A: It’s normal to feel anxious or worry once in a while. But if those feelings start to impact your work, personal life, or health, then you may have an anxiety disorder.
As Charles Goodstein, MD, a clinical professor of psychiatry at New York University Langone Medical Center, puts it: “What makes a disorder is when people have anxiety that mounts to such an intensity that they’re no longer able to cope with it.”
Anxiety disorders, which center around excessive, irrational fear or dread, affect about 40 million adults in the United States. Some of the most common types of anxiety disorders are agoraphobia, or the fear of being in a place from which you can’t escape or avoid embarrassment; panic disorder, which triggers recurring panic attacks; and generalized anxiety disorder, in which a person worries constantly.
Physical symptoms may include a quickened heart rate or skipped heart beats, rapid breathing, dry mouth, sweating, trembling, and dizziness. While mild anxiety can subside relatively quickly, symptoms associated with an anxiety disorder last at least six months and can worsen, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
Even children can have severe anxiety, particularly at stressful times like the start of a school year. “Anxiety disorders are the most common thing kids come to a psychologist with, and around August or September we see a lot more kids coming in for anxiety,” said Sanno Zack, PhD, a child psychologist for Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford in Palo Alto, Calif.
What causes anxiety disorders is unclear, though it’s likely a combination of genetic, environmental, psychological, and developmental factors.
The U.S. National Library of Medicine suggests seeking help if you experience:
- Dizziness, rapid breathing, or a racing heartbeat associated with panic.
- Inability to function at home or work.
- Uncontrollable fears.
- Flashbacks to a traumatic event.
Studies have linked anxiety disorders with substance abuse and an increased risk for suicide, so any severe, persistent symptoms should be reported to a doctor. Treatment typically includes medication, psychotherapy, or both. You can find resources for treatment and support on the Anxiety and Depression Association of America website.
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