Anxiety

What is anxiety ?

Anxiety is an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts and

physical changes like increased blood pressure. Although unpleasant, occasional
bouts of anxiety are natural and sometimes even productive: By signaling that
something isn’t quite right, anxiety can help people both avoid danger and make
important and meaningful changes.
But persistent, pervasive anxiety that disrupts one’s daily life, whether at school,
work, or with friends, can be the mark of an anxiety disorder. Nearly one-third of
adults in the U.S. will grapple with one at some point in their lives, according to
the National Institutes of Health, and the condition strikes more women than men.

Anxiety is often accompanied by depression. Research indicates that not only do

the two conditions co-occur but that they overlap in patterns of genetic
vulnerability.

While anxiety has a genetic component, childhood experiences such as early

trauma or parental overprotection can play a role as well. In people with anxiety
disorders, the brain circuitry that controls the threat response seems to go awry:
The amygdala, a structure that detects danger, can become overactive, triggering a
threat when none really exists.

Anxiety is often treated successfully through a combination of therapy

and medication. Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the most effective options,
in which patients learn to identify problematic thought patterns and change how
they respond. More recently, mindfulness meditation has also emerged as an
effective technique to disperse anxious thoughts and cultivate a sense of calm.
 Definitions of anxiety.

Types of anxiety

The five major types of anxiety disorders are:

 Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Generalized Anxiety Disorder, GAD, is an anxiety disorder characterized by chronic anxiety,
exaggerated worry and tension, even when there is little or nothing to provoke it.

 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, OCD, is an anxiety disorder and is characterized by recurrent,
unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviors (compulsions). Repetitive behaviors
such as hand washing, counting, checking, or cleaning are often performed with the hope of
preventing obsessive thoughts or making them go away. Performing these so-called "rituals,"
however, provides only temporary relief, and not performing them markedly increases anxiety.

 Panic Disorder
Panic disorder is an anxiety disorder and is characterized by unexpected and repeated episodes of
intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms that may include chest pain, heart palpitations,
shortness of breath, dizziness, or abdominal distress.

 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, is an anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to a
terrifying event or ordeal in which grave physical harm occurred or was threatened. Traumatic
events that may trigger PTSD include violent personal assaults, natural or human-caused disasters,
accidents, or military combat.

 Social Phobia (or Social Anxiety Disorder)

Social Phobia, or Social Anxiety Disorder, is an anxiety disorder characterized by overwhelming
anxiety and excessive self-consciousness in everyday social situations. Social phobia can be limited
to only one type of situation - such as a fear of speaking in formal or informal situations, or eating or
drinking in front of others - or, in its most severe form, may be so broad that a person experiences
symptoms almost anytime they are around other people.

Some commonly diagnosed anxiety disorders are:

 Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) – this means having regular or uncontrollable
worries about many different things in your everyday life. Because there are lots of
possible symptoms of anxiety this can be quite a broad diagnosis, meaning that the
problems you experience with GAD might be quite different from another person's
experiences.
 Social anxiety disorder – this diagnosis means you experience extreme fear or
anxiety triggered by social situations (such as parties, workplaces, or any situation in
which you have to talk to another person). It is also known as social phobia. (See our
page on types of phobia for more information.)
 Panic disorder – this means having regular or frequent panic attacks without a clear
cause or trigger. Experiencing panic disorder can mean that you feel constantly afraid of
 having another panic attack, to the point that this fear itself can trigger your panic
attacks. (See our page on panic attacks for more information.)
 Phobias – a phobia is an extreme fear or anxiety triggered by a particular situation
(such as social situations) or a particular object (such as spiders). (See our pages
on phobias for more information.)
 Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – this is a diagnosis you may be given if you
develop anxiety problems after going through something you found traumatic. PTSD can
cause flashbacks or nightmares which can feel like you’re re-living all the fear and
anxiety you experienced during the actual event. (See our pages on PTSD for more
information.)
 Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) – you may be given this diagnosis if your
anxiety problems involve having repetitive thoughts, behaviours or urges. (See our
pages on OCD for more information.)
 Health anxiety – this means you experience obsessions and compulsions relating to
illness, including researching symptoms or checking to see if you have them. It is related
to OCD. (You can find out more about health anxiety on the Anxiety UK website.)
 Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) – this means you experience obsessions and
compulsions relating to your physical appearance. (See our pages on BDD for more
information.)
 Perinatal anxiety or perinatal OCD – some women develop anxiety problems during
pregnancy or in the first year after giving birth. (See our pages on perinatal
anxiety and perinatal OCD for more information.)

Causes of anxiety

Anxiety disorders have a complicated network of causes, including:

 Environmental factors: Elements in the environment around an individual

can increase anxiety. Stress from a personal relationship, job, school, or
financial predicament can contribute greatly to anxiety disorders. Even low
oxygen levels in high-altitude areas can add to anxiety symptoms.

 Genetics: People who have family members with an anxiety disorder

are more likely to have one themselves.

 Medical factors: Other medical conditions can lead to an anxiety disorder,

such as the side effects of medication, symptoms of a disease, or stress
from a serious underlying medical condition that may not directly trigger the
 changes seen in anxiety disorder but might be causing significant lifestyle
adjustments, pain, or restricted movement.

 Brain chemistry: Stressful or traumatic experiences and genetic factors can

alter brain structure and function to react more vigorously to triggers that
would not previously have caused anxiety. Psychologists and neurologists
define many anxiety and mood disorders as disruptions to hormones and
electrical signals in the brain.

 Use of or withdrawal from an illicit substance: The stress of day-to-day

living combined with any of the above might serve as key contributors to an
anxiety disorder.

Sometimes, stressful events occur as the result of a third party, such as an

employer or partner, but anxious feelings might emerge from people telling
themselves the worst will happen. An anxiety disorder may develop without
any external stimuli whatsoever.

Disproportionate anxiety can result from a combination of one or more of the

above causes.

For example, a person may respond to stress at work by drinking more

alcohol or taking illicit substances, increasing anxiety levels and the risk of
further complications.