Anxiety

Summary

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is a feeling of fear, dread, and uneasiness. It might cause you to sweat, feel restless and tense, and have a rapid heartbeat. It can be a normal reaction to stress. For example, you might feel anxious when faced with a difficult problem at work, before taking a test, or before making an important decision. It can help you to cope. The anxiety may give you a boost of energy or help you focus. But for people with anxiety disorders, the fear is not temporary and can be overwhelming.

What are anxiety disorders?

Anxiety disorders are conditions in which you have anxiety that does not go away and can get worse over time. The symptoms can interfere with daily activities such as job performance, schoolwork, and relationships.

What are the types of anxiety disorders?

There are several types of anxiety disorders, including:

• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).People with GAD worry about ordinary issues such as health, money, work, and family. But their worries are excessive, and they have them almost every day for at least 6 months.
• Panic disorder. People with panic disorder have panic attacks. These are sudden, repeated periods of intense fear when there is no danger. The attacks come on quickly and can last several minutes or more.
• Phobias. People with phobias have an intense fear of something that poses little or no actual danger. Their fear may be about spiders, flying, going to crowded places, or being in social situations (known as social anxiety).

What causes anxiety disorders?

The cause of anxiety is unknown. Factors such as genetics, brain biology and chemistry, stress, and your environment may play a role.

Who is at risk for anxiety disorders?

The risk factors for the different types of anxiety disorders can vary. For example, GAD and phobias are more common in women, but social anxiety affects men and women equally. There are some general risk factors for all types of anxiety disorders, including:

• Certain personality traits, such as being shy or withdrawn when you are in new situations or meeting new people
• Traumatic events in early childhood or adulthood
• Family history of anxiety or other mental disorders
• Some physical health conditions, such as thyroid problems or arrhythmia

What are the symptoms of anxiety disorders?

The different types of anxiety disorders can have different symptoms. But they all have a combination of:

• Anxious thoughts or beliefs that are hard to control. They make you feel restless and tense and interfere with your daily life. They do not go away and can get worse over time.
• Physical symptoms, such as a pounding or rapid heartbeat, unexplained aches and pains, dizziness, and shortness of breath
• Changes in behavior, such as avoiding everyday activities you used to do

Using caffeine, other substances, and certain medicines can make your symptoms worse.

How are anxiety disorders diagnosed?

To diagnose anxiety disorders, your health care provider will ask about your symptoms and medical history. You may also have a physical exam and lab tests to make sure that a different health problem is not the cause of your symptoms.

If you don’t have another health problem, you will get a psychological evaluation. Your provider may do it, or you may be referred to a mental health professional to get one.

What are the treatments for anxiety disorders?

The main treatments for anxiety disorders are psychotherapy (talk therapy), medicines, or both:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of psychotherapy that is often used to treat anxiety disorders. CBT teaches you different ways of thinking and behaving. It can help you change how you react to the things that cause you to feel fear and anxiety. It may include exposure therapy. This focuses on having you confront your fears so that you will be able to do the things that you had been avoiding.
• Medicines to treat anxiety disorders include anti-anxiety medicines and certain antidepressants. Some types of medicines may work better for specific types of anxiety disorders. You should work closely with your health care provider to identify which medicine is best for you. You may need to try more than one medicine before you can find the right one.

NIH: National Institute of Mental Health

National Institute of Mental Health

Encyclopedia

• Agitation Medical Encyclopedia
• Hyperventilation Medical Encyclopedia

Find an Expert

• American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Anxiety and Depression Association of America Anxiety and Depression Association of America
• Find a Therapist Anxiety and Depression Association of America
• FindTreatment.gov Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
• Help for Mental Illnesses National Institute of Mental Health
• NAMI NAMI
• National Institute of Mental Health National Institute of Mental Health

Older Adults

• Anxiety AGS Health in Aging Foundation

Treatments and Therapies

• Anxiety at a Glance National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
• Beyond Worry: How Psychologists Help with Anxiety Disorders American Psychological Association
• Herbal Treatment for Anxiety: Is It Effective? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Mental Health Medications National Institute of Mental Health
• Psychotherapies National Institute of Mental Health

Start Here

• Anxiety Disorders National Institute of Mental Health
• Anxiety Disorders American Psychiatric Association
• Anxiety Disorders Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health
• Understanding Anxiety Disorders: When Panic, Fear, and Worries Overwhelm National Institutes of Health

Teenagers

• Anxiety Disorders Nemours Foundation
• Feeling Anxious or Worried Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health
• Test Anxiety Nemours Foundation
• Your Adolescent: Anxiety and Avoidant Disorders American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Children

• Anxiety Disorders (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
• Helping Kids when They Worry (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
• Helping Your Child Manage Anxiety Nemours Foundation
• Normal Childhood Fears Nemours Foundation
• Separation Anxiety (For Parents) Nemours Foundation

Women

• Anxiety During Pregnancy and Postpartum Postpartum Support International

NIH MedlinePlus Magazine

• Anxiety: What You Need to Know
• How to Help Someone with Anxiety
• Pandemic Fear: Young Adults with Past Childhood Anxiety at Greater Risk
• Teens and Stress: When It’s More Than Worry

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Anxiety National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Anxiety Disorders National Institutes of Health

Living With

• Coping with Anxiety: Can Diet Make a Difference? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Depression and Anxiety: Exercise Eases Symptoms Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• How to Cope with Medical Test Anxiety National Library of Medicine

Patient Handouts

• Generalized anxiety disorder Medical Encyclopedia
• Generalized anxiety disorder – children Medical Encyclopedia
• Generalized anxiety disorder — self-care Medical Encyclopedia
• Palliative care – fear and anxiety Medical Encyclopedia
• Separation anxiety in children Medical Encyclopedia
• Stress and your health Medical Encyclopedia

Specifics

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder American Academy of Family Physicians
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder: When Worry Gets Out of Control National Institute of Mental Health

Diagnosis and Tests

• Mental Health Screening National Library of Medicine

Journal Articles

• Anxiety

Related Issues

• The Link Between Migraine, Depression and Anxiety American Migraine Foundation