What Are 7 Types of Anxiety Disorders?

Anxiety is a normal part of life. Everyone feels anxious now and then, whether it’s before a big test, a job interview or any situation that makes you feel uneasy. However, for some people, anxiety is more than just a temporary worry. It can become a chronic condition that affects their daily lives. This is where anxiety disorders come into play. 

But what are the 7 types of anxiety disorders? Let’s explore each one in detail.

1. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Generalized Anxiety Disorder, or GAD, is characterized by excessive, uncontrollable worry about various aspects of daily life. People with GAD may worry about health, work, social interactions and everyday routine circumstances. This worry is often disproportionate to the actual situation and can interfere with daily activities.

Symptoms of GAD

• Persistent worry or anxiety about a number of areas that are out of proportion to the impact of the events
• Overthinking plans and solutions to all possible worst-case outcomes
• Perceiving situations and events as threatening, even when they aren’t
• Difficulty handling uncertainty
• Indecisiveness and fear of making the wrong decision
• Inability to relax, feeling restless and feeling keyed up or on edge

2. Panic Disorder

Panic Disorder involves recurrent, unexpected panic attacks. A panic attack is a sudden period of intense fear that comes on quickly and reaches its peak within minutes. During a panic attack, people may experience physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath or a feeling of impending doom.

Symptoms of panic disorder

• Rapid heartbeat
• Sweating
• Trembling or shaking
• Shortness of breath or a feeling of being smothered
• Feelings of impending doom or danger
• Fear of losing control or “going crazy”
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Nausea or abdominal distress

3. Social Anxiety Disorder

Social Anxiety Disorder, also known as social phobia, involves a significant amount of fear in one or more social situations. People with this disorder fear they will be judged, embarrassed or humiliated by others. This fear can be so intense that it interferes with daily activities and can lead to avoidance of social situations.

Symptoms of social anxiety disorder

• Fear of situations in which you may be judged
• Worrying about embarrassing or humiliating yourself
• Intense fear of interacting or talking with strangers
• Fear that others will notice that you look anxious
• Avoiding doing things or speaking to people out of fear of embarrassment
• Avoiding situations where you might be the center of attention

4. Specific Phobias

Specific phobias are intense, irrational fears of certain objects or situations. Common phobias include fear of heights (acrophobia), fear of flying (aviophobia), fear of spiders (arachnophobia) and fear of enclosed spaces (claustrophobia). These fears are out of proportion to the actual danger posed by the object or situation and can lead to avoidance behavior.

Symptoms of specific phobias

• Immediate feeling of intense fear, anxiety and panic when exposed to or thinking about the source of your fear
• Feeling of powerlessness over your fear
• Feeling that you must avoid the source of your fear at all costs
• Physical symptoms such as sweating, rapid heartbeat or difficulty breathing

5. Separation Anxiety Disorder

Separation Anxiety Disorder is often associated with children, but it can affect adults as well. It involves excessive fear or anxiety about being separated from those to whom the person is attached. This can lead to significant distress and impairment in social, academic or occupational functioning.

Symptoms of separation anxiety disorder

• Excessive distress when anticipating or experiencing separation from home or major attachment figures
• Persistent and excessive worry about losing major attachment figures or possible harm to them
• Reluctance or refusal to go out, away from home, to school, work or elsewhere because of fear of separation
• Nightmares involving the theme of separation
• Physical complaints when separation from major attachment figures occurs or is anticipated

6. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

OCD is characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviors (compulsions). These behaviors are often performed with the hope of preventing the obsessive thoughts or making them go away. However, the relief is only temporary and not performing them markedly increases anxiety.

Symptoms of OCD

• Fear of contamination or dirt
• Needing things orderly and symmetrical
• Aggressive or horrific thoughts about losing control and harming yourself or others
• Unwanted thoughts, including aggression or sexual or religious subjects
• Compulsions such as washing and cleaning, checking, counting, orderliness, following a strict routine or demanding reassurances

7. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD can develop after a person has been exposed to a traumatic event, such as a natural disaster, serious accident, terrorist act, war/combat, rape or other violent personal assault. People with PTSD may feel stressed or frightened even when they are not in danger.

Symptoms of PTSD

• Intrusive memories such as flashbacks, reliving the traumatic event or upsetting dreams about the traumatic event
• Avoidance of places, activities or people that remind you of the traumatic event
• Negative changes in thinking and mood, including negative thoughts about yourself or others, feelings of hopelessness, memory problems and difficulty maintaining close relationships
• Changes in physical and emotional reactions, such as being easily startled, always being on guard for danger, self-destructive behavior, trouble sleeping and irritability

Get Help for Anxiety Disorders

Understanding the different types of anxiety disorders can help in recognizing the symptoms and seeking appropriate treatment. Whether it’s Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, Specific Phobias, Separation Anxiety Disorder, or OCD and PTSD, each type has its own set of challenges but can be managed with the right approach.

If you or someone you know is struggling with anxiety, don’t hesitate to seek professional help. Early intervention can make a significant difference in managing symptoms and improving quality of life.

Located in Phoenix, Arizona, Valley Hospital provides help for anxiety disorders for people just like you. Call us at 602-755-9317 to talk to our admissions team and get started on your recovery, today.

About Valley Hospital

Valley Hospital is a private psychiatric hospital located in Arizona that specializes in mental health and chemical dependency care. We provide a full continuum of care to meet you where you are and help get you where you need to be. Our core principles are outstanding care, compassionate people and unparalleled services.

We provide a wide range of services with evidence-based treatment methods. These methods have been proven to have positive outcomes for our patients. Some of these services include inpatient, outpatient, women’s mental health program and more. We combine the best clinical techniques with state-of-the-art medical care to create the greatest potential for lasting recovery.

To schedule a no-cost assessment or for more information, please call our main number at 602-926-7904.