Types of Anxiety

Types of Anxiety

General Anxiety Disorder – This type of anxiety is typified by excessive worry and tension, a sense of fear even when there appears to be little or nothing provoking the anxiety.

Panic Disorder – A person with this type of anxiety has a sense of terror that strikes suddenly and without warning. Symptoms may include, heart palpitations, heart racing, sweating, trembling and shaking, sensation of shortness of breath or smothering, chest pains, feeling dizzy, fear of dying, numbness or tingling sensations. Panic disorders will typically end within ten minutes. A person with panic disorders also suffers with persistent worrying or concerns about having additional attacks.

Obsessive– Compulsive Disorder (OCD) – People with OCD are plagued by constant thoughts or fears that cause them to performs certain rituals or routines. The person usually realizes the thoughts or actions are excessive or unreasonable (this does not apply to children). The thoughts are the obsessions and the rituals or routines are the compulsions.

Specific Phobias – This anxiety disorder is typified by an intense fear of a specific object or situation.
A person with a phobia will go to extremes to avoid contact with the object or situation to the point of interfering with everyday life. Or if faced with the phobic object or situation the person will experience intense anxiety or panic.

Social Anxiety Disorder – Is typified by overwhelming worry and self-consciousness about everyday social situations. The worry often centers on a fear of being judged by others or behaving in a way that might cause embarrassment or lead to ridicule.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – Is an anxiety disorder that can develop following a traumatic and or terrifying event like a sexual or physical assault, being in a car accident, the unexpected death of a loved one or a natural disaster. A person with PTSD will often have frightening and intrusive thoughts and memories (flashbacks) of the event, When this happens the person may feel like they are reliving the experience. There is also a sense of being emotionally numb or shocked.