Conditions guide

Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders are mental health conditions in which worry, fear, or nervousness is intense, lasts a long time, and interferes with daily life. They are among the most common mental health conditions and are treatable.

Last updated 3 sources

At a Glance

  • Everyone feels anxious at times, but anxiety disorders involve feelings that are persistent and hard to control.
  • Common types include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobias.
  • Anxiety can cause physical symptoms such as a racing heart, muscle tension, and trouble sleeping.
  • Talk therapy, especially cognitive behavioral therapy, and medications are common treatment options.
  • In the US, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline can be reached by call or text at 988.

What It Is

Anxiety is the body's normal response to stress or danger. In an anxiety disorder, worry or fear is out of proportion to the situation, lasts for months, or makes it hard to work, study, or keep up with relationships.

There are several types of anxiety disorders. Generalized anxiety disorder involves ongoing worry about many everyday things. Panic disorder involves repeated, unexpected panic attacks. Social anxiety disorder involves intense fear of being judged in social situations. Specific phobias involve strong fear of a particular object or situation, such as heights or flying.

Anxiety disorders often occur alongside other conditions, such as depression or substance use problems. With treatment, many people find their symptoms improve significantly.

Common Terminology

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
Persistent, excessive worry about many different areas of life that is hard to control.
Panic attack
A sudden episode of intense fear with physical symptoms such as pounding heart, sweating, shaking, or shortness of breath, usually peaking within minutes.
Panic disorder
A condition with repeated unexpected panic attacks and ongoing worry about having more.
Phobia
An intense, irrational fear of a specific object or situation that often leads to avoiding it.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
A structured type of talk therapy that helps people recognize and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors.
Exposure therapy
A form of therapy in which people gradually and safely face feared situations to reduce anxiety over time.
SSRI
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, a class of medication often used for both depression and anxiety disorders.

Common Causes and Associations

Anxiety disorders likely result from a mix of genetic, biological, psychological, and environmental factors. No single cause explains them.

  • A family history of anxiety or other mental health conditions.
  • Stressful or traumatic life events, either in childhood or adulthood.
  • Personality traits such as shyness or behavioral inhibition in childhood.
  • Other mental health conditions, such as depression.
  • Some physical health conditions, such as thyroid problems or heart rhythm problems, which can cause anxiety-like symptoms.
  • Use of or withdrawal from caffeine, alcohol, certain medicines, or other substances.

Symptoms and Features

This is a general description of commonly reported features, not a diagnostic checklist. Symptoms differ by the type of anxiety disorder and from person to person.

  • Ongoing worry or fear that is hard to control.
  • Feeling restless, keyed up, or on edge.
  • Trouble concentrating or feeling that the mind goes blank.
  • Irritability and muscle tension.
  • Sleep problems, such as trouble falling or staying asleep.
  • Physical symptoms such as a fast heartbeat, sweating, trembling, upset stomach, or shortness of breath.
  • Avoiding places, people, or situations that trigger fear.

Tests and Evaluation

Anxiety disorders are diagnosed through a conversation with a healthcare or mental health professional. No single lab test diagnoses them.

  • A discussion of symptoms, how long they have lasted, and how they affect daily life.
  • Standard questionnaires, such as the GAD-7, which help describe symptom severity.
  • A physical exam and sometimes blood tests, such as thyroid tests, to look for medical causes of symptoms.
  • A review of medicines, caffeine, alcohol, and other substances that can cause or worsen anxiety.
  • Screening for related conditions, such as depression.

Treatment Overview

Treatment is tailored to the type of anxiety disorder and individual preferences, and is decided together with a healthcare professional.

  • Psychotherapy, especially cognitive behavioral therapy, is a well-studied first-line approach.
  • Exposure-based therapy is often used for phobias, panic disorder, and social anxiety.
  • Medications commonly used include antidepressants such as SSRIs and SNRIs; other medicine types are sometimes used in specific situations.
  • Therapy and medication are often combined.
  • Lifestyle approaches such as regular physical activity, good sleep habits, and limiting caffeine and alcohol are commonly recommended alongside treatment.
  • Support groups and stress-management techniques, such as relaxation and breathing exercises, may also help.

When Professional Care May Be Discussed

Many people seek help when anxiety starts to affect daily life. Some situations call for urgent support.

  • Worry or fear that interferes with work, school, relationships, or sleep is a common reason to talk with a healthcare professional.
  • Physical symptoms such as chest pain or trouble breathing can have medical causes; sudden or severe chest pain is generally treated as a medical emergency, and in the US, people are advised to call 911.
  • Anxiety along with depression, alcohol or drug use, or thoughts of self-harm is commonly discussed with a clinician.
  • In the US, people having thoughts of suicide or in emotional crisis can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, available 24 hours a day.
  • Someone in immediate danger is advised to call 911.

Questions to Ask a Healthcare Professional

General questions people often find useful to bring to an appointment:

  • What is the difference between normal anxiety and an anxiety disorder?
  • What types of anxiety disorders are there, and how do they differ?
  • How does cognitive behavioral therapy work for anxiety?
  • What kinds of medications are generally used for anxiety disorders, and what side effects are common?
  • Can medical conditions or medicines cause anxiety symptoms?
  • How long does treatment for anxiety typically take to show results?
  • What lifestyle changes are commonly recommended alongside treatment?

Sources

This guide was written in plain language from the following authoritative references.

  1. Anxiety — MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine)
  2. Anxiety Disorders — National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
  3. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

Last updated October 8, 2026. FreeDoc guides are general educational information and are not a substitute for care from a qualified professional.