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Anxiety disorder

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Anxiety disorders cause intense, chronic feelings of anxiety or fear. These anxious feelings can get worse over time, negatively affecting your relationships, work, school and everyday life. At Atrium Health Floyd and Harbin Clinic, our behavioral health specialists offer therapies that help you manage anxiety and get more enjoyment out of life.

What is an anxiety disorder?

An anxiety disorder is a mental health condition that causes persistent, overwhelming feelings of fear or distress. While everyone feels anxious now and then, this chronic anxiety often worsens and affects your ability to fully engage in life.

Causes of anxiety disorders

Many things may lead to an anxiety disorder, including:

  • Changes to the part of your brain that manages fear and anxiety (amygdala)
  • Environmental factors, such as long-term stress, prolonged illness or a traumatic event
  • Genetics or having a close family member with an anxiety disorder
  • Imbalances in brain chemicals such as neurotransmitters (dopamine or serotonin)

Anxiety disorder types

There are several types of anxiety disorders, and each can affect people differently. The most common types include:

  • Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD): People with GAD have frequent, excessive worries about everyday activities that make it hard to finish tasks and enjoy life.
  • Panic disorder: Panic disorder causes panic attacks. These sudden feelings of terror occur when there is no real danger. You may feel as if you’re losing control.
  • Social anxiety disorder: People with social anxiety disorder have a persistent, irrational fear of social situations that may involve scrutiny or judgment by others.

Anxiety disorder symptoms

All anxiety disorders share the main symptoms of chronic fear, worry and distress. But different types of anxiety disorder can affect your life differently.

Generalized anxiety disorder symptoms

People with GAD have persistent, excessive anxiety for months. Symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder may include:

  • Constant worry
  • Fatigue
  • Irritability or feeling on edge
  • Muscle tension
  • Restlessness
  • Trouble concentrating
  • Trouble sleeping

Panic disorder symptoms

People with panic disorder experience sudden, unexpected periods of intense fear known as panic attacks. Signs of a panic attack often include:

  • Chest pain
  • Fast heart rate or heart palpitations
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Numbness or tingling in the hands, feet or face
  • Shaking or trembling
  • Shortness of breath
  • Sweating and chills

Social anxiety disorder symptoms

(Copy) People with social anxiety disorder often fear that others are watching and judging them. They worry about doing things that will embarrass them. Common symptoms of social anxiety disorder include:

  • Avoiding social situations
  • Blushing
  • Difficulty talking to others
  • Nausea
  • Profuse sweating or trembling when around other people
  • Struggling to make and keep friends

Anxiety disorder diagnosis

A health care provider, such as a primary care physician (PCP), psychiatrist or psychologist, can diagnose an anxiety disorder based on your symptoms and their impact on your life. To make a diagnosis, providers refer to criteria about anxiety disorders from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

Anxiety disorder risk factors

Certain factors may increase your chances of developing an anxiety disorder, including:

  • Chronic health conditions like cancer
  • Family member with an anxiety disorder
  • Other mental health disorders, such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or substance use disorder (addiction)
  • Stress
  • Traumatic events, especially during childhood

Anxiety disorder prevention

You can’t always prevent an anxiety disorder. It’s important to recognize any risk factors or symptoms and to seek treatment when needed. Treatments such as anti-anxiety medications and psychotherapy can ease anxiety and help you enjoy life.

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