Anxiety Has Many Different Faces

Occasional anxiety is simply an expected part of ordinary life. You may feel anxious when facing a test, addressing a problem at work, or before coming to terms with an important decision. Anxiety disorders, however, involve far more than worry or fear that is temporary. When you are afflicted with an anxiety disorder, the worry and fear do not simply go away when the triggering event is past. The anxiety can, instead, grow worse with the passage of time. Anxiety disorder symptoms may interfere with such daily activities as school work, job performance, and personal relationships.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Generalized Anxiety Disorder is abbreviated as GAD. This anxiety disorder is characterized by exaggerated worry, chronic anxiety, and tension. This occurs despite there generally being little or no provocation for the symptoms.

Panic Disorder

Panic disorder is characterized by repeated, unexpected episodes of intense fear. This is accompanied by such physical symptoms as heart palpitations, chest pain, dizziness, shortness of breath, and abdominal distress.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is often known by its initials, OCD. This anxiety disorder is characterized by unwanted, recurrent thoughts, or obsessions, and compulsions, or repetitive behaviors. These include counting, checking, hand washing, and cleaning, often performed in the hopes that obsessive thoughts might be prevented or caused to depart. The performance of these rituals, however, offers relief that is only temporary. Not performing these rituals increases anxiety markedly.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Often referred to as PTSD, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder can develop after being exposed to an event that is terrifying or an ordeal wherein grave physical harm was threatened or occurred. This anxiety disorder might be triggered by violent personal assaults, disasters either natural or caused by humans, accidents, or participation in military combat.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Also known as social phobia, this disorder is characterized by excessive self-consciousness and overwhelming anxiety in general, everyday social situations. Social Anxiety Disorder might be limited to one particular type of situation, such as the fear of public speaking, whether in informal or formal situations. It might also occur when drinking or eating before others. In its most severe form, this disorder may be broad enough that a person finds symptoms occurring nearly any time other people are around.