5 Main Types of Anxiety & How to Manage

Overview

Different people react differently to stressful situations. Most of us will show symptoms of anxiety including tension, nervousness, concern, or fear until the triggering event or scenario has passed.

However, you may be suffering from an anxiety disorder if your symptoms are extreme or ongoing.

Being anxious from time to time is natural. Concerns about health, finances and relationships with loved ones are common among the general population. However, anxiety disorders are characterised by more than just normal levels of anxiety.

For those who suffer from anxiety disorders, these worries persist and may even intensify with time. The symptoms may make it difficult to carry out regular tasks and maintain personal and professional connections.

In this article, we will learn about 5 main types of anxiety disorders.

Panic Disorder

People suffering from panic disorder are frequently struck by sudden and intense panic episodes. A panic attack is a sudden, overwhelming feeling of dread, discomfort, or loss of control, even in the absence of any obvious threat or cause. Having a panic attack does not guarantee the development of the panic disorder.

People with panic disorder frequently worry about having another attack and take measures to prevent them by avoiding triggers such as certain places, activities, or thoughts. Some people experience panic attacks daily, while others may only have them a few times a year.

These are some of the symptoms that could arise during a panic attack:

• A rapid or pounding heartbeat
• Sweating
• Shivering or tingling
• Pain in the chest
• The feeling that something terrible is about to happen
• A feeling of being helpless

Generalised Anxiety Disorder(GAD)

In generalised anxiety disorder, you will likely suffer extreme, unmanageable anxiety. Anxiety like this frequently manifests as rumination, or excessive time spent considering and analysing the possible outcomes and responses to upcoming events. It’s tough to keep the concern at bay and it may have a severe impact on how you feel. This condition frequently co-occurs with other anxiety disorders and depression.

The following are examples of symptoms that may indicate Generalized Anxiety Disorder(GAD):

• Getting tired quickly
• Having a short temper
• Worry that can’t be contained
• Having a hard time focusing
• Irritable, tense, or agitated disposition
• Having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
• Suffering from a variety of aches and pains (e.g., head, muscular, or stomach) for no apparent reason

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder(OCD)

OCD, or obsessive-compulsive disorder, is a form of anxiety that is marked by intrusive, unwelcome thoughts (obsessions) and ritualistic activities (compulsions). Obsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD) is characterised by the use of ritualistic actions including hand washing, counting, checking, or cleaning to control or eliminate the compulsion. However, these so-called “rituals” only give momentary respite, while failing to do them significantly increases anxiety.

Obsessions, compulsions, or both are possible signs of OCD. Disruption from these symptoms is possible in many areas of life, including professional and academic performance and interpersonal connections.

Obsessions are recurring anxious thoughts, desires, or mental imagery. Symptoms that are quite common include:

• Hygiene concerns/contamination phobia
• Aggressive mental attitudes toward others or oneself
• Having everything in perfect symmetry or order
• Negative ideas about sexuality, religion, or violence that you don’t want to entertain yet can’t help thinking about

When an obsessive thought arises, the person with OCD may feel compelled to engage in a ritualistic action known as a compulsion. Habits that many people struggle with are:

• Habitual counting
• Washing one’s hands and/or cleaning one’s surroundings to excess
• Putting things in their proper places and arranging them methodically
• Repeatedly checking to make sure something is secure, like a door is closed or the appliance is turned off

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD)

A person may developpost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after being exposed to or experiencing a terrible experience.

Most people who experience traumatic situations have some trouble adjusting and coping at first. However, with time and self-care, they generally grow better. PTSD may be present if the symptoms worsen over time (months or years) and cause significant disruption to daily life.

Not everyone who suffers from PTSD has gone through a terrifying experience. The loss of a loved one in a traumatic event, such as an accident, can also trigger PTSD symptoms.

A person who has post-traumatic stress disorder may have any one of these symptoms for at least a month:

• Sleepless nights
• Worrying thoughts
• Trying to avoid thinking about or talking about the painful occurrence
• Having a short fuse
• Tensed up or “on edge”
• Irregular sleep patterns
• Acting irrationally while furious
• Misplaced emotions, such as blame or guilt
• Disinterest in previously enjoyed activities
• Difficulty remembering key aspects of the traumatic event
• Contaminating one’s mind with unfavourable ideas about oneself or the world
• Trauma survivors often report experiencing flashbacks, or repeated recollections of the event, accompanied by physical symptoms such as palpitations and perspiration.
• Avoiding anything that can trigger flashbacks to the traumatic occurrence, be it a place, event, or object.

Social Phobia

For those who suffer from a social anxiety disorder, being around other people causes extreme distress. The effects of stress can be felt in many areas of life, including interpersonal interactions, regular activities, performance at work or school, and enjoyment of life in general.

Fear of being evaluated or analysed harshly by others can create severe anxiety, self-consciousness, and shame for those with social phobia, even in normal social situations.

Asocial phobia may make even the most routine activities challenging. You may have symptoms like:

• Rapid heart rate
• Trembling
• Sweating
• Nausea or stomach distress
• Shortness of breath
• feeling faint or dizzy
• Experiencing a mental emptiness
• The strain on the muscles
• The problem dealing with strangers or individuals you don’t know
• Anxious while participating in social events
• Anxious while leaving for work or class
• Difficult to maintain an eye contact
• Nervous walking alone into a gathering of many people
• Shy sharing a meal with several people

Tips to Manage Your Anxiety

Here are some tips which can help you manage different types of anxiety: 

• Daily take a stroll or do yoga for 15 minutes
• Put your thoughts down on paper
• Recognize and control your emotional flashpoints
• Write down your thoughts every day and keep the notebook going.
• Make an effort to interact with others
• Use dietary supplements and other lifestyle adjustments
• Be kind to your spirit and intellect
• Implement Aromatherapy
• Speak with your loved ones
• When panic strikes, do deep breathing exercises
• Put down the alcohol and the cigarettes
• Get some fresh air and go to a tranquil spot
• Hear some soothing tunes

Summary

You can get help for your anxiety through medication, talk therapy, or a combination of the two.

Some people with minor anxiety disorders choose to live with their disease rather than seek therapy since their fears are manageable.

However, research shows that trying to avoid worry by avoiding the source of anxiety might backfire. The urge to avoid a trigger can be reduced with treatment.

Anxiety-related side effects may be avoided and any health problem can be managed properly if you and your doctor regularly discuss your medication’s dose, efficacy, and risks. You may get the anxiety medication online prescribed by your doctor. 

It is essential to remember that even severe anxiety problems can be managed. Although anxiety seldom disappears entirely, it can be managed and you may still lead a fulfilling and healthy life.