A group of mental health conditions, anxiety disorders are defined by excessive worry, fear, or feelings of unease that interfere with and disrupt daily life. These disorders go beyond the occasional bouts of nervousness that many people experience. Instead, they involve persistent and overwhelming symptoms that affect mental, emotional, and even physical well-being. Anxiety disorders affect 19.1%, over 40 million, people in the United States. It affects people of all ages, backgrounds, and lifestyles, affecting their ability to work, maintain relationships, and participate in daily activities.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Generalized anxiety disorder, or GAD, is one of the most common types of anxiety disorders. Individuals affected experience persistent, excessive worry about a variety of topics, such as work, health, finances, or everyday responsibilities. Unlike normal worry, which is often temporary and tied to a specific situation, GAD involves worry that is difficult to control and lasts for six months or more.
Symptoms of GAD include:
- Difficulty concentrating and sleeping
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Muscle tension
- Restlessness
These symptoms can significantly affect a person’s ability to focus on tasks, enjoy leisure activities, or maintain healthy relationships.
Panic Disorder
Panic disorder is defined by recurrent and unexpected panic attacks, which are sudden episodes of intense fear, terror, or discomfort that peak within minutes. These attacks are often accompanied by physical symptoms such as a racing heart, sweating, trembling, chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, or feelings of detachment.
Many individuals with panic disorder have a fear of another panic attack occurring, leading to heightened anxiety and avoidance behaviors. Triggers for panic attacks vary from person to person and may include stressful situations, specific environments, or sometimes no clear cause at all. The fear associated with panic disorder can disrupt daily life, leading individuals to avoid places or activities they associate with previous attacks.
Social Anxiety Disorder
Individuals suffering from Social Anxiety Disorder have an intense fear of being in social situations where they may feel judged, scrutinized, or humiliated. Common fears include:
- Speaking in front of a group
- Meeting new people
- Eating in public
- Participating in social gatherings
While many people experience shyness or occasional nervousness in social settings, social anxiety disorder causes extreme distress and avoidance that can interfere with work, school, and personal relationships. Symptoms include excessive worry about upcoming social interactions, fear of embarrassment, avoidance of social situations, and physical symptoms such as sweating, blushing, or a racing heartbeat.
Specific Phobias
Specific phobias are characterized by an intense and irrational fear of a particular thing, activity, or situation. Common examples include:
- A fear of flying
- A fear of animals such as spiders or snakes
- A fear of heights
- A fear of needles or medical procedures
When exposed to the feared object or situation, individuals may experience extreme anxiety or even a panic attack.
The impact of a specific phobia depends on how often the person encounters the trigger in their daily life. For example, someone with a fear of elevators may avoid buildings with multiple floors, while someone with a fear of flying may avoid traveling altogether.
Separation Anxiety Disorder
Separation anxiety disorder is often associated with children, but it can also affect adults. This disorder involves an excessive fear or anxiety about being separated from a person to whom the individual is strongly attached, such as a parent, child, or partner. While it is normal for young children to experience some level of separation anxiety, this disorder goes beyond what is typical for the person’s age and can cause significant distress.
Symptoms include:
- Fear of being alone
- Excessive worry about harm coming to a loved one
- Reluctance to leave home
- Nightmares about separation
For adults, these symptoms may manifest as difficulty being away from a partner for extended periods or extreme distress when a loved one travels.
Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia involves an intense fear of being in circumstances where escape might be difficult or where help might not be readily available if something goes wrong. People with agoraphobia often avoid crowded or enclosed places such as theaters, shops, or elevators, public transportation, or open spaces such as parking lots or bridges.
In severe cases, some individuals may feel unable to leave their homes at all. Symptoms of agoraphobia include:
- Fear or anxiety about specific environments
- Avoidance of these situations
- Reliance on others to accompany them when venturing out
English Mountain Recovery Can Help
Anxiety disorders and substance addiction frequently occur together. In a co-occurring disorder, individuals experiencing one condition are more apt to simultaneously experience the other. This complex relationship means each condition can influence and worsen the other. If you or a loved one is grappling with substance addiction or the dual diagnosis of an anxiety disorder and substance addiction, the skilled professionals at English Mountain Recovery in Eastern Tennessee can help. Reach out to us today.
