It is very common for people to feel moments of anxiousness and worry throughout their days – a new job, an upcoming exam, public speaking. However, it is not common for these worries and anxieties to impede your ability to go through your day. If this seems to be happening to you in your daily life, you may have an anxiety disorder.

There are several different types of anxiety disorders and symptoms that identify them. Today we will discuss a few of them, their symptoms, and at what point it would be best for you to seek help.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

This type of disorder is like it sounds, very generalized in your day-to-day activities. Someone with GAD will express constant worries or fear throughout their days, about anything and everything.

Symptoms of GAD usually surface in the form of stomach pains, insomnia, and fatigue.

Social Anxiety Disorder

Social Anxiety Disorder, or Social Phobia, is a common form of anxiety that reveals itself in unfamiliar social environments. Sometimes confused with extreme shyness, this disorder can even lead to avoidance of social activity all together.

Social Phobia symptoms include upset stomach, shaking, hot flashes, and dizziness.

Anxiety Attacks

This form of anxiety not only includes sudden, repeated attacks of anxiety, but also the fear that they will occur again. These type of attacks are often linked to Social Phobia and Agoraphobia, the fear of confined spaces.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

This is an extreme form of anxiety that typically happens after an especially traumatic event has occurred. Sometimes associated with anxiety attacks, this disorder rarely, if ever, lets up.

Symptoms of PTSD can include nightmares, flashbacks, avoidance of people and situations that trigger flashbacks, and starting easily.

Should You Be Getting Help?

Do any of these disorders and symptoms sound familiar or are a reflection of what you experience everyday? Do you find it hard to perform daily tasks or establish and maintain lasting relationships because of them? Then it is probably time to see a doctor or counselor for diagnosis, medication, and advice for your next steps.

Do you have further questions or concerns about anxiety and its signs and symptoms? Feel free to email us at any time.

Live Mentally Healthy,
Cognitive Psychiatry of Chapel Hill