorders through conversations and developing healthy strategies. Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, can help patients learn specific skills to deal with the sources of their anxiety gradually.
• Medications: Depending on the type of disorder, doctors can prescribe medications for long-term or short-term use. Be sure to discuss side effects before starting a prescription. 

Some patients benefit from using both types of treatment at the same time.

Nobody knows, precisely, what causes anxiety disorders. But we do know that anxiety disorders seem to be connected to one, or more, risk factors.

Someone who has experienced any of the following risk factors could be more likely to develop an anxiety disorder. These risk factors shouldn’t be confused with the causes of anxiety. They’re simply correlatives which means they’re often present in people who get an anxiety diagnosis.

Keep in mind, also, that only a professional mental health care provider can help you understand how these risk factors might connect to your unique experience with anxiety.

Trauma

Witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event is a common risk factor for developing an anxiety disorder. Experiencing trauma as a child increases the risk, but adults who witness or experience trauma also face a higher risk of developing a disorder.

Trauma can include a natural disaster, violence, or an accident. 

Physical health conditions

Anxiety disorders can accompany health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, or a variety of other chronic conditions. Sometimes, anxiety arises before the physical health condition is even diagnosed. Anxiety can also be a side effect of medication used to treat medical conditions. 

Stress

Ongoing stress can be a risk factor for an anxiety disorder, especially when the stress becomes a way of life. Stress is personal, and different people handle it differently.

Stress can be caused by living conditions, caregiving, physical health conditions, grief, finances, relationships, or just about anything else.

The family connection

Anxiety disorders aren’t hereditary like genetic conditions and some forms of cancer and heart disease. But there can be a family connection. Having a blood relative with an anxiety disorder is a risk factor.

Other mental disorders

Anxiety disorders can also correlate with other mental disorders such as depression or bipolar disorder.

Drug or alcohol use

Anxiety disorders can accompany an overreliance on drugs and alcohol. Withdrawing from drugs or alcohol can also be a risk factor for an anxiety disorder.

While there’s no guaranteed way to prevent an anxiety disorder, some lifestyle choices can help discourage a disorder from taking hold.

Some of the proven strategies  to prevent anxiety disorders include:

• Getting regular sleep: Proper sleep patterns give us more focus and more tolerance for dealing with stress. Establishing morning and bedtime routines can help.
• Staying active: Exercise reduces stress, and it also helps us stay physically healthy which touches on another risk factor for anxiety disorders.
• Avoiding alcohol: A reliance on alcohol and other substances is connected to developing an anxiety disorder.
• Developing hobbies and friendships: A fuller life tends to be a healthier life for many people. Most of us have a hobby or two, and hobbies offer a great way to engage with people. If you like to sing, join a community choir. If you like the outdoors, make time for hikes and camping.
• Seeking help early: Getting help from a professional counselor or therapist can help prevent normal anxiety from becoming an anxiety diagnosis.

This kind of advice can help people in general, but it isn’t customized for anyone’s specific experience. Only meeting with a qualified mental health professional can help develop solutions that are specific to your life and experience. 

Wherever you are, there’s a good chance you’re close to a mental health clinic staffed by people who can help you overcome mental health challenges such as anxiety disorders. If not, you should be able to find an online appointment.

In Greensboro and High Point, N.C., Mental Health Associates of the Triad offers outpatient mental health care to anyone who needs it. Mental Health Associates provides a safe place for discussing mental health concerns. The staff is qualified to diagnose, counsel, treat, and support a wide variety of patient needs.

 Ultimately, getting help starts with a conversation — just a series of questions and answers. It’s in conversation that people share their unique challenges and needs. Then, your care plan will be tailored to your unique challenges and experiences.  

Mental health is an important part of our overall health. It’s an essential part of living a full life. Getting expert help from a health care provider in your area can help return your life to the right balance.