Anxiety Disorders
What is it?
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), anxiety disorders are one of the most common mental health conditions in the United States, with more than 40 million sufferers. Although all of us experience occasional anxieties, worries, or fears, anxiety disorders are a category of mental health disorders that seriously impact everyday life. Anxiety disorders often begin during the teen years and can worsen over time. Oftentimes, depression and anxiety are comorbid conditions, meaning they exist at the same time. Anxiety may also be accompanied by other mental health disorders, such as OCD, ADHD, or PTSD.
Specific types of anxiety disorders include:
- Social anxiety
- Generalized anxiety disorder
- Panic disorder
- Agoraphobia
- Specific phobias
- Health anxiety
Symptoms include:
- Excessive worry about everyday thing
- Difficulty controlling feelings of nervousness or fear
- Trouble relaxing
- Difficulty concentrating
- Sleep difficulties
- Feeling easily or frequently tired
- Physical symptoms such as headaches, muscle aches, or stomach problems
- Feeling “on edge”
- Irritability
- Feelings of being overwhelmed
- Lightheadedness
- Excess stress surrounding school, health, work, finances, relationships, or household chores
Anxiety & Depression Association of America. (2021). Understanding anxiety and depression. Retrieved from https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety