It’s human to feel anxious, and everyone feels anxious now and then. That’s perfectly okay. It’s the brain’s way of reacting to stress and alerting you of potential danger.  

However, Anxiety disorders are different. These are a group of mental illnesses linked with constant and overwhelming anxiety, intense, excessive, and persistent worry, and fear about everyday situations. Anxiety disorders often involve repeated episodes of panic attacks - intense fear that triggers severe physical reactions when there is no real and apparent cause. 

Symptoms  

• Being nervous, restless, or tense 
• Breathing rapidly  
• Avoidance behavior – the urge to avoid everything that causes worry  
• Feeling weak and exhausted
• Getting a feeling of impending danger, panic, going crazy, or losing control 
• Having trouble sleeping 
• Increased heart rate 
• Sweating and Trembling  
• Troubled gut or gastrointestinal issues
• Unable to concentrate or stop thinking about anything other than the problem worrying the person  
• Unreasonable and uncontrollable worry  

Types of Anxiety Disorders 

• Specific phobias 
• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Panic disorder
• Social anxiety disorder  
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 

Causes / Reasons

The exact causes of anxiety disorders are not completely understood.  

Stressful events and trauma one has seen or lived through. Childhood abuse and neglect, death of a loved one, or being attacked or witness to violence. Genetics, Brain chemistry, alcohol and substance use, drug withdrawal, and misuse.  

Treatment 

You may benefit from counseling, psychotherapy, medications, or a combination of both. 

Consult your doctor for a detailed medical examination and treatment.