Anxiety Disorders

Types

Anxiety disorders can affect children and adults. Examples of anxiety disorders include:

• Generalized anxiety disorder. Uncontrollable and excessive worrisome thoughts about many areas of life, including work, relationships and health, even when there is little or no reason for worry.
• Social anxiety disorder (social phobia). Irrational anxiety, fear and avoidance of social situations due to feelings of embarrassment, self-consciousness and concern about being viewed negatively by others.
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Recurrent, irrational fears and thoughts (obsessions) that you respond to by engaging in uncontrollable, repetitive behaviors (compulsions).
• Panic disorder. Repeated episodes of sudden, unexplained feelings of intense fear and anxiety that cause physical symptoms such as rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, dizziness and shaking.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Anxiety caused by vivid memories of a traumatic life event that was seen or lived through.
• Specific phobias. Overwhelming, irrational fear and discomfort around certain objects or situations, even when there is no actual danger.
• Separation anxiety disorder. Persistent fear of being separated from one's parents or home.

Read more about generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, OCD, panic disorder, PTSD and phobias.