Types of Anxiety Disorder: Causes, Symptoms, Management and Treatment

Anxiety disorders are a widespread mental health issue that affects numerous people worldwide. This condition may persist and worsen over time for those suffering from an anxiety disorder. Additionally, the symptoms of different types of anxiety disorder vary and might affect daily tasks like work performance, academic progress, and interpersonal connections.

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What Are the Different Types of Anxiety Disorder?

Anxiety disorders can vary among individuals and can be classified into various types. As per the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, those include:

1. Panic Disorder

Panic attacks are common and can frequently happen among people with panic disorder. Although there are no apparent triggers or risks, panic attacks can show up with sudden episodes of discomfort, great fear, or a sense of losing control. However, not everyone who suffers a panic attack has the potential to develop panic disorder.

Causes of Panic Disorder

The cause of panic episodes or panic disorders is still unknown to experts. But, it primarily depends on how your neurological system and brain respond to your experience towards fear and anxiety. Regardless, the primary causes might include the following:

Family history of anxiety disorders
Panic attacks are more likely to occur in people with anxiety disorders, depression, or other mental illnesses
The use of alcohol and drugs can both raise the likelihood of different types of anxiety attacks, including panic attacks

Symptoms of Panic Disorder

A few symptoms of panic disorder include:

Chest pain
Smothering or choking sensation
Chills
Fear of losing control
Difficulty breathing
Extreme feeling of terror
Fast heartbeat
Nausea
Tingling sensation or numbness in toes or fingers
Sweating
Shaking or trembling

Ways to Manage and Treat Panic Disorder

The most effective way to manage panic episodes is with psychotherapy, medicine, or a combination of both. But, in this regard, the extent of your issue and how well you respond to treatment will determine how long you'll require treatment. Regardless, a few options include the following:

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy. In CBT, you will talk about your feelings and thoughts with a mental health expert, like a certified counsellor or psychologist. Furthermore, to alter your thinking, habits, and reactions, this professional can assist you in identifying the causes of panic attacks. Following that, when you begin to react to stimuli differently, the attacks lessen and eventually become zero.
Antidepressants: A few antidepressants can make your panic attacks less severe and less frequent. Hence, doctors may prescribe serotonin-selective reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).
Anti-Anxiety Medications: Benzodiazepines are usually prescribed for panic attacks. This medication helps with anxiety but produces risks of dependence or addiction. Benzodiazepine medications include lorazepam and alprazolam.

2. Generalised Anxiety Disorder

Generalised anxiety disorder, or GAD, is characterised by a continuous feeling of fear or anxiety that might interfere with day-to-day activities. It is not the same as occasionally worrying or feeling anxious about certain things. In comparison, they may experience GAD for months or years.

Causes of Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

Generalised anxiety disorder is likely caused by a complex interaction of biological and environmental factors, as is the case with many mental health illnesses. These causes may include the following:

Variations in the chemistry and function of the brain
Genetics
Personality and development

Symptoms of Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

A few of the common symptoms of GAD include the following:

Being prone to fatigue
Feeling tense, anxious or restless
Having a bad mood
Controlling worries is difficult
Experiencing headaches, muscular aches, stomach-aches, or other ailments without apparent cause
Having trouble staying focused
Experiencing issues with sleep, such as trouble falling or staying asleep

Ways to Manage and Treat Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

When recommending a course of therapy for you, your doctor will consider your general health and other variables. In this regard, a few treatment options include:

Medications
Counselling (psychotherapy or cognitive behavioural treatment)
Calming strategies
Seeing a therapist helps improve coping mechanisms
Modification of lifestyle to avoid stimulants and lessen stress
Discarding consuming alcohol, drugs, or cigarettes

You must also know that preventing generalised anxiety disorder is challenging. Hence, you should consult a medical professional to abate the deterioration of your mental health as soon as the symptoms appear.

3. Social Anxiety Disorder

Social anxiety disorder (SAD), or social phobia, is an excessive fear of being poorly perceived by others in a social setting. It's a common mental health issue that causes emotions of despair, embarrassment, inadequacy, inferiority, and self-consciousness.

Causes of Social Anxiety Disorder

A few of the causes of SAD include:

Specific settings and previous encounters, such as the impact of trauma, parenting style, etc
Maladaptive behaviour and negative beliefs
Temperament that is behaviourally restrained and an uneasy attachment style
Individuals are more likely to be diagnosed with SAD if any family members have it
Overactivity in specific parts of the brain connected to anxiety
Individuals spending relatively less time in person are like to suffer from SAD
Physical settings that make individuals feel socially anxious or ignite symptoms of SAD

Symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder

The general symptoms of a social anxiety disorder include:

Conversing awkwardly with people, especially strangers
Staying away from populated areas
Hardly making eye contact while speaking
Fear of being judged
Feeling of mental numbness while speaking to strangers or speaking publicly.
Feeling dizziness while giving a speech
Lightheadedness
Experiencing social awkwardness or embarrassment
Being embarrassed in front of other people
Tense muscles during public speaking
Increased heart rate, rigid physical stance, nausea, breathing difficulty, sweating and trembling while speaking
Uneasy stomach before giving a speech

Ways to Manage and Treat Social Anxiety Disorder

Although social anxiety cannot be cured, some treatments can help control symptoms and improve people's quality of life. Medical professionals might advise medication, psychotherapy, or a mix of the two.

Psychotherapy: There are various forms of psychotherapy, but only cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) has sufficient data to support its efficacy. CBT aims to teach clients methods for altering their actions in anxiety-provoking social circumstances. It can be done in a group or one-on-one, and exposure therapy is the most prevalent. This entails putting people in fear-inspiring circumstances while also assisting them in managing their fear. Individuals also learn social skills and relaxation techniques from it.
Medications: Anti-anxiety drugs, antidepressants, and beta-blockers are usually prescribed medications for social anxiety. But, the best treatments for generalised social anxiety are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and one serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI). However, beta-blockers or benzodiazepines may be helpful for those with particular phobias. Apart from using treatments, you can also use self-help techniques to cope with social anxiety disorder.

4. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

OCD or Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a long-lasting and persistent mental illness where a person may experience uncontrollable consistent thoughts (also termed as "obsessions") or behaviours (also termed as "compulsions") that they likely feel to repeat.

Causes of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

The causing factor behind OCD is not fully understood. However, a person may be more likely to experience an episode of OCD if certain circumstances or events occur:

Moving, getting married or divorced, starting a new school or work, or changing one's living environment
A loved one's death or another emotional hardship
History of mental and physical abuse
Illness (if you have flu, you may start a cycle of stressing about germs and washing constantly)
Low amounts of serotonin
Overactivity in specific brain regions
Issues at the office or school
Issues in a relationship

Symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Obsessions and compulsions that interfere with daily tasks can be considered OCD symptoms.

Common Obsessions:

Fear of potential contamination or pathogens
Having unsettling ideas regarding violence, religion, or coitus
Needing to keep everything in your environment in perfect, symmetrical order
Actively considering oneself or others

Typical Compulsions

Arranging and coordinating in a pointless manner
Excessively washing or cleaning your hands
Counting endlessly
Checking to see if you've done things, like locking your door or turning off the oven, etc

Ways to Manage and Treat Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

If OCD symptoms interfere with your daily life, you should consult a healthcare professional. A person with specialised training in mental illness can suggest the following approaches:

Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT): This form of psychotherapy involves changing patients' thoughts and behaviours. Hence, you will speak with a therapist who will assist you in exploring and comprehending your feelings and thoughts. Then, through a series of sessions, CBT can assist you in breaking destructive behaviours and possibly replacing them with more beneficial coping mechanisms.
Medications: Some possible treatments include tricyclic antidepressants and serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs), which raise serotonin levels.

5. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health disease brought on by experiencing or watching a horrific event. A few possible symptoms might include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts about the incident.

Causes of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Any major event can cause PTSD. A few of the examples include the following:

Natural catastrophes
Sexual assault
Major mishaps
Attacks by terrorists
Loss of a family member, whether or not there was violence involved
Personal assault being a crime victim being given a fatal diagnosis

However, besides these examples, these can include any other events that can potentially create horror within an individual.

Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

The potential symptoms of PTSD are as follows:

Intrusive memories or flashbacks of traumatic events
Nightmares and fearful dreams
Emotional imbalance or feeling of guilt
Avoiding gatherings
Avoiding talking about traumatic incidents
Hopelessness
Lack of interest in daily work or activities that you once enjoyed
Memory issues
Getting frightened easily
Suicidal tendencies
Unable to maintain close relationships

Ways to Manage and Treat Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Similar to other mental disorders, psychotherapy and medications might be helpful for it.

Medications: For treatment, antidepressants are most used. It may help manage PTSD symptoms like depression, anxiety, rage, and a numb feeling inside. However, doctors may prescribe other drugs for specific PTSD symptoms like nightmares and sleep issues.
Psychotherapy: People with PTSD can benefit from various psychotherapies, and some specifically target PTSD symptoms. Other treatments concentrate on issues with the family, the workplace, or society. However, depending on the needs of each patient, the doctor or therapist may mix various therapies.

In this regard, CBT is most used, including:

Exposure Therapy: This enables people to confront and manage their anxiety. Safely, it progressively exposes them to the trauma they underwent and assists them in dealing with it. It uses visualisation, writing, or travel to the scene of the incident.
Cognitive Restructuring: This aids in making sense of unpleasant recollections. People occasionally recall events differently from how they occurred. Hence, they might experience shame or remorse about something that wasn't their fault.

Lastly, it should be remembered that similar to other medical conditions, anxiety disorders also need to be treated. Moreover, it has nothing to do with attitude or self-control. In the past few decades, research has advanced significantly in addressing mental health issues in the past few decades. Also, treatment procedures for different types of anxiety disorders will differ; hence, you should consult your doctor for a proper diagnosis.

FAQs about Types of Anxiety Disorders

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What is the best way to manage anxiety?

The best way to manage different types of anxiety is by seeking medical help. Also, you can join support groups, avoid caffeine, alcohol or tobacco consumption, and learn different ways of stress management.

What is the prognosis for those suffering from anxiety disorders?

It is common for anxiety problems to go unidentified and untreated. Fortunately, therapy can be beneficial. Your productivity, relationships, general well-being and quality of life can all be enhanced with the correct treatment.

What is medically considered the most extreme form of anxiety?

Panic disorder is considered the most extreme form of anxiety, followed by panic attacks, intense feelings of overwhelming nervousness and anxiety.