Anxiety is a normal response to stress, but it can become a disorder when persistent fear or worry interferes with daily life.
The World Health Organization reported that the global prevalence of anxiety and depression increased by about 25% during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, citing factors including social isolation and uncertainty.
Anxiety disorders are not limited to one set of symptoms. They include several conditions that differ in what triggers the anxiety and how it affects a person’s behaviour.
Among the commonly recognised disorders are generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, specific phobias, agoraphobia and separation anxiety disorder.
Specific phobias
Specific phobias involve an intense and persistent fear of a particular object or situation. Common examples include fears of animals, heights, flying, needles, storms and certain medical procedures.
The fear can lead a person to avoid the object or situation altogether or experience severe anxiety when confronted with it.
Not every fear is a phobia. Specific phobias involve a level of fear that is disproportionate to the actual danger and can interfere with a person’s daily activities.
Generalized anxiety disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder involves excessive and persistent worry about several areas of life, such as school, work, finances, health or relationships.
The worry occurs more days than not for at least six months and can be difficult to control. It may interfere with concentration and daily functioning and can be accompanied by symptoms such as muscle tension, irritability and problems sleeping.
It is different from the ordinary worries that most people experience from time to time. The concern in generalized anxiety disorder is persistent and can affect a person’s ability to function.
Panic disorder
Panic disorder is characterised by recurrent panic attacks, which involve sudden periods of intense fear or discomfort that can reach their peak within minutes.
During an attack, a person may experience a rapid heartbeat, sweating, trembling, dizziness, shortness of breath, chest discomfort or a feeling of impending danger.
A panic attack does not necessarily mean that a person has panic disorder. Panic disorder involves recurrent attacks together with ongoing concern about having more attacks or changes in behaviour intended to avoid them.
Some people begin avoiding places or activities where they fear another attack could occur.
Social anxiety disorder
Social anxiety disorder involves intense and persistent fear of being watched, judged or negatively evaluated by other people.
A person may become highly anxious about speaking in public, meeting unfamiliar people, answering questions in class or participating in other social situations. Some people may avoid these situations altogether.
Social anxiety disorder is different from ordinary shyness. The condition can interfere with school, work, relationships and other parts of daily life.
The disorder often begins during childhood or adolescence, although it can also develop later.
Separation anxiety disorder
Separation anxiety disorder involves excessive fear or worry about being separated from a parent, caregiver or another person to whom someone is strongly attached.
It is particularly associated with children, although separation anxiety disorder can also occur in adults.
A person may worry that something will happen to the person they are attached to or that they themselves will be harmed while separated. This can lead to difficulty attending school, sleeping alone or being away from the caregiver.
Separation anxiety can be part of normal childhood development. It becomes a disorder when the anxiety is excessive for the person’s developmental level and causes significant distress or interferes with everyday functioning.
When anxiety may require help
Feeling anxious occasionally does not necessarily mean someone has an anxiety disorder. The concern becomes more significant when fear or worry is persistent, difficult to control or begins interfering with school, work, relationships or other daily activities.
Anxiety disorders are treatable. Depending on the condition and the individual, treatment can include psychotherapy, medication or a combination of approaches. A doctor or qualified mental health professional can assess the symptoms and determine the appropriate treatment.
Anyone whose anxiety is interfering with everyday life should consider speaking with a health professional rather than attempting to determine the diagnosis alone.
