There are multiple anxiety disorders, and they each have their own symptoms. In general, someone who suffers from an anxiety disorder may feel overwhelmed by worry, have sleeping and eating issues, have trouble concentrating and suffer from physical symptoms such as sweating and trembling. Many anxiety disorders have a big control element because the person feels a lack of control.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
According to the Mayo Clinic, this disorder is characterized by continuous worry, restlessness, trouble concentrating, fatigue, muscle tension and aches, issues with sleeping and other physical symptoms. This disorder affects someone in every aspect of her life. For example, she may have trouble interacting with peers, completing schoolwork or projects at work and have issues with her family. Getting control of this disorder is complicated and usually takes a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy and medications such as antidepressants or benzodiazepines.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Symptoms of this disorder include obsessive thoughts and compulsive actions. For example, someone struggling with obsessive-compulsive disorder may wash her hands 20 times in a row before she eats or she might hoard newspapers and never throw them away even though they take up three rooms in her house. This disorder relates to control in that the person feels compelled to do specific behaviors even though she knows they are irrational. Treating this disorder starts with controlling irrational thoughts, which a therapist can help with. Medication is also an option.
Panic Disorder
This disorder is characterized by a complete lack of control. Someone suffering from panic attacks does not know when he will experience one and is usually afraid to go to enclosed, crowded locations for fear of having a panic attack. Some people who have panic attacks become agoraphobic, which can lead to someone never wanting to leave her house. Treatment of this disorder entails cognitive behavioral therapy and medications such as antidepressants and benzodiazepines.
Phobia
Someone with a phobia loses control when exposed to a specific object or experience. For instance, someone who is phobic of heights might experience symptoms of anxiety when riding an elevator, standing in stadium seating at a football game or climbing three flights of stairs. Phobias impact a person's daily functioning, because he tries to avoid what he fears at all costs. A person who is afraid of heights might cancel a job interview after learning that the company is on the fifth floor of a building. Like many other anxiety disorders, it can be treated with medication and therapy.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
This disorder starts with a traumatic experience where the person does not have control such as being raped, mugged or getting into a serious car accident. The symptoms of PTSD include nightmares, flashbacks, hypervigilance and withdrawal from social situations. This disorder is also treated with medicine, usually antidepressants, and cognitive behavioral therapy in which the therapist helps the client gain control of his life again.
