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People often use the word “ <anchor>anxiety</anchor>” to describe general feelings of nervousness, unease, or worry. However, there’s a difference between feeling anxious and having an anxiety disorder.
Do I Have Anxiety? Causes, Signs, and Symptoms
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Anxiety Disorder Guide

Anxiety Disorder Guide

# Do I Have Anxiety? How to Recognize the Signs and Symptoms

Updated on June 20, 2024

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Anxiety disorders are common mental health conditions. They are characterized by persistent, uncontrollable, and overwhelming worry or fear. Sometimes the excessive worry can manifest into physical symptoms, such as headaches and stomachaches.

Fortunately, anxiety disorders are treatable. Depending on the severity of the anxiety disorder, a psychiatrist may prescribe a combination of anti-anxiety medications and talk therapy. Healthy lifestyle changes and coping strategies can also help prevent anxiety symptoms.

This article discusses the seven types of anxiety disorders. It covers the causes and symptoms of anxiety disorders, along with how they are diagnosed and treated.

Verywell / Theresa Chiechi

## Causes and Risk Factors

Everyone experiences anxiety on occasion. It is a normal part of being human, and one that motivates us to prepare for life events and keep ourselves safe.

For some people, occasional anxiety morphs into more persistent and overwhelming distress, worry, and fear. The anxiety may even start to interfere with daily life, at which point it is considered an anxiety disorder.

Research is unclear on exactly what causes anxiety disorders. However, researchers believe a mixture of genetic and environmental factors are likely at play.

Certain factors increase the risk of developing an anxiety disorder, including:

- Having a family history of anxiety or other mental health disorders
- Being particularly shy or nervous as a child
- Being taught by parents or caregivers to fear certain objects or situations
- Exposure to a stressful or traumatic event, such as abuse, violence, death of a loved one, or prolonged illness

### What Makes Anxiety Symptoms Worse?

The use of cigarettes, cannabis, and alcohol are known to increase anxiety symptoms. Low social support, poor coping skills, and lack of physical activity have been linked to increased anxiety as well.

## Types of Anxiety Disorders

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) recognizes seven types of anxiety disorders:

- Specific phobias are characterized by an extreme, irrational fear of a specific object or situation, such as blood ( hemophobia), injections ( trypanophobia), or loud noises ( ligyrophobia). Specific phobias are the most common type of anxiety disorder.
- Social anxiety disorder is characterized by fear and avoidance of social situations, to an extent that it interferes with relationships and daily activities.
- Panic disorder is characterized by repeated and unexpected anxiety or panic attacks, which often cause a mixture of physical symptoms (e.g., nausea and shortness of breath), and mental symptoms (e.g., fear of impending doom).
- Agoraphobia is a phobic disorder characterized by an irrational fear of situations from which one cannot escape or get help, often manifesting as a fear of crowded or enclosed places.
- Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by anxious worry, tension, and fears about everyday events and problems.
- Separation anxiety disorder is characterized by unrealistic and persistent worry about adverse events that might happen to significant others. It often manifests as fear of separation or abandonment.
- Selective mutism is rare and characterized by being unable to speak in certain situations, or excessive shyness.

## Symptoms of an Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety disorders may have slightly different signs and symptoms, and different types of triggers and behaviors. You may have an anxiety disorder if your symptoms make it difficult to carry out daily activities, cause you to avoid opportunities, or simply feel intolerable.

### Physical Symptoms

Physical symptoms seen in each of the anxiety disorders include:

- Generalized anxiety disorder: Headaches, stomach aches, unexplained pains, difficulty falling or staying asleep, hot flashes, and sweating
- Panic disorder: Pounding or racing heart, shortness of breath, sweating, trembling, chest pain, weakness or dizziness
- Social anxiety disorder: Blushing, sweating, trembling, and stomach aches during social situations or in anticipation of socializing
- Specific phobias: Panic attack symptoms (i.e., sweating and trembling) when faced with the feared object or situation, or in severe cases, at the mere thought of it
- Social anxiety disorder: Panic-like symptoms when faced with a social situation or in anticipation of one
- Agoraphobia: Panic-like symptoms when in crowded or enclosed spaces, or in anticipation of facing them
- Separation anxiety disorder: Panic-like symptoms when there is separation or anticipated separation, or feeling physically ill when away from loved ones
- Selective mutism: Speaking freely at home or around familiar people, but being unable to speak in certain situations, or shutting down completely when unable to communicate; children may also have elimination (urine or stool) disorders

Anxiety disorders activate the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which regulates body processes you can't control, such as your heart rate, breathing, urination, and sexual function. During a period of severe stress or anxiety, the ANS manifests with physical symptoms as part of the body's fight-or-flight response.

### Psychological Symptoms

Psychological symptoms seen in each of the anxiety disorders include:

- Generalized anxiety disorder: Irritability, fatigue and difficulty concentrating, uncontrollable worry
- Panic disorder: Sudden, repeated attacks of overwhelming anxiety or fear, fear of death or impending doom, fear of places where past panic attacks occurred
- Social anxiety disorder: Feeling the mind "go blank," excessive self-consciousness or fear of being judged negatively by others
- Specific phobias: Intense fear of an object or situation; one may be aware that the phobia is irrational, but still unable to control it
- Agoraphobia: Feeling detached or separated from others, feeling helpless or that their body or environment is not real, agitation
- Separation anxiety disorder: Excessive worry about separation from or danger to loved ones
- Selective mutism: Intense stress in social situations, excessive shyness, depression; children may also have other developmental or communication disorders

### Behavioral Symptoms

Behavioral symptoms seen in each of the anxiety disorders include:

- Generalized anxiety disorder: Restlessness and inability to relax, refusing to go to work or school, clinginess
- Panic disorder: Avoidance of feared objects or situations, avoidance of places where past panic attacks occurred, clinginess
- Social anxiety disorder: Having a rigid posture, speaking in an overly soft voice, difficulty making eye contact, difficulty being around unfamiliar people, avoiding places where there are other people
- Specific phobias: Avoiding school, work, or other places where one may encounter the feared object or situation
- Agoraphobia: Avoiding public places, enclosed spaces, or other places where escape might be hard, staying in the house for long periods
- Separation anxiety disorder: Difficulty leaving the house, even to go to school or work, difficulty sleeping, refusal to go places alone or let loved ones go places alone
- Selective mutism: Social withdrawal, clinginess, inability to speak in select situations, avoidance of select situations

## Self-Test for Anxiety Disorders

Self-screening tools do not replace a mental health professional. They are designed for the results to be shared with your doctor to inform further discussion about diagnosis and treatment.

If you think you may have anxiety, you can self-test using an online instrument, such as:

- Mental Health America's Anxiety Test
- Anxiety.org's Anxiety Quiz
- Anxiety & Depression Association of America's Screening Tools

You may be one of nearly 40 million people in the United States who experience an anxiety disorder in any given year, or 18% of all Americans.

Online screening tools are not a replacement for a diagnosis from a licensed mental health professional. We encourage you to share your results with your healthcare team.

Do You Have Everyday Anxiety or an Anxiety Disorder?  Everyday Anxiety Anxiety DisorderWorry about paying bills, landing a job, a romantic breakup, or other important eventsConstant and unsubstantiated worry that causes significant distress and interferes with daily lifeEmbarrassment or self-consciousness in an uncomfortable or awkward social situationAvoiding social situations for fear of being judged, embarrassed, or humiliatedA case of nerves or sweating before a big test, business presentation, stage performance, or other significant eventSeemingly out-of-the-blue panic attacks and the preoccupation with the fear of having another one Realistic fear of a dangerous object, place, or situationIrrational fear or avoidance of an object, place, or situation that poses little or no threat of dangerAnxiety, sadness, or difficulty sleeping immediately after a traumatic eventRecurring nightmares, flashbacks, or emotional numbing related to a traumatic event that occurred several months or years beforeAdapted From Anxiety & Depression Association of America

## Diagnosis

Your mental health professional can diagnose your anxiety disorder using the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition" ( DSM-5). The DSM-5 lists specific symptoms, frequency, and other criteria to determine your diagnosis.

Other labs and tests, such as blood tests or a physical exam, may also be used. While these tests do not confirm a diagnosis, they may help to determine if any lifestyle factors or medical conditions are causing or contributing to your symptoms.

## Related Conditions

Many people with anxiety disorders have comorbid (co-existing) mental health disorders. Many comorbid disorders also cause overlapping symptoms.

Research shows that people with anxiety disorders are also more likely to have or develop:

- Major depression
- Substance use disorder
- Bipolar disorder
- Obsessive compulsive disorder
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Gastrointestinal disease
- Cardiovascular disease
- Chronic pain
- Migraines
- Dementia
- Parkinson's disease
- Suicidal ideations

There is high comorbidity between anxiety disorders as well. For example, among people with social anxiety disorder, at least 14% also have a specific phobia, and at least 8% have agoraphobia.

## Prevention and Treatment

You can't prevent anxiety or anxiety disorders, but you can take steps to treat and manage the symptoms. There are many ways to treat anxiety:

- Psychotherapy: A number of different types of psychotherapy can help with managing the thoughts and feelings that accompany anxiety disorders. These include cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and exposure therapy.

- Medications: Medications may also be used to help in combination with therapy. Common medications include anti-anxiety and antidepressant drugs.

- Stress management: Stress management may include relaxation techniques, meditation, yoga, massage, or other alternative treatments.

- Healthy lifestyle: Eating well-balanced meals, limiting alcohol and caffeine, sleeping enough and sleeping well, exercising daily, and maintaining a positive attitude may help you manage stress and anxiety.

- Coping strategies: Breathing and counting exercises can help to reduce stress and anxiety in the moment. Writing in a journal is a great reflective exercise that can also help you understand and identify specific situations that are causing anxiety. Talking to friends and family members can help you cope when you are feeling stressed or anxious.

- Support groups: Joining a self-help group or support group and sharing your problems and achievements with others can be an encouraging way to help manage anxiety. However, it is important to note that support groups, friends, and family do not replace a licensed mental health professional.

## When to Contact a Healthcare Provider

When lifestyle, stress management, and coping strategies are insufficient for managing your anxiety, it may be time to seek professional help. Simply suppressing thoughts or ignoring them does not make them go away.

There are a variety of mental health professionals who can help support you, including psychologists, psychiatrists, clinical social workers, and psychiatric nurses. When choosing a healthcare provider, look for academic degrees, professional and state licenses, and association memberships.

Aside from professional certifications and specializations, you may also want to consider whether the provider takes your health insurance and whether their treatment approach works well for your personality and situation.

Anxiety & Depression Association of America offers an online tool to help you locate a licensed mental health clinician in your area or providers who offer telehealth.

### Crisis Resources

If you are having suicidal thoughts, dial 988 to contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and connect with a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

## Summary

There are seven distinct anxiety disorders, ranging from common specific phobias and social anxiety to rare selective mutism. Anxiety disorders cause an array of physical, psychological, and behavioral symptoms, including trembling, uncontrollable fear, and refusal to leave the home. Treatment often involves a combination of anti-anxiety or antidepressant medications with talk therapy.

People with anxiety disorders are at a greater risk of suicide. If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, dial 988 to speak with a trained suicide and crisis counselor.

19 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Valdez is a registered dietitian nutritionist, health writer, and nutrition consultant. She received her MS degree in nutrition from Columbia University.

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