An anxiety disorder is a serious condition characterized by extreme, chronic anxiety which disturbs mood, thought, behavior and/or physiological activity. The anxiety generally grows progressively worse without treatment. In the United States, about 19 million adults have anxiety disorders, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
What Are the Anxiety Disorders?
There are several different anxiety disorders, as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition or DSM-IV, a diagnostic reference used by mental health professionals to assess their patients. You'll find the individual anxiety disorders listed below. Each link goes to a more in-depth article about each anxiety disorder.- Panic Disorder: An anxiety disorder characterized by unexpected and repeated panic attacks along with intense anxiety between attacks and possible avoidance of situations where attacks may occur.
- Agoraphobia, With or Without Panic Disorder: The fear of being in any place or situation where escape might be difficult or help unavailable, usually in the event of a panic attack.
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder or OCD: An anxiety disorder characterized by recurrent, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) or rituals (compulsions), which feel uncontrollable to the sufferer.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD: A debilitating anxiety disorder that may develop following a terrifying event. It is characterized by persistent frightening thoughts and memories of the ordeal.
- Social Anxiety Disorder or Social Phobia: An anxiety disorder characterized by a persistent, intense, and chronic fear of being watched and judged by others and of being embarrassed or humiliated by one's actions.
- Specific Phobia: An intense but irrational fear of something that poses little or no actual danger.
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder or GAD: An anxiety disorder characterized by chronic, exaggerated worry and tension that is unfounded or much more severe than the normal anxiety most people experience.
- Separation Anxiety Disorder: An anxiety disorder characterized by a significant fear of leaving or being left by a parent or primary caregiver.
How Do I Know If I Have an Anxiety Disorder?
Anxiety disorders should be diagnosed by a health or, preferably, a mental health professional. If you suspect you have an anxiety disorder, you should have a physical, first, to rule out other health problems. Your regular physician should then be able to refer you to a mental health professional.It is important to have a professional diagnosis because each anxiety disorder is different; therefore, the treatment plan will be different for each disorder, even though there may be some similarities. Additionally, other health problems should be ruled out or treated. Anxiety disorders often coexist with other conditions, such as alcoholism or depression. These conditions would require treatment as well, and, if they are ignored, recovery from the anxiety disorder may be difficult or impossible.
While self-diagnosis is not recommended, it may be helpful to learn as much as you can about anxiety disorders and their treatments. This will help you communicate with your treatment providers as well as understand what they are telling you and why they are following a certain course of treatment. It is important to ask questions to make sure you understand all that is happening. For tips on communicating with your doctor, see How to Talk to Your Doctors.
Below you will find several self-tests to help you better understand each anxiety disorder. These tests are not a substitute for a professional diagnosis, but they may help you better understand whether or not you should consult a professional:
References:
1) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition. American Psychiatric Association.
2) The National Institute of Mental Health.
