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4 Common Types of Anxiety
We all feel anxious on occasion — nervous about a job interview or worried about family members. Anxiety is different and a condition that affects millions of Americans — nearly 1 in 5 adults in the United States.
Not only are anxiety numbers high, but these 40 million people don’t all have the same type of anxiety, making the mental health issue more complex than simply worrying excessively.
Wendy Ann Reiss, MSN, PMHNP-BC, understands the many ways in which anxiety can impact your life and the effect it can have on your health and happiness.
If you suspect that you or a loved one might have anxiety, we cover four of the most common types here.
1. Generalized anxiety disorder
With generalized anxiety disorder, excessive worry is a constant companion. This is a state of near-constant fight-or-flight, and you might feel:
- Excessively worried all the time
- A sense of impending doom
- Heart palpitations
- Sweating
- Restlessness
- Problems concentrating
- Sleep issues
This constant state of worry and stress can interfere with your ability to function.
2. Specific phobias
Arachnophobia, claustrophobia, dentophobia — these are all conditions in which you have a specific fear. And this fear causes anxiety. Phobias affect between 8% and 12% of the population in the US.
So, if a fear is causing you issues, the phobia is affecting your life and you should seek our help.
3. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Did you know that 70% of Americans have experienced trauma? As a result, about 6 million Americans have PTSD. With PTSD, you live with unresolved trauma that can lead to:
- Avoidance
- Flashbacks
- Recurring dreams
- Arousal symptoms (startling easily, etc.)
These symptoms typically start within three months of the trauma and can persist unless you seek help to properly process the traumatic event and its hold over you.
4. Social anxiety disorder
Do you feel uncomfortable in groups of people and in social situations? Are you afraid to speak up or think everyone is looking at you and judging you? These are classic signs of social anxiety disorder, which can lead to isolation.
Outside of these four anxiety disorders, there are many other types, from panic disorders to obsessive-compulsive disorder. The bottom line is that if your anxiety is overshadowing your life, it’s time to meet with us.
Getting help for your anxiety
No matter what's causing your anxiety, we want you to know we have solutions. Through medications, psychotherapies, and behavioral counseling, we can help you break free from anxiety so that you can lead a happy and productive life.
For exceptional anxiety care, we invite you to call or book a telepsychiatry appointment online today. We focus on telehealth, which means we can treat your anxiety from the comforts of your own surroundings.