Generalized anxiety disorder | Panic disorder Temporary anxiety in stressful situations is natural, but when it becomes a general response to ordinary situations and causes problems in coping with everyday life, it is considered a disorder. The main types of anxiety disorder are generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, phobias, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
In generalized anxiety disorder, there are persistent psychological symptoms, such as a sense of foreboding with no apparent cause, being on edge, impaired concentration, repetitive worrying thoughts, disturbed sleep, and sometimes depression. The physical symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder tend to occur intermittently.
They may include headache, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, sweating, frequent urination, and trembling. In panic disorder, psychological and physical symptoms develop suddenly and unpredictably. They may include breathlessness, sweating, trembling, nausea, palpitations, dizziness, fainting, a feeling of choking, a sense of unreality, and a fear that death may be imminent.
Treatment of anxiety disorders usually involves psychotherapy (for example, cognitive behavioral therapy) and medication to relieve symptoms, such as antidepressants or, in some cases, a short-term course of anti-anxiety drugs. Self-help measures, such as relaxation techniques, may also help to reduce anxiety levels.