An anxiety disorder is a type of mental health condition. If you have an anxiety disorder, you may respond to certain things and situations with fear and dread. You may also experience physical signs of anxiety, such as a pounding heart and sweating.
It’s normal to have some anxiety. You may feel anxious or nervous if you have to tackle a problem at work, go to an interview, take a test or make an important decision. And anxiety can even be beneficial. For example, anxiety helps us notice dangerous situations and focuses our attention, so we stay safe.
But an anxiety disorder goes beyond the regular nervousness and slight fear you may feel from time to time. An anxiety disorder happens when:
- Anxiety interferes with your ability to function.
- You often overreact when something triggers your emotions.
- You can’t control your responses to situations.
Anxiety disorders can make it difficult to get through the day. Fortunately, there are several effective treatments for anxiety disorders.
What causes anxiety disorders?
Anxiety disorders are like other forms of mental illness. They don’t come from personal weakness, character flaws or problems with upbringing. But researchers don’t know exactly what causes anxiety disorders. They suspect a combination of factors plays a role:
- Chemical imbalance
- Environmental factors
- Heredity
What are the symptoms of an anxiety disorder?
Symptoms vary depending on the type of anxiety disorder you have. General symptoms of an anxiety disorder include:
Physical symptoms
- Cold or sweaty hands
- Dry mouth
- Heart palpitations
- Nausea
- Numbness or tingling in hands or feet
- Muscle tension
- Shortness of breath
Mental symptoms
- Feeling panic, fear and uneasiness
- Nightmares
- Repeated thoughts or flashbacks of traumatic experiences
- Uncontrollable, obsessive thoughts
Behavioural symptoms
- Inability to be still and calm
- Ritualistic behaviours, such as washing hands repeatedly
- Trouble sleeping
SEE ALSO: What does anxiety do to your body?
When does normal anxiety become a mental illness?
Mild, occasional anxiety is not something to treat or worry about. It is only part of normal neurological functioning.
When anxiety reaches a certain level of intensity and frequency, however, it stops being useful.
What is severe anxiety?
Normal anxiety becomes severe when it stops serving you as a useful tool that encourages you to take charge and starts to distract you from daily life.
Anxiety disorders are severe conditions stemming from excessive worrying and rumination.
People with anxiety as a mental illness have feelings of anxiety that do not go away and can interfere with daily activities such as job performance and relationships.
Living with an anxiety disorder also means fitting the criteria for a specific diagnosis, such as:
- generalized anxiety disorder
- social anxiety disorder
- separation anxiety disorder
- panic disorder
- specific phobias
- agoraphobia
How to manage anxiety?
Whether you’re looking to manage anxiousness or an anxiety disorder, you have many options to choose from.
Medication
If you live with an anxiety disorder, your doctor or psychiatrist might prescribe an anti-anxiety medication as part of your treatment plan. The type of medication you take may vary depending on your specific symptoms and co-occurring conditions.
Other methods
- Psychotherapy
- Relaxation Training
- Mindfulness
These techniques are useful for mild anxiety and have limited value in moderate to severe anxiety.
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