Anxiety Disorders – Symptoms and Causes

Overview

Anxiety is a normal emotion that everyone feels at times. Yet, anxiety disorders go beyond normal worry. People with these disorders feel too much fear about regular situations. Their fear can be so strong that it gets in the way of daily life.

Anxiety disorders often involve panic attacks. These are sudden bursts of extreme fear that peak quickly. Someone with an anxiety disorder may try to avoid certain places or activities to prevent these feelings.

There are several types of anxiety disorders:

• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Social anxiety disorder (also called social phobia)
• Specific phobias
• Separation anxiety disorder

A person can have more than one type at the same time. Symptoms often begin in childhood or adolescence and may continue into adulthood.

Sometimes anxiety comes from a health problem that needs medical care. No matter what kind of anxiety someone has, treatments exist that can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.

Signs of Anxiety

Anxiety can show itself in many ways. People with anxiety often feel nervous, restless, or tense. They may have a feeling that something bad will happen soon.

Physical signs include a faster heartbeat, quick breathing, sweating, shaking, and feeling weak or tired.

Many people with anxiety find it hard to focus on anything except what worries them. They might have trouble sleeping or have stomach problems. Controlling worry becomes difficult, and they may try to avoid things that make them feel anxious.

Common physical symptoms:

• Rapid heartbeat
• Fast breathing
• Sweating
• Trembling
• Weakness or fatigue

Common mental symptoms:

• Constant worry
• Trouble focusing
• Sleep problems
• Feeling of doom
• Difficulty controlling thoughts

There are several types of anxiety disorders, each with unique features:

Disorder	Main Features
Agoraphobia	Fear of places that might cause panic or feelings of being trapped
Medical condition anxiety	Anxiety directly caused by health problems
Generalized anxiety disorder	Excessive worry about everyday matters
Panic disorder	Sudden episodes of intense fear with physical symptoms
Selective mutism	Children unable to speak in certain situations despite ability to speak elsewhere
Separation anxiety	Excessive fear about separation from parents or caregivers
Social anxiety disorder	Fear of social situations due to worry about judgment
Specific phobias	Strong fear of particular objects or situations
Substance-induced anxiety	Anxiety resulting from drugs, medications, or withdrawal

When You Should Get Help

It’s important to know when anxiety requires professional attention. Seek medical help if:

• Your worries interfere with daily activities, work, or relationships
• You find your fears and anxiety hard to control
• Your anxiety causes significant distress
• You’re also experiencing depression or substance use problems
• You think your anxiety might be connected to a physical health issue

Warning signs requiring immediate help:

• Having thoughts about harming yourself
• Feeling you might hurt others
• Experiencing severe panic attacks that leave you unable to function

Don’t wait for anxiety to improve on its own. Anxiety problems often get worse without proper treatment. Getting help early makes treatment more effective and can prevent your symptoms from becoming more severe.

Why Anxiety Happens

Anxiety can sometimes be connected to health problems in your body. In fact, feeling anxious might be the first sign that something else is wrong. Your doctor might run tests if they think your anxiety could be caused by a medical issue.

Several health conditions can trigger anxiety symptoms:

• Heart problems
• Diabetes
• Overactive thyroid (Hyperthyroidism)
• Breathing disorders like COPD and asthma
• Problems with drug use or stopping drugs
• Stopping alcohol or anti-anxiety medications
• Long-term pain conditions or irritable bowel syndrome
• Unusual tumors that make stress hormones

Some medications can cause anxiety as a side effect.

Your anxiety might be related to a health condition if:

• No one in your family has anxiety disorders
• You didn’t have anxiety as a child
• You don’t avoid specific things because of anxiety
• Your anxiety started suddenly without any clear reason

While doctors don’t fully understand what causes all anxiety disorders, they believe both life experiences and genetics play important roles. Difficult or traumatic events can trigger anxiety disorders, especially in people who may already be prone to feeling anxious.

Risk Factors

Several factors may raise your chance of having an anxiety disorder:

• Past trauma – Children who faced abuse or witnessed traumatic events have a higher risk. Adults can also develop anxiety after trauma.

• Health-related stress – Serious illness can cause worry about treatment and future health.

• Life stress – Major events or a buildup of smaller stressful situations can trigger anxiety, like family loss, work problems, or money concerns.

• Personality traits – Certain personality types are more likely to develop anxiety disorders.

• Other mental health conditions – People with conditions like depression often

  have anxiety.

• Family history – Anxiety disorders can be passed down in families.

• Substance use – Using drugs or alcohol, or going through withdrawal, can cause or worsen anxiety.

Possible Problems

Anxiety disorders can cause issues beyond just feeling worried. They may create or make worse several other conditions:

Mental Health Issues

• Depression often appears alongside anxiety
• Other mental health problems

Physical Health Problems

• Sleep problems
• Stomach and digestive issues
• Headaches
• Ongoing pain

Daily Life Impacts

• Drug or alcohol misuse
• Feeling alone or cut off from others
• Trouble at school or work
• Reduced life satisfaction

In serious cases, anxiety can contribute to thoughts of suicide.

Prevention

Getting help early is key to managing anxiety. When you seek treatment at the first signs of anxiety, you can often prevent more severe symptoms from developing later.

Staying active helps reduce anxiety symptoms. Find activities you enjoy and make time for them regularly. Social connections are also important, as positive relationships can help buffer against stress and worry.

Avoid using alcohol and drugs to cope with anxiety. These substances can make anxiety worse, not better. If you struggle with substance use, stopping can temporarily increase anxiety.

Seek help from a healthcare provider or support group if quitting on your own feels too difficult.

Here are important steps to reduce anxiety’s impact:

• Seek treatment promptly when symptoms first appear
• Maintain regular activities you find enjoyable
• Build supportive relationships with friends and family
• Avoid using substances like alcohol or drugs as coping mechanisms