Anxiety Overview
Understanding Anxiety Disorders: An Overview
Whole-Person Education for Healthier Minds & Healthier Bodies
What Is Anxiety?
Anxiety is your body's natural response to stress or perceived danger. It becomes an anxiety disorder when fear or worry is excessive, difficult to control, lasts for weeks or months, and begins affecting your daily life. Anxiety disorders are common, highly treatable, and recovery is possible.
DSM-5 Criteria
While each anxiety disorder has unique diagnostic criteria, most involve excessive fear or worry that is difficult to control, causes emotional or physical symptoms, lasts longer than expected, and interferes with work, school, relationships, or daily activities.
Common Signs & Symptoms
· Excessive worry or overthinking
· Feeling restless or on edge
· Muscle tension
· Trouble concentrating
· Difficulty sleeping
· Racing heart or palpitations
· Shortness of breath
· Sweating or trembling
· Upset stomach or nausea
· Avoiding situations because of fear
Common Types of Anxiety Disorders
· Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Persistent worry about many areas of life, even when there is little reason to worry.
· Panic Disorder: Unexpected panic attacks with intense fear and physical symptoms such as chest pain, dizziness, or shortness of breath.
· Social Anxiety Disorder: Fear of being judged, embarrassed, or negatively evaluated in social or performance situations.
· Specific Phobias: Intense fear of a specific object or situation, such as flying, heights, needles, or animals.
· Separation Anxiety Disorder: Excessive fear of being separated from loved ones. It can occur in both children and adults.
· Agoraphobia: Fear of places or situations where escape may be difficult or help unavailable during panic-like symptoms.
How Anxiety May Present Differently
Children
· Stomachaches, headaches, school refusal, clinginess, tantrums, excessive reassurance seeking.
Women
· Often report excessive worry, panic symptoms, and physical complaints; symptoms may fluctuate with hormonal changes.
Men
· May appear irritable, angry, or withdrawn and may cope through overworking or substance use rather than discussing emotions.
Common Treatment Options
Treatment depends on the specific anxiety disorder, symptom severity, medical history, and personal preferences.
· Medication classes: SSRIs, SNRIs, buspirone, beta-blockers for select situations, and other medications when appropriate.
· Therapies: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure Therapy, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), Mindfulness-Based Therapy, and Supportive Therapy.
Many people achieve the best outcomes by combining therapy, healthy lifestyle habits, stress management, regular exercise, quality sleep, and medication when appropriate.
When Should You Seek Help?
If anxiety is interfering with your relationships, work, school, sleep, or quality of life, it is time to seek professional help. Early treatment can prevent symptoms from worsening.
Call 911 or 988 immediately if you are having thoughts of harming yourself or are experiencing a mental health crisis.
Educational purposes only. This handout is not a substitute for medical advice.
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This handout is for educational general awareness purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or replace an evaluation by a qualified healthcare professional.
