According to the American Psychological Association (APA), anxiety "is characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts and physical changes. Anxiety disorders cause recurring intrusive thoughts or concerns and physical symptoms such as sweating, trembling, dizziness, or a rapid heartbeat." Because many people experience these symptoms, anxiety is not considered a disorder unless it reduces a person's quality of life or ability to function. According the the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), there are five primary types of anxiety.
Generalized Anxiety
Experience of anxiety and worry most days of the week is called generalized anxiety. According to the APA, a person with generalized anxiety will have at least three of the following symptoms: restlessness or being on edge, fatigue, trouble concentrating, irritability, tense muscles and sleep disruptions.
Obsessive-Compulsion
A person experiencing obsessive-compulsion has either obsessions or compulsions. The APA defines obsessions as continuous unwanted or intrusive thoughts, impulses or images that create anxiety or distress. Compulsions are defined by the APA as behaviors (eg., hand washing) or mental acts (e.g., counting) that a person does to reduce obsessive thoughts, yet create anxiety if not done.
Panic Disorder
Some forms of anxiety include the experience of a panic attack. The APA describes a panic attack as characterized by a sudden feeling of fear or terror accompanied with physical symptoms including sweating, rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, dizziness, feeling hot or cold, tingling of the hands and feet and chest pain. The APA defines panic disorder as occurring when a panic attack is followed by continued worry that more panic attacks may occur and a there is a change in lifestyle based upon this worry.
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Based on the NIMH, post-traumatic stress occurs after someone has been exposed to an event in which serious physical harm "occurred or was threatened." Additionally, the APA states that witnessing threat or harm to another person can also result in post-traumatic stress. Based on the APA, post-traumatic stress involves re-experiencing or reliving the traumatic event, avoiding any stimuli that are reminders of the events and heightened physical and psychological arousal, such as difficult sleeping or concentrating.
Phobias
Phobias can be recognized by intense fear and avoidance of a specific object or situation. NIMH cites social phobia as the most prominent of the phobias. Social phobia is characterized by avoidance of or extreme distress when in social situations due to fear of being judged or acting in a humiliating manner when around other people.
References
- American Psychological Association: Anxiety
- American Psychological Association: Panic Disorder
- National Institute of Mental Health: Anxiety
- "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" (4th ed.); American Psychological Association; 2000
