Anxiety is a familiar feeling to most of us. It’s that flutter in your stomach before a presentation, the tension when you’re stuck in traffic, or the worry when a loved one doesn’t answer their phone. These feelings are a normal part of life. But for some, anxiety grows too large to manage on their own, spilling over into every aspect of life.
Stomach flutters turn into tight, painful knots and nausea. Tension turns into irritability, restlessness, and a pounding heart. And worry comes out in sweat, trembles, and a sense of impending doom. Intense, persistent, and overwhelming fears that grow to affect your daily life might be a sign of an anxiety disorder.
Anxiety disorders can manifest in various forms, each with its own set of symptoms and challenges. Let’s dive into five of the most common types.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Generalized Anxiety Disorder, or GAD, is characterized by persistent and excessive worry about a variety of topics, events, or activities. People with GAD often anticipate disaster and are overly concerned about health, money, family, work, or other issues. They find it difficult to control their worry and may suffer from a variety of symptoms like:
- Perceiving non-threatening situations as threatening
- Persistent anxiety and worry out of proportion to the stressor
- Extreme fear of making the wrong decision
- Inability to relax or let go
- Feeling constantly on edge
- Muscle tension or stomach pains
- Difficulty sleeping
- Trouble concentrating
- Frequent physical symptoms for which there is no medical cause
- Feeling fatigued or tired often in spite of getting enough sleep
Unlike the occasional worry, GAD is disruptive, pervasive, and persistent, making it challenging to carry out day-to-day activities and enjoy life without fear.
Read: Am I Having An Anxiety Attack?
Social Anxiety Disorder
Imagine feeling intense dread before every social interaction—this is the reality for those with Social Anxiety Disorder. People with social anxiety often fret excessively about being judged or viewed negatively by others, leading them to avoid social situations altogether. Triggering social interactions could include:
- Speaking in public
- Eating or drinking in front of others
- Talking on the phone (also known as telephobia)
- Meeting new people
- Attending large social gatherings
- Going to the doctor’s office
- Being approached by a sales clerk
Treatment often involves therapy techniques that help individuals gradually engage with and manage these fears.
Read: Beyond The Blush: Your Toolkit For Coping With Social Anxiety
Phobias
Phobias are intense, disproportionate fears of specific objects or situations that pose little or no actual danger. They are more intense than fears and can lead to severe avoidance behaviors. For example, someone with an extreme fear of heights might avoid going to places that require them to elevate from the ground, impacting their personal and professional life. Phobias can be specific, like a fear of flying or snakes, or more complex, like a fear of leaving home or being in large crowds.
Read: Fear Or Phobia? Understand And Confront Phobia With These 3 Tips
Panic Disorders
Panic Disorder involves sudden and repeated panic attacks—moments of intense fear or discomfort that strike often without warning. Symptoms can include heart palpitations, chest pain, breathlessness, and a feeling of impending doom. These episodes can occur at any time, even during sleep. People with panic disorder often worry about the possibility of having another attack, which can increase overall anxiety and avoidance of situations they think might trigger an attack.
Read: 5 Breathing Techniques To Relieve Anxiety
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
OCD is often misunderstood as just being overly tidy or particular about things. However, it’s much more complex and the symptoms are unique for each person. There are two main types of symptoms associated with OCD.
- Obsessions: Unwanted and disturbing thoughts, images, or urges that intrude into a person’s mind and cause a great deal of anxiety or discomfort
- Compulsion: Repetitive behaviors or mental acts used to find relief from the obsessions or prevent something bad from happening—but compulsions are not realistically connected to the problem they are meant to fix.
Read: Debunking 5 Myths About OCD: Understanding The Truth
You don’t have to be stuck.
So what’s the point of all this? If you’re reading this blog, chances are you’re feeling overwhelmed by worries. Maybe you’re feeling stuck, or maybe you suspect your worries are actually an anxiety disorder.
Recognizing the signs of these disorders is the first step towards reclaiming your life from anxiety. If any of these descriptions feel familiar, remember that you’re not alone, and more importantly—help is available to you. The silver lining in all of this is that anxiety disorders are highly treatable and effective with the right help.
At Austin Anxiety and Trauma Specialists, we understand that taking the first step towards seeking help can feel daunting. Know that our compassionate team is here to support you on your journey to find relief. If you’re struggling, don’t wait. Request a consultation today, and we’ll find a path forward with a specialist who can best help your needs. It can get better. We can help.
