Anxiety Checklist

Anxiety can be a healthy response to stress or pressure and can help people cope, according to researchers at the National Institute of Mental Health. It's when the anxious, fearful feelings interrupt daily actives and become excessive and unwarranted that anxiety becomes a problem. There are a number of forms that anxiety disorders can take, from fears of social interactions to obsession and panic attacks.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

People with generalized anxiety disorder are not able to shake the feelings of impending doom. They worry excessively about future events and expectations. Generalized anxiety disorder is diagnosed when the emotional symptoms are accompanied by physical reactions. Symptoms such as muscle tension, fatigue and headaches should be noted when receiving treatment for anxiety. Sweating and hot flashes are common in those who suffer from anxiety disorders. Other physical symptoms to watch for include twitching, irritability and difficulty swallowing.

Obsession

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a form of anxiety that is characterized by using repeated rituals to calm the many unfounded worries. Patients try to control their upsetting thoughts by performing rituals such as hand-washing, cleaning, counting or touching things. The rituals interfere with daily activities, yet the person cannot stop until the ritual eventually controls them. OCD also can become a problem when thoughts become uncontrollable, especially forbidden thoughts of sex, violence or drugs.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that involves thinking about past frightful events. The memories of the events can paralyze patients who cannot control their constant reminder of the terror they felt in the past. People with PTSD often have additional emotional issues such as depression, panic disorder, substance abuse or suicidal tendencies.

Panic Disorder

Like generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder usually presents with physical symptoms that also disrupt patients' lives. Their symptoms of panic disorder often appear suddenly without warning and are described as a panic attack. In addition to the feelings of terror, patients also develop a pounding heart rate, profuse sweating and dizziness. Some people have chest pains or feel their hands and feet go numb. A sense of impending doom is common when having a panic attack.

Social Phobia

Social phobia, also called social anxiety disorder, causes patients to be overly self-conscious in public. They have a chronic overwhelming fear of being watched and judged by others. They are so afraid of embarrassing themselves that they break out in a sweat and have difficulty talking. Social phobia can be limited to certain environments, such as parties or friendly gatherings, or they may involve all interactions with other people.