Anxiety disorders are feelings of fear and worry, including significant distress or impairment. Anxiety disorders can have a wide range of symptoms and affect people of all ages and backgrounds. Unlike phobias, which occur in response to a specific object, situation, or animal, anxiety disorders are responses to thoughts or images of events that may never happen.

What Are Anxiety Disorders?

Anxiety disorders are a type of mental disorder that causes significant distress and can interfere with a person’s ability to function. There are several different types of anxiety disorders, each with its own set of symptoms. Treatment for anxiety disorders usually involves a combination of medication and therapy.

Types of Anxiety Disorders

The most common types of anxiety disorders are generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In most cases, the anxiety doesn’t pose much of a threat to a person’s physical health. However, severe cases of anxiety disorders can lead to health problems.

Anxiety Disorder Symptoms

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S. today. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorders affect 40 million American adults or 18.5 percent of the population.2 While anxiety disorders can happen to anyone, they are most common among those in the 18 to 44 age range, and among females. Anxiety disorders are distinct from other mental health disorders, such as depression, because they feel like an overwhelming sense of dread, along with physical symptoms like rapid heart rate and sweating.

Anxiety Disorder Causes and Risk Factors

Anxiety Disorder is a mental disorder in which a person develops persistent and excessive feelings of worry or nervous tension. Anxiety Disorder can make it difficult for a person to function normally. Anxiety Disorder is one of the most common mental disorders. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that anxiety disorders are the most common type of mental illness worldwide. In 2016, an estimated 3% of adults worldwide were affected by an anxiety disorder. Anxiety Disorder affects men and women in equal numbers. The exact cause of Anxiety Disorder is unknown. However, Anxiety Disorder often occurs along with other conditions such as depression, substance abuse, and neuro-developmental disorders. Anxiety can be a factor in suicide because people who are anxious may feel like they can’t cope or escape from their situation. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

Anxiety Disorder typically develops in childhood or adolescence. Although Anxiety Disorder can occur in older persons, Anxiety Disorder in older persons often occurs along with other mental disorders. Anxiety Disorder may begin in adulthood, but Anxiety Disorder that occurs after age 25 is relatively rare.

Causes of Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety disorder is a medical condition that is characterized by the presence of persistent anxiety and/or fear. It can affect a person’s daily life, relationships and career. Diagnosing an anxiety disorder can be tricky because the symptoms can vary significantly from person to person. Doctors have various ways of diagnosing anxiety disorders, but they generally rely on the patient’s self-reported symptoms.

Anxiety can be caused by selective mutism which is when a person is unable to speak in certain social situations. The person may be able to speak in other situations, but they may not be able to speak in situations where they feel anxious.

Risk Factors for Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety disorder is a mental health condition that makes people anxious and fearful, sometimes to the point where they are unable to manage their anxiety, or they are afraid of having anxiety. Anxiety disorders are diagnosed based on the symptoms a person experiences and how severe they are.