Anxiety is the most common mental health issue in the U.S., with nearly 20% of the population experiencing an anxiety disorder each year.
While many people deal with anxiety, not all have the same struggles. Anxiety can look and feel a number of ways, and kinds of anxiety vary depending on the person.
If you or someone you know is dealing with anxiety, it helps to identify the kind of anxiety in order to receive proper treatment. Though this list isn’t exhaustive, here are some different types of anxiety you or a loved one may face.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is an anxiety disorder that affects a person in a variety of situations. There doesn’t seem to be one specific trigger; anxiety may pop up no matter the environment.
For people with GAD, anxiety is a part of everyday life, with symptoms present more days than not.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Anxiety caused by a traumatic event may be post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.
While traditionally thought of as a soldier’s condition, PTSD can follow a variety of traumatic experiences including:
- natural disasters
- abuse or assault
- exposure to violence
- car accidents
- death or miscarriage
- sexual trauma
Panic Disorder
Anxiety attacks and panic attacks aren’t the same, though there is some overlap. For people who deal with a panic disorder, an anxiety-inducing stimulus leads to panic attacks that can make it difficult to function.
During these attacks, it’s common to experience a rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, and dizziness.
Social Anxiety Disorder
People with social anxiety disorder experience anxiety in response to social situations. But this goes beyond having sweaty palms when public speaking.
If you have social anxiety disorder, you may find it difficult to make or keep friends, talk to strangers, or even be in public places without feeling extreme discomfort. For some, social anxiety may coincide with another anxiety disorder, agoraphobia.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Anxiety is just one part of the obsessive-compulsive cycle. With obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a person may find it extremely hard to control their compulsive behaviors. These compulsions, like repeatedly checking that a door is locked or touching an object a certain number of times, feels like a requirement in order to relieve anxiety symptoms.
But this relief is only temporary until the person with OCD becomes fixated on another obsession, which triggers anxiety and compulsions yet again.
Anxiety Treatment Options
Treating anxiety looks different depending on the person and the type of anxiety they struggle with.
Anxiety related to trauma may benefit from talk therapy and DBT therapy. Behavioral issues may be corrected with CBT therapy.
There are also prescription medications and over-the-counter treatments that may be beneficial. Talk to your doctor or psychiatrist to find a treatment that’s best for you.
Understanding the Different Types of Anxiety
There are different types of anxiety that each present their own struggles. But living with anxiety doesn’t have to be so hard. No matter what you’re dealing with, there are treatment options available to help you manage your symptoms.
For more on mental health and wellness, check out our other health articles!
Hemant Kumar is a project manager at Tridindia with more than nine years of commendable experience in writing about LMS, translation, and IT. His unmatched talent and passion for digital marketing gave him the opportunity to work as a multi-tasking project manager at TridIndia’s sister company, Link Building Corp. Today, he contributes to the world by imparting knowledge on SEO, link building and internet marketing etc., that helps business owners grow their online business.
