Learn About Anxiety
Everyone experiences feelings of anxiety during the course of their life
Anxiety is a sense of uneasiness, nervousness, worry, fear, or dread about what’s going to happen. It is common and even expected during different stages of development, meaning it’s a natural part of growing up and being exposed to new and sometimes stressful situations. For example, it is common for a student to express that they feel anxious about a test. These feelings usually fade, but when they persist or intensify, they may indicate an anxiety disorder, where worry becomes overwhelming and affects daily life.
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Symptoms include:
- Nervousness/Restlessness
- Hyperventilation
- Nausea
- Trembling
- Sweating
- Irritability
- Sleep problems
- Irritability
- Fatigue
- Shorter attention span
Risk factors include:
- Underlying health issues such as heart disease, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, respiratory disease, withdrawal, chronic pain
- Family history
- Trauma
- Stress buildup
- Drug abuse
- Other mental health disorders
Types of anxiety disorders include:
-
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) produces a persistent feeling of anxiety or dread. These symptoms differ from occasional feelings of worry. Rather, GAD manifests frequently over several weeks or months. People often experience physical symptoms associated with psychological symptoms. Severe cases of GAD can prevent individuals from carrying out normal activities, but many people can still function at work, school, and social activities.
- Panic Disorder: People who experience frequent, unexpected panic attacks might be diagnosed with panic disorder. Spending long periods with fear of having another panic attack can be another risk factor for developing panic disorder. Symptoms of panic disorder can be frightening and affect both personal and professional activities.
- Separation Anxiety: Often diagnosed in childhood, separation anxiety involves a fear of being away from others, usually loved ones. While feelings of uncertainty are common and normal, unexplained severity or persistence of these feelings might indicate separation anxiety.
- Social Anxiety: Social anxiety involves fear and avoidance of social situations, often driven by intense self-consciousness and worry about being judged negatively. It is important to distinguish between social anxiety and shyness; social anxiety disorder can be addressed through treatment.
