Guide To The Major Types Of Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders are a specific category of mental illness categorized by significant fear or worry that won't seem to subside. Sometimes the fear or anxious symptoms become progressively worse with time. With anxiety disorders, the stress and fear patients feel are disproportionate to their actual life circumstances. Individuals with an anxiety disorder also tend to be anxious regardless of what's going on, rather than only experiencing stress in response to life events. Anxiety disorders negatively impact a patient's quality of life. The DSM-V separates anxiety disorders into three categories, which include trauma and stress-related disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and anxiety disorders. Every individual's anxiety will manifest differently, and one individual doesn't need to have every symptom to meet the diagnostic criteria for an anxiety disorder.

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Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder occurs when individuals excessively and persistently worry about a large number of things. This disorder can be described as a heightened feeling of anxiety regarding every aspect of one's life. It's common for patients with generalized anxiety disorder to spend a lot of time worrying about work, family, health, money, and other problems. It's also difficult to control the worry, even if they know the worry isn't rational. Their worries might seem unwarranted when considering the actual circumstances. Many individuals with generalized anxiety disorder catastrophize, which means they often think about worst-case scenarios even if the worst-case scenario is unlikely to happen. To receive a diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder, an individual must have trouble controlling their anxiety for more days than they don't for a minimum of six months. They must also present with at least three of the symptoms. The time limit helps to separate this disorder from worries that might be caused by specific stressful life circumstances or changes. About 3.1 percent of adults in the United States have generalized anxiety disorder.

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Social Anxiety Disorder

Most individuals have experienced some level of discomfort or nervousness when exposed to a new social situation. But in a neurotypical person, that anxiety isn't debilitating enough to interfere with their day-to-day life. Social anxiety disorder causes affected individuals to be so anxious in social situations that they can't handle the stress. Many with this disorder avoid social contact altogether because they're uncomfortable with making eye contact, engaging in small talk, and attempting to connect with their peers. Though the anxiety is related to social interactions, it can be so debilitating that it impacts every area of their life. Their social relationships will suffer, they will have trouble with workplace relationships, and they may avoid family gatherings. Many individuals who self-isolate due to social anxiety end up experiencing feelings of depression. Social anxiety is actually among the most common mental health issues in the world. Different patients might struggle with different social situations. Someone might have trouble meeting new people but have no problems with old family members. Some situations patients might avoid include using public restrooms, talking to strangers, public speaking engagements, and parties.

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